BC Doctors Get Indigenous Name for Reconciliation Work

Doctors of BC took a powerful step toward reconciliation this spring when Musqueam Elders gifted them a traditional name that will shape their future.

The Indigenous Guiding Circle, which advises the medical association on truth and reconciliation work, received the name ya:y̓əstəl̕ during a Coast Salish ceremony on May 26. In the hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ language, it means "working together" in a reciprocal way.

"Receiving a gifted name is incredibly significant," says Dr. Kelsey Louie, Chief Medical Advisor for Indigenous Health Care at Doctors of BC. "It is both a gift and a responsibility to uphold the intention that was put into the name."

The circle includes Elders, Knowledge Keepers, and health leaders from First Nations and Métis communities. Together, they're guiding the organization toward practices that honor Indigenous ways of thinking and knowing.

Elder Coreen Paul, the Musqueam Elder who helped identify the name, explained its deeper meaning. "Having the name ya:y̓əstəl̕ will always bring us back to that place where we're working together to move forward," she shared at the ceremony.

The gift comes as Doctors of BC develops a comprehensive truth and reconciliation plan. The organization is currently reviewing its archives and public records to understand its own history and relationship with Indigenous communities.

The Ripple Effect

The work extends beyond symbolic gestures. Dr. Adam Thompson, President of Doctors of BC, is clear about the mission ahead: addressing Indigenous-specific racism in healthcare and ensuring culturally safe care.

"We still know that Indigenous peoples are suffering harm in the health care system," Thompson acknowledged. The organization is developing an action plan to support physicians across British Columbia in providing better care.

The circle's formation represents a shift in how medical professionals approach Indigenous health. Rather than applying colonial frameworks, they're learning to center Indigenous knowledge and perspectives.

The ceremonial naming happened on traditional Coast Salish territory, home to the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh Nations. This connection to place reminds the medical community whose land they work on and whose trust they must earn.

By accepting this name and its responsibilities, BC's doctors are choosing accountability over comfort and partnership over authority.