Our Commitment
Reconciliation is grounded in truth and is relationship-based, built on trust, humility, and mutual respect. At RCCbc, reconciliation means acknowledging historical and ongoing injustices, actively dismantling barriers, and working alongside First Nations, Inuit, and Métis partners and communities in British Columbia to co-create meaningful, lasting change.
Throughout 2024, RCCbc continued learning from and walking alongside Indigenous communities and healthcare leaders. Our role has primarily been one of listening, supporting, and amplifying Indigenous-led approaches, embedding cultural safety, and co-creating healthcare systems shaped by the priorities, knowledge, and leadership of Indigenous Peoples.
This report does not capture all our reconciliation work, nor does it suggest completion. Rather, it offers a respectful account of how RCCbc has sought to embody reconciliation in response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action—recognising that there is still significant work ahead. In the coming year, RCCbc will continue to strengthen relationships, expand its use of Indigenous-led evaluation frameworks, and share progress transparently to ensure ongoing accountability.
Honouring Indigenous Knowledge in Education and Practice
TRC Calls to Action: #22, #23, #24
Reconciliation in healthcare starts long before care is provided. It begins with education, humility, and a willingness to co-learn and reflect deeply.
UBC Rural Continuing Professional Development (Rural CPD) advanced culturally safer care through “Nawh Whu’nus’en – We See in Two Worlds,” a trauma-informed, Indigenous-led curriculum delivered in collaboration with First Nations partners and the First Nations Health Authority (FNHA).
“We offer training to rural health professionals to help create conditions enabling culturally safer care when working with Indigenous patients.” —UBC Rural CPD submission
The Indigenous Medical Education Gathering (IMEG), hosted in collaboration with the BC Indigenous Physicians Network an RCCbc initiative, Indigenous Physicians Association of Canada, partners across UBC and the FNHA, brought together Indigenous medical learners, physicians, and allies to share teachings, build relationships, and engage in land-based and cultural learning. Grounded in ceremony and Elder guidance, IMEG strengthened professional development through Indigenous knowledge and advanced culturally safer medical education.
Through Quality Team Coaching for Rural BC (QTC4RBC), healthcare teams reflected on colonisation’s impacts and cultivated environments of cultural and psychological safety, crucial to supporting Indigenous health professionals.
“We talk about colonisation impacts and offer skills supporting a felt sense of safety.” —QTC4RBC submission
The Rural Medicine Interest Longitudinal Mentorship program guided medical students into rural practice, fostering cultural humility and preparing practitioners to serve respectfully in Indigenous communities.
“This work attempts to uplift rural work, which often serves a higher proportion of Indigenous patients.” —Dr. James Card
Through collaborative research, including co-authored publications with FNHA, RCCbc Research and Rural Health Services Research Network of BC (RHSRNbc) showcased Indigenous healing practices and knowledge, further embedding these teachings into healthcare training and climate health initiatives.
“Continuing to share work completed with Indigenous communities remains an equity target for BC Rural Health Research Exchange (BCRHRx).” —RCCbc Research submission
“We emphasise the importance of including Indigenous worldviews, perspectives, and practices—especially in climate change and action.”
Supporting Indigenous Leadership and Workforce Development
TRC Calls to Action: #23, #24
Indigenous leadership is central to meaningful health system transformation. RCCbc-supported initiatives consistently sought to elevate and embed Indigenous ways of knowing and leading into healthcare systems across the province.
The Compassionate Leadership initiative, in partnership with the Atleo Centre, centred Indigenous approaches to leadership, relational accountability, and psychological safety.
“The initiative embeds relational leadership principles rooted in Indigenous ways of knowing and creates culturally responsive environments.” —Compassionate Leadership submission
The RCCbc for Inclusion, Social Justice, and Equity (RISE) Reference Group advanced system-level equity through tools such as the Conceptual Lens and Evaluation Matrix, directly supporting increased representation of Indigenous professionals and improved cultural safety in healthcare settings.
“RISE supports our network and projects in elevating Indigenous health equity and measuring goals.” —RISE submission
The Rural Physician Scholars initiative empowered physician researchers like Drs. Katherine Bell and Jenny Phillips to explore systemic barriers uniquely impacting rural and Indigenous healthcare providers and patients.
“Our Rural Scholars built interdisciplinary teams and advocate for rural needs to be visible in research systems.” — Rural Physician Scholars submission
The Thriving Project acknowledged the indirect yet significant link between healthcare provider wellness and culturally safer, higher-quality care for Indigenous patients.
“We know that thriving physicians provide better healthcare than struggling ones.” —Thriving Project submission
Addressing Gaps in Health Outcomes and Access
TRC Calls to Action: #3, #18, #19, #20
Reconciliation in rural healthcare also means addressing critical inequities in access to timely, culturally appropriate care—particularly through transport infrastructure and innovative virtual care models.
Transport initiatives within RCCbc collaborated closely with First Nations communities and BC Emergency Health Services (BCEHS), systematically identifying gaps in patient transport and co-creating evidence-based, equitable solutions.
“Equitable access is necessary to address differing health outcomes for First Nations patients.” —Transport submission
Real-Time Virtual Support (RTVS) provided culturally safe, relationship-centred virtual pathways, significantly improving real-time clinical support and care accessibility in remote communities. RTVS physicians are supported to offer care with greater cultural safety and confidence.
“Virtual physicians with RTVS peer pathways collaborate with Indigenous community providers to tailor patient care, based on geography, resources, and support networks, and to help patients and community providers navigate the health system.” —RTVS submission
The RTVS Fire Department (faculty development team) supported Indigenous cultural safety through cultural humility training and anti-racism practices aligned with In Plain Sight Recommendation 8.
The Rural Surgical and Obstetrical Network (RSON) supported Indigenous access through community-led planning and culturally safe initiatives. Teams were encouraged to include activities in their RSON plans that improved maternity care accessibility and quality for Indigenous community members, including those guided by MMIWG Call to Action 3.2.
“RTVS peer pathways provide virtual physicians with cultural safety and humility learning opportunities developed in collaboration with Indigenous peoples.”
Indigenous Knowledge in Research and Evaluation
TRC Calls to Action: #22, #24
True reconciliation also requires honouring Indigenous methodologies in research and embedding Indigenous knowledge in healthcare evaluation frameworks.
The Rural Physician Research Grant Program (RPRGP) explicitly prioritised Indigenous-focused health research and actively recruited Indigenous reviewers, ensuring research questions and outcomes reflected Indigenous community priorities.
“The funding Committee is recruiting Indigenous perspectives… encouraging applications from Indigenous research leads.” —RPRGP submission
Further, RHSRNbc’s educational programs emphasised Indigenous knowledge and leadership, particularly around climate health, integrating Indigenous methodologies throughout research processes and education delivery.
