By Canadian Press

UBC Faculty of Medicine apologizes for harms to Indigenous Peoples

Jun 25, 2021 | 5:56 PM

VANCOUVER — The University of British Columbia’s Faculty of Medicine is making a formal apology for its role in past and present harms to Indigenous Peoples and it is committing to expand its response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s calls to action. 

Dr. Dermot Kelleher, the faculty’s dean and vice-president of health, says the school recognizes that Indigenous-specific racism exists within the faculty and is apologizing for the persistent and harmful attitudes and behaviours.

In a wide-ranging apology, he says the school regrets its role in educating and training anyone involved in colonial policy, for dismissing Indigenous world views and for the exclusion from admissions and hiring of Indigenous people. 

Kelleher, who made the apology during a webinar event, says the faculty began implementing the commission’s calls to actions years ago but still has a ways to go.

New commitments include teaching students respect for traditional healing practices, expanding a cultural safety training program and increasing the number of Indigenous students and grads.

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He says access to health care is a basic human right, yet Indigenous Peoples do not have equitable access to it, a wrong that must be corrected. 

“The TRC calls to action clearly lay out the actions we need to take and we are fully committed to this.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 25, 2021.

The Canadian Press