We are committed to taking action to embed Indigenous cultural safety, humility and anti-racism into CPTBC’s culture, governance and operations. Read more about our recent activities and next steps.
Health Regulatory Colleges Release Joint Apology and Commitment to Action Report
Nine BC health profession regulatory colleges, including CPTBC, have jointly released a comprehensive progress report outlining Indigenous cultural safety, humility, and anti-racism activities in the two years since signing a Statement of Apology and Commitment to Action.
The release of this Joint Apology and Commitment to Action 2021-2023 Report (PDF) coincided with and recognized Orange Shirt Day and National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, both on September 30, 2023. This day also marked the one-year anniversary of the ceremony held with 11 BC health profession regulatory colleges to launch the Indigenous Cultural Safety, Humility, and Anti-Racism Standard of Practice.
In the report’s summary, the colleges recognize “that we are at the beginning of a lifelong journey that is personal and professional, individual and collective…. We remain committed to this work, recognizing that we must be persistent in acknowledging and dismantling historic and ongoing Indigenous-specific racism everywhere that it exists.”
Survey to Registrants About the Implementation of Standard 21 (2023)
Ten BC health profession regulatory colleges, including CPTBC, that jointly launched Standard 21 surveyed their registrants to explore attitudes and perceptions of Indigenous-specific racism in healthcare settings and for information on how they implemented the standard. Some of the key learnings included:
- There is a continuum of attitudes and perceptions about Indigenous-specific racism reported by non-Indigenous respondents. Some agreed or strongly agreed with statements that represent stereotyping and contribute to perpetuating unsafe care and health inequities for Indigenous people.
- There is a correlation between years of practice and these attitudes and perceptions.
- The attitudes, perceptions, perspectives and behaviours of non-Indigenous respondents as self-reported differ from the words and behaviours observed by their Indigenous colleagues. This was consistent to various degrees throughout the results. While many non-Indigenous respondents believe their intentions and actions reflect safe and respectful care, the impact of their actions, as noted by Indigenous colleagues, is often not what it is believed to be.
- Indigenous-specific racism exists beyond public healthcare settings. Eighty percent (80%) of all respondents recognize that Indigenous-specific racism is a problem in public and private healthcare settings.
- Commonly reported barriers to implementation of the new standard were competing priorities, overwhelming workload and being unsure of what learning opportunities are available/appropriate.
- Between 13% and 31% (varied by Core Concept) of respondents require further guidance and education to implement the standard.
Launch of CPTBC’s Standard 21: Indigenous Cultural Safety, Humility and Anti-Racism (2022)
Eleven BC health profession regulatory colleges, including CPTBC, launched an Indigenous cultural safety, humility and anti-racism practice standard on September 30, 2022. The standard sets clear expectations for how registrants of these colleges (numbering more than 28,000) are to provide culturally safe and anti-racist care for Indigenous clients.
The standard was adapted from that developed and launched by the BC College of Nurses and Midwives (BCCNM) and the College of Physicians and Surgeons of BC (CPSBC) in February 2022. The standard now ensures that 13 health regulators have consistent expectations of their registrants to provide culturally safe and appropriate care to BC’s First Nations, Métis, and Inuit Peoples.
We marked the adoption of the new standard with a First Nation Ceremony. See highlights (1:00 min) of the ceremony in the video below.
Signing of Joint Statement of Apology and Commitment to Action (2021)
On July 27, 2021, registrars from 11 BC health profession regulatory colleges, including CPTBC, gathered with an Indigenous leader, Knowledge Carrier and witnesses to sign a Joint Statement of Apology and Commitment to Action (PDF) in response to the In Plain Sight (PDF) report at an intimate ceremony at Spanish Banks in Vancouver on the unceded, ancestral, traditional territories of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh peoples.
Signing of the Declaration of Commitment (2017)
On March 1, 2017, leaders of all BC health profession regulatory colleges signed the Declaration of Commitment – Cultural Safety and Humility in the Regulation of Health Professionals Serving First Nations and Aboriginal People in British Columbia (PNG). The signing ceremony formalized our commitment to integrating cultural safety and humility into our practice as health profession regulators in alignment with regulators’ public interest mandates.
Signing the Declaration reflected the high priority placed on advancing cultural safety and humility for Indigenous people among regulated health professionals by committing to actions and processes, which will ultimately embed culturally safe practices within all levels of health professional regulation. The signing of the Declaration was witnessed by over 230 delegates attending the 2017 Quality Forum “Best of Both Worlds” conference, a forum focused on improving the quality of healthcare for Indigenous people. The Declaration was endorsed by the First Nations Health Authority and the Ministry of Health and was signed by their representatives and the members of the BC Health Regulators.
Read more about our collaborative work on the BC Health Regulators website.
