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Celebrating National Indigenous Peoples Day and Engaging with First Nations Communities
June is National Indigenous History Month and today, Wednesday, June 21st, 2023, marks the 27th annual National Indigenous Peoples Day in Canada. On this day, and throughout the month of June, BC’s health professionals are reminded to take some time to recognize, celebrate, reflect on and learn about the rich history, heritage, resilience and diversity of First Nations, Inuit and Metis Communities in BC and Canada.
- Additional Reading – ReadLinks: June is National Indigenous History Month in Canada
National Indigenous Peoples Day is celebrated on the summer solstice, which holds deep cultural and spiritual significance for many Indigenous Peoples across Canada. The summer solstice is a time of renewal, a time to celebrate and welcome a new season of life, a chance to thank the land for its gifts and an opportunity to leave past burdens behind.
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Learn More about National Indigenous Peoples Day and how to get involved (Government of Canada) |
The College is privileged to carry out its mandate on the traditional, unceded territories of the Coast Salish Peoples, in the in the territories of the sḵwx̱wú7mesh úxwumixw (Squamish), sel̓íl̓witulh (Tsleil-Waututh), and xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) nations. We honour and celebrate the presence of Indigenous Peoples on this land since time immemorial and continue to be grateful for, and inspired by, their enduring resilience and innumerable contributions.
We also recognize that social and generational issues faced by Indigenous Peoples in Canada continue to present major problems in healthcare settings, and can often result in alienation, inappropriate treatment and barriers to access. We believe that cultural safety and humility are vital for the provision of fair and equitable health services, and acknowledge our responsibilities, as stewards of public health, to create healthcare environments free of racism and discrimination, where individuals feel safe and respected.
Engaging with First Nations Health Leaders in BC
Most recently, both our Registrar, Suzanne Solven and Deputy Registrar, Heather Biggar, had the honor and privilege of visiting rural and remote communities in Kitsumkalum (near Terrace), Lax' Kwalaams (near Prince Rupert), and Yunesit' in (near Williams Lake), where they engaged in meaningful and insightful conversations with First Nations health leaders and community members.
During this incredible opportunity, we welcomed pharmacy professionals from Prince Rupert and Williams Lake to join us in multiple dialogue sessions. These sessions facilitated meaningful exchanges between First Nations community members and pharmacy care teams. The conversations explored the intersection of Indigenous traditional medicines and Western medications, with First Nations care providers generously sharing their knowledge. They extended open invitations to pharmacy teams to expand their understanding and actively participate in gathering traditional medicines, while gaining insights into their uses and interactions with Western medications.
The insights and learnings gathered from these conversations provided us with valuable perspective on the work that we are doing with respect to addressing Indigenous-specific racism in pharmacy practice and will inform our actions moving forward.
Addressing Indigenous-Specific Racism in Pharmacy Practice
In September 2022, the College adopted the Indigenous Cultural Safety, Humility & Anti-Racism Practice Standard, a momentous step forward in our journey toward dismantling Indigenous-specific racism in BC’s healthcare system.
The Standard establishes clear expectations for health professionals in BC, on the provision of culturally safe and anti-racist care for Indigenous clients. By adopting this standard, we join 11 other regulatory bodies, collectively overseeing over 28,000 health professionals, to ensure consistent requirements for culturally safe and anti-racist practices throughout the healthcare system.
While this is certainly a significant milestone, we acknowledge that we are still very much at the beginning of our journey toward dismantling Indigenous-specific racism within our healthcare system. The adoption of this Standard is not a conclusion, but a catalyst for ongoing dialogue, understanding and change. It further commits the College to working with Indigenous Peoples and Communities to ensure that we continue to learn about and address the challenges they face in accessing pharmacy services in BC.
Learn more about the Standard and the College’s commitment and efforts to dismantle Indigenous-specific racism within BC’s healthcare system: