Announcement Made: Indigenous Peoples to Receive Apology Process for Health Care Harm

The Canadian Medical Association (CMA) has committed to reconciling with Indigenous Peoples in the health-care system by issuing an apology for the harms caused. These harms include forced sterilizations, birthing alerts, forced medical experimentation, and systemic racism.

According to Alika Lafontaine, the President of the CMA, the maltreatment of Indigenous Peoples by the Canadian health-care system has been well-known for a long time. Lafontaine believes that the lack of trust in the system is rooted in the untold stories of mistreatment within Indigenous communities.

As part of their long-term strategy and health system advocacy, the CMA aims to deliver the apology in 2024, with the involvement of stakeholders across the country in the medical community. This apology is seen as a necessary step toward reconciliation, as Lafontaine emphasizes that truth cannot exist without trust.

Veronica McKinney, the Director of Northern Medical Services, sees this commitment as a positive first step. She believes that change, although slow, is happening, thanks in part to the increasing representation of Indigenous people in leadership positions within the health-care system.

Lafontaine, the first Indigenous President of the CMA, stands resolute in taking these next steps towards reconciliation. He views the apology as part of an ongoing process that began years ago, acknowledging that it is not the end but a continued effort to address the problems faced by Indigenous individuals in the medical field.