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Cultural safety and humility


​Honour and take action​​​​

Taking action to dismantle Indigenous-specific racism

On Nov. 30, 2020, Health Minister Adrian Dix released findings from an independent review into the extent of Indigenous-specific racism in BC’s health-care system. The findings released in this report, titled In Pla​in Sight, showed the devastating impact Indigenous-specific racism has on health outcomes for Indigenous people in B.C. The release of the In Plain Sight report underscored the urgent need for all partners in the health-care system to take swift and decisive action to dismantle the systemic racism that has led to such poor health outcomes for First Nations, Métis and Inuit (Indigenous) Peoples.

BCCNM's commitment

In 2017, the previous B.C. nursing and midwifery colleges were four of 22 B.C. health professions to pledge their commitment to making our health system more culturally safe for First Nations and Aboriginal people. BCCNM continues this commitment. ​

On May 11, 2021, BC's four largest health regulators issued an apology to the Indigenous people and communities who have experienced racism while engaging with these health regulatory colleges and with the health professionals they regulate. The four colleges published a one-year update on their progress​ on the commitments laid out in the apology and then in June 2023, BCCNM, the College of Physicians and Surgeons of BC, and the College of Pharmacists of BC published a two-year​ update on their progress toward those efforts.

Future updates will be published by each college individually. All the BCCNM commitments made as part of this collaboration have been folded into our ongoing work to address Indigenous-specific racism in the health-care system. ​

Indigenous-specific roles at BCCNM

BCCNM’s commitment to Indigenous-specific anti-racism echoes throughout the organization, with specific goals relating to hiring. As set out in the Redressing Harm plan, our goal is to transparently address the underrepresentation of Indigenous staff and contractors by establishing meaningful targets for recruitment, and by developing a dedicated strategy for increasing recruitment and retention of Indigenous people with lived experience to leaders, staff and contractor roles.

​Questions or feedback? 

We want to hear from you. Email us at culturalsafety@bccnm.ca​

​Related​ news

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​​​
2023 news
Date
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​Dec. 1, 2023

Registrant feedback: Indigenous Cultural Safety, Cultural Humility & Anti-racism standard

​Sept. 28, 2023

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June 21, 2023

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​​
2022 news
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Sep. 29, 2022

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​Aug. 11, 2022

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July 14, 2022

BCC​NM appoints new Chief Officer, welcomes Indigenous Cultural Safety and Humility Consultant​​​​​​

​June 21, 2022​

​​​BCCNM, CPSBC mark National Indigenous Peoples Day with video series to support culturally safe care

​May 11, 2022​

​​​One year on: colleges report on progress in dismantling systemic racism​

Jan 28, 2022​

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2021 news
Date
Title​

​Nov 22, 2021

​Survey: new cultural safety and humility practice standard​​​

​Oct 6, 2021​

BCCNM launches Action Plan to address Indigenous-specific racism in health care​

​Sep 29, 2021

​BCCNM observes National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

​​May 11, 2021

Racism in Health Care: An Apology to Indigenous People and a Pledge to Be Anti-Racist​​

​May 4, 2021​

Addressing Indigenous-specific racism with a new cultural safety and humility standard​​​​

2020 news
Date
Title​
​Nov 30, 2020​

Addressing​ Indigenous-specific racism​​​

​Nov 30, 2020

Statement of Intent – Cultural Safety & Humility in BCCNM Standards​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

CBC interview with Registrar & CEO Cynthia Johansen

Oct. 19​​, 2023

Cynthia sat down with CBC to discuss how the college is tackling Indigenous-specific racism in health care. Cynthia Johansen | BCCNM Registrar & CEO


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We acknowledge the rights and title of the First Nations on whose collective unceded territories encompass the land base colonially known as British Columbia. We give specific thanks to the hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ speaking peoples the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) and sel̓íl̓witulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations and the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh-ulh Sníchim speaking Peoples the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation), on whose unceded territories BCCNM’s office is located. We also give thanks for the medicines of these territories and recognize that laws, governance, and health systems tied to these lands and waters have existed here for over 9000 years.

We also acknowledge the unique and distinct rights, including rights to health and wellness, of First Nations, Métis, and Inuit peoples from elsewhere in Canada who now live in British Columbia. As leaders in the settler health system, we acknowledge our responsibilities to these rights under international, national, and provincial law.​