“The conclusions in this report are horrific but unfortunately, not surprising. Indigenous-specific racism is embedded in Canada’s colonial history, and only by taking responsibility can we achieve better health outcomes for Indigenous peoples in this country,” says Wabano’s Executive Director Allison Fisher. “And the time to take responsibility and swift action is now.”

The findings of anti-Indigenous racism are highlighted in the Coalition’s comprehensive report from the Share Your Story research project, entitled Indigenous-Specific Racism & Discrimination in Health Care Across the Champlain Region. The report uses the experiences and eye-witness accounts of more than 200 Indigenous people who sought health care services across the Champlain region to illustrate and highlight deeply embedded racist and stereotypical attitudes. “These stories of racism within the health care system are our truth.

Our people deserve to be able to speak our truth and we deserve to be heard,” says Ms. Fisher. The truth is that the report’s findings are shocking. Non-Indigenous health care providers working in hospital emergency departments and maternity wards especially, in paramedic services, and in community settings like clinics view Indigenous people as:

• racially inferior;
• diseased,
• addicted,
• mentally unwell;
• a burden;
• angry and aggressive; and
• bad parents. 

Startlingly, the highest frequency of both overt and covert racism, negative stereotypes, and discrimination in the region occurs in hospital emergency departments and maternity wards (70.8% in Ottawa and 65.2% in rural communities), followed by community health clinic settings and paramedics.

The report outlines the following unsettling findings:

• 76% of participants felt they could have received better service if they were able to hide their Indigenous identity
• 26% of all reported incidents of anti-Indigenous racism also included one or more types of discrimination based on gender, sexual orientation, age, or disability
• 78% reported that they sometimes or always experience anti-Indigenous racism in the health care system
• 59% felt their experiences of racism and discrimination had negatively impacted their physical well-being
• 73% felt their experiences of racism and discrimination had negatively impacted their mental well-being

The report concludes with 27 recommendations divided into seven themes, with additional recommendations couched within each theme:

• Recommendation 1: Ownership (Courage)
• Recommendation 2: Commitment to Equity & Collaboration (Respect)
• Recommendation 3: Expectations (Truth)
• Recommendation 4: Standards (Love)
• Recommendation 5: Accountability (Humility)
• Recommendation 6: Oversight (Honesty)
• Recommendation 7: Continual Improvement and Renewal (Wisdom)

https://wabano.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/ShareYourStory-ShortReport-ENpdf.pdf

In addition to launching the report, the Coalition and Wabano have issued a declaration, asking the leaders of each political party in Ontario to sign, and commit to effecting systemic change. “These deeply embedded stereotypes continue to harm Indigenous people today. The institutions of power have the responsibility and duty to provide good health care, to also commit and make the necessary change, to stop the racist abuse. If we don’t, Indigenous people will continue to suffer harm,” says Ms. Fisher.