This spring, xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) Elders and cultural teachers gifted the name ya:y̓əstəl̕ to the Indigenous Guiding Circle, which provides guidance to Doctors of BC on its commitments to truth and reconciliation undertaken on behalf of the association and profession. The name ya:y̓əstəl̕, which means “working together” in a reciprocal way in the hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ language, was gifted following a Coast Salish ceremony in xʷməθkʷəy̓əm on May 26.

“Receiving a gifted name is incredibly significant,” says Dr Kelsey Louie, Chief Medical Advisor, Indigenous Health Care, Doctors of BC and a member of ya:y̓əstəl̕. “It is both a gift and a responsibility to uphold the intention that was put into the name.”

ya:y̓əstəl̕ includes Elders, Knowledge Keepers, and health leaders from First Nations and Métis communities who provide leadership to the organization on its truth and reconciliation work.

“To move away from colonization and its practices, we need to move forward in Indigenous ways of thinking and knowing,” Elder Coreen Paul said in an interview at the May 26 ceremony. She is the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm Elder and member of ya:y̓əstəl̕ who was deeply involved in identifying the name and sharing its teachings. “Having the name ya:y̓əstəl̕ will always bring us back to that place where we’re working together to move forward.”

“My hope is that the Doctors of BC Truth and Reconciliation Plan will support the physicians of BC to actively address Indigenous-specific racism in the health care system and better provide care in a culturally safe way,” said Dr Adam Thompson, President of Doctors of BC. “There has been work done already, and there’s a lot more work to do. We still know that Indigenous peoples are suffering harm in the health care system. Our journey includes developing an action plan so we can support physicians within our organization to better provide culturally safe care.”

To support the development of the truth and reconciliation plan, Doctors of BC is currently reviewing public records and the organization’s archives to learn about the association’s history.

The land from which Doctors of BC’s main office supports physicians is on the traditional territories of the Coast Salish peoples, including the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm, Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations.

Read more:

Meet the members of ya:y̓əstəl̕.

Learn more about Doctors of BC’s commitment to truth and reconciliation.