Canadian Medical Association to formally apologize for harming Indigenous communities

On Sept. 18, the group representing the nation's physicians is set to formally apologize for the role doctors played in harming members of Canada's Indigenous communities “both through action and inaction.” The group hopes the apology will build trust with members of the First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities while encouraging medical professionals to undergo a personal reconciliation journey. The ceremony will include a moment of silence as well as speeches from a number of physicians, including Dr. Alika Lafontaine, the first Indigenous president in the association’s 155-year history.