Sudbury health unit to offer staff program on undoing white supremacy and racism in health care

Public Health Sudbury and Districts is offering a voluntary program for its staff and board members called Unlearning and Undoing White Supremacy and Racism.

The health unit's board voted unanimously to move forward with the program, which was originally developed by the Provincial Health Services Authority of British Columbia.

"As an organization, we're endeavouring to learn about the ways in which white supremacy and racism embed themselves within our society," said Sarah Rice, the health unit's special adviser on Indigenous affairs.

"And how we can contribute to learning about these things and potentially some systemic changes both within our organization, but hopefully within the larger community as well."

Rice saidthe term "white supremacy" might be triggering for some people, but in the context of the program, it refers to an ideological belief in society that "whiteness or being white is a value and is superior to others."

Rice saidthat ideology shows up in all kinds of ways in everyday lifeand is present in the health-care system.

"Once you start learning about what white supremacy is and racism and how insidious it is in our culture, it's hard not to see it anymore."

Rice saidthe 18-month program goes beyond cultural sensitivity training because it helps participants understand the root causes of inequities in our society.

The program is expected to start early next year.