Cultural safety and humility
CPSBC is located on the unceded and traditional territory of the Coast Salish peoples, including the territories of the hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ speaking peoples―the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) and sel̓íl̓witulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations, and the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh-ulh Sníchim speaking peoples―the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) Nation.
We acknowledge the rights and title of BC First Nations whose territories span across the province. These territories recognize that laws, governance, and health systems tied to lands and waters have existed here since time immemorial.
Our commitment
CPSBC is committed to stopping the cycle of Indigenous-specific racism that is embedded in BC’s health-care system. Our mandate is to protect the safety of BC patients by ensuring physicians and surgeons meet expected standards of practice and conduct. As part of that mandate, we are committed to inviting the voice of Indigenous people into our governance structure and operations.
Past, present and future
CPSBC acknowledges it is a generational effort to undo the harms of colonization and that much more needs to be done. We approach this work with the lens of the past, present and future. We must first acknowledge our past before we begin focusing on our present and future.
In 2025, our records and archives team looked into our historical records to see what role CPSBC played in the colonial system that caused Indigenous people so much harm. Their findings reflected various attitudes over the decades, and suggested CPSBC councils knew about the inferior care, discrimination and harm towards Indigenous people. For generations, we were complicit.
We began to take action in 2017 by signing the Declaration of Commitment to Cultural Safety and Humility, along with other health regulators, the Ministry of Health, and the First Nations Health Authority.
Our actions
Since signing the Declaration of Commitment to Cultural Safety and Humility, we have taken steps to create, enable and sustain a climate for change.
Some of our recent actions include:
- embedding Indigenous collaboration as a core strategic theme in the 2024–2028 strategic plan to guide efforts towards being a supportive and dedicated partner to Indigenous communities and organizations
- implementing a standard for registrants that explicitly addresses the requirement to provide culturally safe, humble, and responsive care
- updating our complaints process to make it more accessible to Indigenous people
- requiring all board members, the senior leadership team, and employees who engage directly with the public to complete the San’yas Anti-Racism Indigenous Cultural Safety Training Program
- increasing Indigenous membership on the Board and committees
- investing in supports and hiring staff to ensure a safe environment for Indigenous people engaging with CPSBC
We will continue to confront and address past harms to Indigenous people and build for the future with our truth and reconciliation work.
