Sudbury's health unit adapts anti-racism project that originated in B.C.

Public Health Sudbury and Districts is developing a project that aims to undo and unlearn racist biases that may be in its policies, practices or processes.

The project is called 'Unlearning and Undoing White Supremacy and Racism.'

Health unit staff and members of the board of health will voluntarily be part of the anti-racism initiative.

"Everybody that is involved in the project will start to learn about the ways in which white supremacy, colonization, and racism all embed themselves within our society and how it impacts absolutely everything in our society," said special adviser Sarah Rice.

"It is the root of many of the ways in which we operate."

The project is based on one that originated in British Columbia. In this instance, white supremacy is defined as ideas, thoughts, beliefs and actions of white people that could lead to privileges for some and health inequities for others.

For Rice, it’s important to use the correct terminology.

"Part of the success of the project in B.C. is that leadership enabled the staff to be able to use the words that were necessary in order to do this project," she said.

Public Health Sudbury and Districts is developing a project that aims to undo and unlearn racist biases that may be in its policies, practices or processes. (Photo from video)

"And to learn about white supremacy and racism and the root causes of health inequities in our community."

The end result could be changes to existing policies or processes and will put an anti-racism lens on future decisions.

"I’m not sure that the board members themselves will go and review every policy," said board chair René Lapierre.

"But when staff bring us something new, or an addition or revision for us to approve, we’ll have a better understanding of the concept as to why was this looked at, how come this change (is being) brought forward and the reasons why the board could support it."

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"Everything that you learn in this project is not just going to impact the work that you do here at public health, but it’s going to have a much wider impact," Rice said.

"You’re going to go home and talk about it, you’re going to talk to your colleagues, you’re going to talk to everyone that’s in your sphere."

Health equity is a passion of Dr Mustafa Hirji, the health unit's acting medical officer of health.

"Participation in the Unlearning & Undoing project is both necessary for us to improve health equity of all the people we serve and essential to meet the reconciliation commitments we have made to Indigenous peoples in our region," Hirji said.

He commended staff who discovered the project and brought it to the organization.

"And I want to thank the board of health for choosing unanimously to join us in this journey of self-improvement," Hirji added.

The 18-month project should start early next year after the curriculum from the B.C. project is adapted for local participants.