BCCDC commits to uphold the rights of Indigenous Peoples and eradicate Indigenous-specific racism and discrimination. Our goal is to create a culturally safe environment for Indigenous patients, families and staff.
The BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC) is committed to eradicating Indigenous-specific racism and discrimination and advancing cultural safety and humility.
This commitment is guided by the Coast Salish teachings, gifted to the Provincial Health Services Authority (PHSA) and BCCDC by Coast Salish Knowledge Keeper, Siem Te Ta-in, and is further mandated by the constitutional and legislative obligations and provincial commitments to Indigenous Peoples found in the following foundational documents:
We live and work on the lands of First Nations peoples, who were here long before settlers arrived. First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples hold inherent rights, including the right to health, that are protected in international, national, and provincial law.
BCCDC has a moral imperative, professional duty, and legal obligation to redress the harms of the settler colonial system, eradicate Indigenous-specific racism in the health care system in BC and work toward reconciliation with Indigenous people. In alignment with the strategy being implemented across PHSA to eradicate Indigenous-specific racism and discrimination, BCCDC has developed an
Action Plan for Reconciliation.
BCCDC’s Action Plan outlines commitments to uphold the rights of Indigenous Peoples and eradicate Indigenous-specific racism and discrimination. Our goal is to create a culturally safe environment for Indigenous patients, families and staff across all BCCDC programs, services, systems, policies, procedures, recruitment practices, and approaches to data governance and stewardship.
This work is guided by legislative obligations and provincial commitments. The plan emphasizes understanding and articulating the organization’s truth by acknowledging its role in perpetuating colonial systems and Indigenous-specific racism within healthcare. BCCDC is committed to ongoing learning, understanding, and taking meaningful action to create culturally safe spaces. This includes embedding Indigenous-specific anti-racism, Cultural Safety and Humility into staff orientation, and implementing Indigenous-specific anti-racist practices at all levels of the organization.
Indigenous leaders and communities across Canada have long emphasized that truth must come before reconciliation.
Thee eat, meaning truth, is also the first of six Coast Salish teachings gifted to the PHSA by Coast Salish Knowledge Keeper Siem Te Ta-in, Shane Pointe, affirming that truth-telling is the necessary first step toward reconciliation. The Coast Salish teachings were designed by Coast Salish Knowledge Keeper, Siem Te Ta-in and his niece, artist
Xwii Xwa, Atheana Picha, Kwantlen First Nation.
Thee eat "Truth"
You need to say the truth all the time. How you act and show up must be truthful. We need to be truthful in our work and we need our truth to be heard and not denied. We all must not deny the truth of our history and we must remain committed to addressing it. – Coast Salish Knowledge Keeper, Siem Te Ta-in
Debra Sparrow, Musqueam weaver, Artist and Knowledge Keeper, shared in her
TEDx Talks in November 2021: “We can not reconcile until the truths are talked about. Until the truths are delt with. What are the truths that have happened to our people over the last 150 years?! Well, we don't want to talk about it because it's not a good subject. But it is one that has to be done."
In alignment with this guidance, the BCCDC is prioritizing an understanding of our own truth as an organization, and articulating our commitments to reconciliation. This work includes:
