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To reaffirm and confirm its intent towards Reconciliation with the Indigenous peoples of Saskatchewan and its support of the Truth & Reconciliation Committee (TRC) of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Saskatchewan (CPSS), Council rejuvenated its TRC in November 2018 and has since taken some key steps to lay a foundation for improved relationships and equal quality of care provided to Indigenous patients throughout the province.
It is important to recognize and understand the mandate of the Truth & Reconciliation Commission, which was to inform all Canadians about what happened in residential schools, how this affected First Nations, Inuit and Métis students/individuals, families, communities and who it involved – the Government, the churches, employees and other Canadians. Our goal is that aligning these truths to be addressed within the Mission, Vision and Principles of the CPSS and the TRC mandate will lead to improved healthcare outcomes.
It is also important that CPSS members fully understand the implications of the land acknowledgement and endorsements of the key documents outlined below. The role of Council would be one of advocacy towards the articles, educating future physicians on maintaining the equal rights to health care without discrimination and raising awareness, and thus leading to better care outcomes for Indigenous patients and their families. It is Council’s hope that this will lead to more tangible workplans and pragmatic action on the part of the CPSS and its members.
KEY STEPS TAKEN BY COUNCIL
| September 2019 |
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Council Education - First Nations Treaties
Presentation by the Office of the Treaty Commissioner - Dr. Kevin wâsakâyâsiw Lewis provided a presentation with respect to First Nations Treaties and other information relevant to Indigenous persons. (SEPTEMBER 2019) |
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| November 2019 |
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Endorsement of the Truth and Reconciliation Calls to Action
In November 2019, a number of additional Action Items and initiatives were brought forward to Council for endorsement, such as the SHA/CME Cultural Awareness Training Modules; a Flag Raising Ceremony; partnership development with strategic First Nations organizations; a presentation on the Role of Traditional Medicine; and improvements to be made on the CPSS website pertaining to Indigenous Wellness. Unfortunately, the planned Flag Raising Ceremony was postponed until further notice due to the COVID-19 pandemic, as it required a social gathering of dignitaries from various levels of Government (First Nation/Métis/Civic/Saskatchewan) and other figures of prominence. Despite this delay, the CPSS has graciously honored the Treaty 6 and Métis Infinity Reconciliation flags by flying them in their boardroom since the Fall of 2019.
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| January 2019 |
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Land Acknowledgement
To honor the Treaties and the territory of the Indigenous peoples where the CPSS head office is located, Council developed a formal land acknowledgement that states:
“We acknowledge that the land on which we gather is Treaty 6 Territory, the traditional territory and home of the Cree, Dakota, Saulteaux and Métis Nations. We would like to affirm our relationship with one another now and for the future, and our role in guiding the profession to achieve the highest standards of care to benefit all people in this territory equally.”
The land acknowledgement has since been implemented as an item for reflection prior to each Council and CPSS meeting, and also appears on key CPSS documents and communications.
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| November 2021 |
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Endorsement of UNDRIP
Council endorsed the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) [1] document as a whole in the spirit of Reconciliation, as a foundational and guidance document for the alignment of Council’s initiatives to its principles, and to help guide Council’s Truth and Reconciliation Committee in its work. It is important to be aware of the principles in the national and international reports on Indigenous Rights, even though some only apply to government levels, as we still need to ensure those that do are appropriately implemented at our level. Our role is to “keep the feet to the fire” to support the issue.
What is the Declaration?
The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People (UNDRIP) is a comprehensive international human rights instrument on the rights of Indigenous peoples around the world. It contains 46 articles which affirm and set out a broad range of collective and individual rights that constitute the minimum standards to protect the rights of Indigenous peoples. (See Annex A for sections which apply in a healthcare context).
These include rights related to 11 areas:
- 1. Self-determination & self-government,
- 2. Equality & non-discrimination*,
- 3. Culture & language,
- 4. Identity*,
- 5. Religion & spirituality,
- 6. Lands, territories, and resources,
- 7. Environment,
- 8. Indigenous institutions & legal systems,
- 9. Health*,
- 10. Education*, and
- 11. Community
(*Indicates an Area that is relevant to the CPSS mandate)
The UNDRIP is about respect and promotion of the rights of Indigenous peoples as set out in the treaties, it is a framework for reconciliation, healing, and peace. The document states that implementing the Declaration is about:
- Creating a brighter future for present and future generations,
- Continuing our journey of justice, peace, and reconciliation
- Continuing our work to break down barriers and combat racism and discrimination faced by Indigenous people.
In addition, implementing the Declaration also responds to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Call to Action 43, which states: “We call upon federal, provincial territorial and municipal governments to full adopt and implement the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples as the framework for reconciliation[2]
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| March 2022 |
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Endorsement of Joyce’s Principle
The Joyce’s Principle[3] document is a Call to Action that followed the tragic death of Joyce Echaquan in Quebec. It is presented as a goal for a commitment from governments to end an intolerable and unacceptable situation – systemic racism that Indigenous people face in accessing healthcare and social services. The Collège des médecins du Québec endorsed the report on Joyce’s Principle[4] in denouncing systemic racism and promised to undertake steps to support this position and combat systemic racism. Council agreed that also endorsing would be consistent with Council’s endorsement of the Truth and Reconciliation Calls to Action and the UNDRIP document and would help guide its work to address these issues.
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This issue of DocTalk also features an introductory article by Mr. Willie Ermine, Assistant Professor at First Nations University and Researcher, to guide us on the perspective of Indigenous Medicine providers, with more on this topic to follow in the October issue of DocTalk. We strongly encourage you to read his article on Indigenous – Western Healing - An Introduction to the Indigenous Perspective and continue learning with us as we move forward on our path to guide physicians towards a better, more collaborative approach to healthcare.
As the TRC progresses and moves forward with Action items based on Reconciliation, its intentions are not to be punitive, or shaming, but rather to educate and raise awareness of the truth that was hidden for far too long. It is about ending the very personal disparities and discrimination towards and faced by First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples in Saskatchewan and Canada within the healthcare system and the hope that maybe, just maybe, these actions will filter into other systems that are infected and our work may lead to concrete solutions.
Meegwetch (Saulteaux word for “Thank you”)
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