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Taking action to dismantle Indigenous-specific racism

On Nov. 30, 2020, Health Minister Adrian Dix released findings from an independent review into the extent of Indigenous-specific racism in BC’s health-care system. The findings released in this report, titled In Pla​in Sight​, showed the devastating impact Indigenous-specific racism has on health outcomes for Indigenous people in B.C. The release of the In Plain Sight report underscored the urgent need for all partners in the health-care system to take swift and decisive action to dismantle the systemic racism that has led to such poor health outcomes for First Nations, Inuit, and Métis (Indigenous) Peoples.

BCCNM's commitment

In 2017, the previous B.C. nursing and midwifery colleges were four of 22 B.C. health professions to pledge their commitment to making our health system more culturally safe for First Nations and Aboriginal people. BCCNM continues this commitment. ​

On May 11, 2021, BC's four largest health regulators issued an apology to the Indigenous people and communities who have experienced racism while engaging with these health regulatory colleges and with the health professionals they regulate. The four colleges published a one-year update on their progress​ on the commitments laid out in the apology and then in June 2023, BCCNM, the College of Physicians and Surgeons of BC, and the College of Pharmacists of BC published a two-year​ update on their progress toward those efforts.

Future updates will be published by each college individually. All the BCCNM commitments made as part of this collaboration have been folded into our ongoing work to address Indigenous-specific racism in the health-care system. ​

• ​​Review our reports and updates 

Indigenous-specific roles at BCCNM

BCCNM’s commitment to Indigenous-specific anti-racism echoes throughout the organization, with specific goals relating to hiring. As set out in the Redressing Harm plan, our goal is to transparently address the underrepresentation of Indigenous staff and contractors by establishing meaningful targets for recruitment, and by developing a dedicated strategy for increasing recruitment and retention of Indigenous people with lived experience to leaders, staff and contractor roles.

• ​​Learn-more about Indigneous -specific​ recruitment

​Questions or feedback? 

We want to hear from you. Email us at culturalsafety@bccnm.ca​. 

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