At an event on December 10, 2025, the BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC) issued an apology to First Nations, Inuit and Métis people for its role in causing or contributing to past and present harms experienced by First Nations, Inuit, and Métis people, and made a series of leadership commitments.
The apology and leadership commitments to Indigenous Peoples were made five years after the release of the In Plain Sight report and 10 years after the Truth and Reconciliation Commission issued 94 Calls to Action; they mark an important step in BCCDC’s journey to eradicate Indigenous-specific racism. They were shared at an event grounded in Coast Salish protocols on the unceded, ancestral, and occupied territories of the xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish), and səlil̓w̓ətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) First Nations.
“Our actions and inactions have upheld Indigenous-specific racism, imposed settler colonial authority, and contributed to harms that continue to affect Indigenous Peoples in BC, including clients and staff,” said Christine Massey, executive vice president of population health and wellness with the Provincial Health Services Authority (PHSA).
Indigenous leaders and communities across Canada have long emphasized that truth must come before reconciliation. Thee eat, the phonetic spelling of the word truth in a Salish dialect, is also the first of six Coast Salish teachings gifted to the Provincial Health Services Authority (PHSA) by Coast Salish Knowledge Keeper Siem Te Ta-in, Shane Pointe, affirming that truth-telling is the necessary first step toward reconciliation.
The apology acknowledges the truths shared by Indigenous Peoples since contact. It also recognizes the truths surfaced through a centre-wide effort to examine how Indigenous-specific racism has shaped BCCDC’s historical and present-day public health practices, an initiative grounded in Coast Salish teachings and aligned with foundational obligations from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action, In Plain Sight report, and BC Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act and Action Plan.
Through the BCCDC Thee eat Initiative, all BCCDC staff were called upon to identify and examine where Indigenous-specific racism and discrimination, settler colonialism, and white supremacy are embedded in their work. Applying the frameworks outlined by the Honourable Puglaas Jody Wilson-Raybould (We Wai Kai Nation), who served as Attorney General for Canada and regional chief of the BC Assembly of First Nations, in her book True Reconciliation and the Science and Practice of Anti-Racism framework developed by Dr. Camara Jones, family physician, epidemiology, and past president of the American Public Health Association, all BCCDC staff were asked to name Indigenous-specific racism in past and present work and to examine why they occur.
These steps of learning and understanding about the harms caused are necessary to take action to address systemic and structural Indigenous-specific racism and discrimination.
The apology was followed by BCCDC leadership commitments to Indigenous Peoples to reaffirm the centre’s role and responsibility to reconcili-action, promoting system-level transformation in health care to eradicate Indigenous-specific racism and discrimination.
“This apology is not an end point, it is the beginning of a new chapter, grounded in learning, humility, and willingness to do the work to be in right relationship with First Nations title and rights holders,” said Jat Sandhu, chief strategy officer for the BCCDC.
“We commit ourselves to this work knowing that it will be uncomfortable, that we will make mistakes, and that trust must be rebuilt through naming truth, transparency, humility, and partnership.”
The apology and leadership commitments were made at an event guided by Siem Te Ta-in, who holds an Honorary Doctorate of Original Laws from the Native Education College. k'ʷunəmɛn, Joe Gallagher, Coast Salish from the ɬaʔamɩn (Tla'amin) Nation and vice president
of Indigenous health and cultural safety at PHSA, was asked to be the Speaker of the event.
Elder Glida Morgan from ɬaʔamɩn (Tla'amin) Nation and her daughter Jade Morgan brushed the space with cedar before the event and attendees were invited to be brushed. Guests were invited to gather and connect over a meal.
In alignment with Coast Salish protocols, seven people were called to Witness the work.
BCCDC leaders ̶ Wendy Kebwaro, chief strategy officer; Dr. Jason Wong, chief medical officer; Christine Massey, executive vice-president, population health and wellness; and Dr. Jat Sandhu, chief strategy officer ̶ spoke to the centre’s role in public health and the broader health care system, sharing details of BCCDC’s journey towards eradicating Indigenous-specific racism and Thee eat Initiative, issuing the apology and stating its commitments to Indigenous Peoples.
“It's about re-setting the relationship and building trust. It starts with truth. And normalizing truth-telling from the systems side. It's about reading the directions we've been given (as part of the system of health) and doing the work,” said Janene Erickson, Dakelh from Nak’azdli Whut’en, executive director of Indigenous Health, BCCDC, who was invited to share her reflections after the apology and leadership commitments were made.
Janene pointed to directions such as the Truth and Reconciliation Call to Action #18: We call upon the federal, provincial, territorial, and Aboriginal governments to acknowledge that the current state of Aboriginal health in Canada is a direct result of previous [and current] Canadian government policies, including residential schools, and to recognize and implement the health-care rights of Aboriginal people as identified in international law, constitutional law, and under the Treaties. She also highlighted In Plain Sight recommendation #1: That the BC government apologize for Indigenous-specific racism in the health care system, setting the tone for similar apologies throughout the health system, and affirm its responsibility to direct and implement a comprehensive system-wide approach to addressing the problem, including standardized language and definitions, and clear roles and responsibilities for health authorities, regulatory bodies, associations and unions, and educational institutions.
