Two Canadian entities recently offered apologies to the Indigenous people of Canada.
TORONTO, Ont.-In recent weeks, two more Canadian organizations have come forward with apologies to the Indigenous people for their roles in discrimination and programs that supported colonization and assimilation.
In mid December, the YWCA Canada announced, "As we have embarked on a journey towards meaningful reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples, YWCA Canada is taking ownership of the harms caused as part of our legacy as a historically colonial institution with faith-based origins that were used to assimilate Indigenous communities," Aline Nizigama, chief executive officer of YWCA Canada, said.
The organization commissioned a research report in 2019 to explore its role in residential schools and Indian hospitals. In December, the report was published and a summary is available at https://ywcacanada.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/EN-SUMMARY-The-Role-Report_Dec6.pdf.
The report concluded that the YWCA promoted programs that focused on training Indigenous girls colonial methods of lifestyles and home keeping, diminishing their culture and family training.
The organization notes that they created activity programs that provided white-culture-
specific training and behavior lessons to patients at "Indian hospitals" in the 1950s, encouraging patients to leave their home bases and enter the non-Indigenous worlds.
The organization also created programs that were "operating based on its belief that Indigenous youth were unable to use their free time productively," basically assuming urban Indigenous students needed help staying out of trouble.
According to the report, "It is clear that the YWCA played a role in supporting colonial ideologies and promoting policies of assimilation, and we must confront this difficult aspect of our history."
CBC News notes that the YMCA now has a national director of Indigenous relations and reconciliation from Pasqua First Nation in Saskatchewan, who is researching with First Nation communities to create a reconciliation action plan and develop appropriate, culture-honoring outreaches and programs. Jessica Gordon and her siblings and grandparents attended what was formerly known as Lebret Indian Residential School, so she brings in a first-hand perspective.
Gordon is developing a reconciliation action plan to ensure there's no further harm to Indigenous people and she said one of the priorities is building relationships with Indigenous communities.
"I believe it is important to take any steps toward reconciliation as well as put the truth out there on what the YWCA did to participate in the harms of Indigenous folks," she said to CBC News.
The YWCA has also committed to maintaining their archives for truth serving and to offer support to Indigenous staff, volunteers, and community members.
This apology follows on the heels of another substantial organization admitting culpability and asking for forgiveness. In the fall, the Canadian Medical Association publicized a statement saying it was "deeply ashamed" and "deeply sorry" for harms the medical profession has caused Indigenous people currently and historically.
During a ceremony in Victoria, CMA president, Dr. Joss Reimer, said, "The racism and discrimination that Indigenous patients and health-care providers face is deplorable," said CMA president Dr. Joss Reimer. "We acknowledge there are ripple effects on future generations. We take ownership of the CMA's history, and we are committed to righting our wrongs and rebuilding our relationship on a foundation of trust, accountability and reciprocity."
The apology cited specific examples of harms, including the Indian Hospital system, which promoted systemic racism and discrimination in the health care system; sterilization; medical experimentation on children in residential schools and on Indigenous adults; neglect and abuse:
The CMA's first Indigenous president said Indigenous and non-Indigenous individuals need to "lift together so the CMA can move forward with authentic change."
Moving forward, the CMA's first Indigenous president, Dr. Alika Lafontaine, said, "It's a chapter that we hope First Nations, Inuit and Métis Peoples can write with us together as we work toward a health system that provides Indigenous Peoples with the right care, at the right time, in the right place, in a good way."
