The group representing Canada’s doctors has issued a formal apology for the harm done to Indigenous people by health-care professionals, saying it is “deeply ashamed” and that “we take historical responsibility” for issues of racism, neglect and abuse.
At an apology ceremony in Victoria, B.C., attended by representatives from First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities, the Canadian Medical Association said it was sorry for losing the trust of Indigenous communities and committed to making amends.
The association says its research has uncovered a history of harm by the Canadian medical profession, including the dark past of “Indian” hospitals, forced medical experiments, forced sterilization and the arrest of children.
The group also says the research revealed systemic racism in how doctors and others treated members of Indigenous communities and the use of “racist and outdated terms,” creating an “unsafe” and segregated health care environment.
The association says the actions and inactions of Canadian doctors have created a deep distrust of health-care systems among the Indigenous community, leading to further harm to members.
Dr. Alika Lafontaine, the organization’s first Indigenous president in its 157-year history, said in a video message ahead of the apology that “acknowledging the truth is essential to supporting healing, improving Indigenous health and reconciling relationships between Indigenous health professionals and patients.”
The group also said it is committed to monitoring doctors’ progress in addressing harm, which includes providing regular updates on the association’s Indigenous health initiatives.