OMA vote not end of debate

Re The OMA and my cloak of racism, Opinion, May 7 The Ontario Medical Association (OMA) did itself a huge disservice in its majority vote against territorial acknowledgement. Showing a more accurate understanding of jurisdiction, showing compassion and the matter of stopping harm all happen when territorial jury acknowledgement is present.

As others who have brought in such a policy have learned, it doesn’t always go perfectly. It also means that leaders need to ask what the territory is every time they are in a new location. It also means that people need to be prepared to be corrected. All of these skills — learning, outreach, regular education — is supposedly what doctors already do.

In facing truths, we need to acknowledge that this vote’s result — of knowing better than Indigenous peoples and so many other institutions that specialize in history and law — is the function of colonialism. Face it, OMA, you have just shown that you still think you know better, even when you have so much more to learn. Signa A. Daum Shanks, director of Indigenous outreach at Osgoode Hall Law School Dr. Nel Wieman describes the OMA’s decision not to pay tribute to Indigenous peoples as a form of subtle racism. No case was made however, as to why a medical association would delve into Indigenous affairs and Canadian history. While she is quick to allege white privilege, she is remiss to admit her own — that is, attending the most coveted program in university, medicine. If Dr. Wieman is suggesting a system in which candidates can, nay, must, earn their place without prejudice toward ethnicity, colour, family history etc., she can count on my vote. Jeff Stephan, Toronto