Apologizing for past and ongoing harms

The Canadian Medical Association is deeply sorry for the harms First Nations, Inuit and Métis Peoples have experienced and continue to experience in the Canadian health system.

The racism and discrimination that Indigenous patients and health care providers face is deplorable, and we are deeply ashamed.

As the national voice of the medical profession, we are sorry for the actions and inactions of physicians, residents and medical students that have harmed Indigenous Peoples.

We recognize the significant power that physicians have had historically, and continue to have, in the health system. Physicians play a critical role in the provision of health care, and they have obligations and accountabilities to patients, the health system and society.

As an association, our purpose is to support the medical profession and create a more sustainable, accessible and equitable health system for all patients and providers. In failing to address systemic anti-Indigenous racism in health care, we have failed to fulfill this purpose.

We have not lived up to the ethical standards the medical profession is expected to uphold to ensure the highest standard of care is provided to patients and trust is fostered in physicians, residents and medical students. We realize we have left Indigenous Peoples out of that high standard of care.

To Indigenous Peoples living in Canada, we apologize to you. We are sorry. We are sorry we have lost your trust and for the harms you, your ancestors, your families and your communities have experienced. We acknowledge there are ripple effects on future generations.

We take ownership of the CMA’s history, and we are committed to righting our wrongs and rebuilding our relationship on a foundation of trust, accountability and reciprocity.

We accept responsibility for the CMA’s actions and inactions. We know there is nothing we can do to take back what has been done. We can only move forward — beginning with our commitment to work in partnership and reciprocity with Indigenous Peoples to advance reconciliation in health care.

We humbly acknowledge we are on a learning journey — we will make mistakes despite our best efforts —but we commit to acknowledging those mistakes, learning from them and continuing forward in a meaningful, tangible and sustained way.

This would not be possible without the graciousness of Elders, Knowledge Keepers and Indigenous partners who have shared their teachings, knowledge and truths with us. Their courage to trust and take steps alongside us does not go unnoticed. They have guided, pushed and kindly shared with us even though it has been, without a doubt, an emotionally, spiritually and mentally taxing process to relive painful memories and share intimate community knowledge.

Their kindness, honesty, strength and willingness to share will never be forgotten. As we begin our unlearning and relearning, we humbly take these teachings with us and hold them at the forefront of our interactions with Indigenous Peoples in the CMA’s future commitments and work.