Indigenous, political leaders sign health-care anti-racism declaration

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This article was published 25/09/2022 (824 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Systemic change in Manitoba’s health-care system will incorporate Indigenous culture and will no longer tolerate racism, Indigenous and provincial leaders declared Monday.

A formal declaration pledging to eradicate anti-Indigenous racism in Manitoba’s health-care system was signed in Thompson at the Ma-Mow-We-Tak Friendship Centre. Northern chiefs, the Northern Regional Health Authority and Health Minister Audrey Gordon were among those who signed the declaration that promises to make systemic change that includes Indigenous teachings in health care and provides equitable, culturally safe care.

Leaders described the signing of the declaration as a “milestone” and a step toward a better quality of health care for future generations.

Racism toward Indigenous patients isn’t always obvious, said Bernice Thorassie, a client navigator with Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak who helps patients through the health-care system. Thorassie said she gets four or five calls daily — more than 1,400 within the first six months of this year — and spends hours on the phone with patients who most often have to travel to Winnipeg or Thompson for treatment.

“It seems that the door keeps closing on them because of anti-Indigenous racism in the system,” Thorassie said.

She explained she’s heard countless stories of racism and of Indigenous patients not being offered the same treatments as non-Indigenous patients because of assumptions and prejudice.

The declaration paves the way for databases that can chart Indigenous patients’ experiences and follow them through the medical system from admission to discharge, said Dr. Barry Lavallee, CEO of Keewatinohk Inniniw Minoayawin Inc.

Northern Regional Health Authority CEO Helga Bryant acknowledged racism toward Indigenous people does exist in the health region, and she apologized for it.

“We know we all have much to learn, and in many cases, unlearn,” Bryant said during the event.

The declaration defines and acknowledges the existence of Indigenous-specific racism in Manitoba. It was introduced following more than a year of work by MKO, KIM and the NRHA. The declaration is modelled after the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, and it was prompted by the findings of repeated inquiries and commissions that have highlighted health inequality in Indigenous communities — including the Brian Sinclair inquest, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s calls to action, the Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women and Girls inquiry and Joyce’s Principle, following the death of 37-year-old Joyce Echaquan in Quebec.

Gordon described the declaration as the beginning of “important, courageous work” that requires an acknowledgment of ongoing racism and reform in the health-care system in northern Manitoba and across the province.

“Today is not the end. We have much more work to do,” she said.

The full declaration is posted here: http://wfp.to/ooE

katie.may@winnipegfreepress.com