Combating Physician-Assisted Genocide and White Supremacy in Healthcare through Anti-Oppressive Pedagogies in Canadian Medical Schools to Prevent the Coercive and Forced Sterilization of Indigenous Women

Abstract

Coercive and forced sterilization of Indigenous Peoples are acts of genocide that are rooted in colonialism and white supremacy and require fundamental changes to undergraduate medical education. I (Erika Campbell) draw upon the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s 24th Call to Action, which calls for “skills-based training in intercultural competency, conflict resolution, human rights, and anti-racism” in medical schools. Additionally, I draw upon Call for Justice 7.6 from the Reclaiming Power and Place: The Final Report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girl, which calls upon institutions and health service providers be educated in areas including, but not limited to: the history of colonialism in the oppression and genocide of Inuit, Métis, and First Nations Peoples; anti-bias and anti-racism; local language and culture; and local health and healing practice. I analyzed the responses of all 17 undergraduate medical programs in Canada to determine how they incorporated anti-racism within their medical education to meet the Calls to Action and Justice. All undergraduate medical programs include some form of cultural learning, which I argue does not directly challenge racism and colonialism. As such, I advocate for the implementation of anti-oppressive pedagogies within curricula to facilitate the unlearning of colonial rhetoric. I further argue the implementation of anti-oppressive pedagogies within education will contribute to the eradication of the ongoing genocide of Indigenous Peoples and white supremacy within our healthcare systems.