“I am proud of BCCDC's leadership to take this important step and affirm its responsibility to do their best and pull their weight in the system transformation work that is ahead of all of us, to eradicate Indigenous-specific racism in health care.”
Approximately 50 guests attended the event, including colleagues from the First Nations Health Authority, Métis Nation BC, PHSA, the Office of the Provincial Health Officer, Ministry of Health, and Chee Mamuk, an Indigenous health program based at the BCCDC that works directly with Indigenous communities throughout BC to strengthen health and well-being.
The following people were called to Witness the work:
- Diana Clarke, Associate Deputy Minister Reconciliation, Mental Health & Population Wellness, Ministry of Health
- Laurie Dawkins, occupier of English, Irish and Scottish descent, Vice President, Communications and Engagement, PHSA
- Dr. Patty Daly, settler of Dutch, Irish, and Scottish ancestry, Chief Medical Health Officer, Vancouver Coastal Health
- Jessica Chenery - Coast Salish - Shíshálh and Penelakut First Nations as well as Portuguese and Scottish ancestry, Director, Chee Mamuk, BCCDC
- Stephen Thomson, Métis Citizen, Director, Health Governance, Métis Nation BC
- Dr. Bonnie Henry, settler of Scottish ancestry, Provincial Health Officer
- Dr. Nel Wieman, Anishinaabe-kwe from Miishipaawitiik First Nation, Chief Medical Officer, First Nations Health Authority
The Witnesses were called on to share and reflect on what they heard, what they saw, and what they felt.
“I’m a person who feels that words matter. Words that align with actions matter even more. My biggest take away of today was seeing and feeling that alignment; it created a palpable feeling in the room of authenticity. I heard, I saw and I felt the realness of the apology. And because of that, I am ready to be good medicine, eyhh slaxin, helping the BCCDC leaders to be courageous and uphold their commitments, knowing that it won’t be an easy road.”
- Laurie Dawkins, occupier of English, Irish and Scottish descent, Vice President, Communications and Engagement, PHSA
“The truths that were spoken and the truths that you uncovered were known by Indigenous people. We need to acknowledge that in the public health system, including BCCDC, we have failed to listen to those truths. I heard your commitment to be accountable partners, not saviours. In public health we often see ourselves as saviours of people who suffer health inequities. In the last few years, I’ve realized how wrong that is. That will be a message I bring back to my team working in public health.”
- Dr. Patty Daly, settler of Dutch, Irish, and Scottish ancestry, Chief Medical Health Officer, Vancouver Coastal Health
“We all have a responsibility. Every last one of us in this room has a responsibility. That responsibility is every day. It’s not just for a ceremony, it’s not for a special occasion, it’s for every day. Because if we don’t take on that responsibility, and we are not accountable for the way we do our work and the way we show up for one another, lives are lost. That’s the actual cost.”
- Jessica Chenery - Coast Salish - Shíshálh and Penelakut First Nations as well as Portuguese and Scottish ancestry, Director, Chee Mamuk, BCCDC
“Métis are often made invisible, same with Inuit. I feel like there is an inherent invisibility to our people. This was an opportunity to share my truth. My hope and my goal for the future is a next step that honours, recognizes and acknowledges Métis, and my Inuit cousins, and how we’ve been made invisible by systemic racism, by data collection processes and data reporting that often prioritizes pan-Indigenous data. I think this apology is a good first step and a meaningful and necessary first step on that journey.”
- Stephen Thomson, Métis Citizen, Director, Health Governance, Métis Nation BC
“Truth is heavy. It’s hard work and it’s heart work. It is important work. It starts with saying: ‘I see you, I hear you, I believe you.’ That’s the type of work that we need to do together. I heard a lot about listening and listening to understand. To listen strongly and put aside our own discomfort and accepting the truth. Once we do that, we can’t go back to not seeing what is out there, and how First Nations, Inuit and Métis Peoples have been systematically disadvantaged in the system that we work in. By doing nothing, we uphold those systems. Listening strongly, learning to understand to act – those are the things that I believe are incredibly important.”
- Dr. Bonnie Henry, settler of Scottish ancestry, Provincial Health Officer
“Today is really important, but it’s only the first day. From a public health point of view, never forget the connection between public health and that First Nation, Inuit or Métis person accessing care because that is who is going to be impacted by your work. Kwum kwum stun shqwalowin, make up your mind to be strong. Be good allies to us and that means speaking up when you encounter racism. You’re standing up for Indigenous - First Nations Inuit and Métis People – in your apology today and by your commitments to action. I have to believe, in this ecosystem of health in BC, that when we do enough of these apologies and make commitments that eventually change will take place. Sustained change. We can make the system better.”
- Dr. Nel Wieman, Anishinaabe-kwe from Miishipaawitiik First Nation, Chief Medical Officer, First Nations Health Authority
The event concluded with closing remarks by the Speaker, k'ʷunəmɛn, Joe Gallagher, and Siem Te ta-in and a prayer.
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