‘It has to stop’: Métis Nation BC asks province to set up tip line to report racism in healthcare

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) — In light of reports of a racist ‘game’ targeting Indigenous patients, the president of Métis Nation BC is asking the health minister to establish a tip line to report racism in the healthcare system.

Clara Morin Dal Col met with Minister of Health Adrian Dix Sunday.

On Friday, Dix announced an investigation into what he described as “serious allegations of racist and completely abhorrent practices.” That probe will look into reports that a ‘game’ guessing the blood alcohol concentration of Indigenous patients is commonplace among physicians, nurses, and other staff.

Dal Col says her phone has been ringing off the hook since the investigation launched.

“We were flooded with calls just for this one issue in one day,” she says.

“This goes much deeper than the ‘game’ that’s come to light. That’s the tip of the iceberg. Racism has been in our healthcare system for a lot of years. Indigenous people have to feel safe, and secure and welcome when they are seeking treatment from our healthcare professionals.”

Setting up a toll-free tip line would also help staff come forward without the fear of speaking up directly to their employer.

“Healthcare staff who have witnessed this, have stories to tell but are afraid to lose their jobs,” she explains.

A tipline alone won’t solve systemic racism, but it will allow the province to understand how and where discrimination is taking place.

“It is a small ask, but yet huge to the people that need it,” Dal Col says.

“I think we just have a lot of work ahead of us to ensure that this does not continue. It is unacceptable. Things have to change for people. Right now people are out there protesting racism and we’ve had it in our healthcare system with Indigenous people for a lot of years.”

She says Dix appeared receptive to the suggestion but didn’t make any promises.

A special statement from President Clara Morin Dal Col regarding systemic racism in BC's health care system + response to meeting with Health Minister Adrian Dix today pic.twitter.com/ahxGf8ji3U

— Métis Nation BC (@MetisNationBC) June 21, 2020

San’yas Indigenous Cultural Safety Training was developed in 2008, becoming mandatory for all staff at the Ministry of Health and the Provincial Health Services Authority in 2009.

The training is meant to help create “a climate where the unique history of Indigenous peoples is recognized and respected in order to provide appropriate care and services in an equitable and safe way, without discrimination.”

It is not mandatory for all healthcare workers in the province whereas Ontario began requiring it in 2016 in response to the final report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

A 2019 report obtained by Métis Nation BC says, “Since 2009, the San’yas program has documented thousands of examples of harm,” it reads.

“We examined hundreds of real-life examples of people in health services doing harm, witnessing harm, or anticipating harm based on harmful beliefs and behaviours.”

The report documents instances of racism ranging from substandard care, to misdiagnosis, to outright insult and ridicule.

Dal Cor says the report’s revelations — especially in light of the current investigation launched by the province — shows training is not working.

“It has to go a lot further than what they’ve done so far,” she says. “It can’t just stop and say we’re doing [training], we’re doing a report. We get so many reports, so many papers written but yet nothing happens. So, that has to change. People have to see that there is change, and not just talking about it.”

“So this has to result in a whole overhaul of the system here in British Columbia, and probably across our whole nation.”