Truth and Reconciliation

June 21, 2025: Answering the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Calls to Action

As of June 21, 2025, we reached a pivotal moment in CPSM's history. 

Play with solid fillIn December 2024, our Council approved mandatory cultural safety and anti-Indigenous racism training for all CPSM registrants. The training launched on June 21, 2025. Learn More

This responds to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada's Call to Action #23, which calls upon the government and healthcare educators to provide cultural competency training for all healthcare professionals.

Play with solid fillThe Standard of Practice for Practicing Medicine to Eliminate Anti-Indigenous Racism came into effect on June 21, 2025. Learn More

Play with solid fillIt is crucial to view the mandatory training and Standard of Practice, along with a third action –the Restorative Practices Program– as complementary to each other. Learn More

This program responds to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada's Call to Action #22, as we center our approach on Indigenous practices and teachingsCPSM's path to addressing anti-Indigenous racism in medical care

Background

In June 2021, CPSM Council made addressing Indigenous-specific racism in medical practice a Strategic Organizational Priority. We formed a Truth and Reconciliation Advisory Circle, led by Dr. Lisa Monkman. We are grateful for the Indigenous physicians, scholars, Elders, and Knowledge Keepers who share their stories, experiences, knowledge, and guidance. 

CPSM began this journey, knowing it would not be easy, but recognizing that it is necessary and fully acknowledging it takes more than a pledge to end racism.

Our commitment  

CPSM is committed to taking action against anti-Indigenous racism and to guiding and supporting Manitoba physicians, residents, students, clinical assistants, and physician assistants to recognize and call out acts of racism against Indigenous persons and medical practitioners.

Recognizing racism in ourselves is not comfortable or easy. We ask and intend to be guided by Indigenous physicians, scholars, Elders, and knowledge keepers, along with the legal and ethical requirements to provide respect, dignity, and equitable health care for Indigenous persons in Manitoba. 

We are also be guided by the virtues exemplified by the ethical physician – compassion, honesty, humility, integrity, and prudence – as required by the Code of Ethics and Professionalism.

7 recommended actions

We will not see change until all practitioners recognize how medical care is impacted by anti-Indigenous racism. In 2023, CPSM committed to seven recommended actions from the Truth and Reconciliation Advisory Circle, which Council has endorsed.

These initiatives will take time and we will continue to engage the Truth and Reconciliation Advisory Circle. We may encounter discomfort and make mistakes along the way, but we make this a priority and we move forward with humility.

Click on each action on the sidebar on the left (or at the top if you are on a smartphone) to learn more about each action.