Action Plan

UBC First Aid Support Team (FAST) operates on the traditional, ancestral, and stolen land of the hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ speaking xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) Peoples. As a student-led organization providing first aid support and training within the UBC community, FAST understands that our work takes place within broader historical and ongoing contexts shaped by colonialism and systemic inequities.

Our Commitments

UBC FAST grounds its commitments in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s Calls to Action, which inform the commitments outlined below:

Call to Action 18:

“We call upon the federal, provincial, territorial, and Aboriginal governments to acknowledge that the current state of Aboriginal health in Canada is a direct result of previous Canadian government policies…”

FAST Commitment:

FAST responder training materials will explicitly acknowledge the historical roots of present-day Indigenous health inequities, providing examples from Dr. Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond’s 2020 report “In Plain Sight.”

Call to Action 23:

“We call upon all levels of government to… provide cultural competency training for all health-care professionals.”

FAST Commitment:

FAST will incorporate cultural safety and cultural humility training into responder onboarding and refresher training, emphasizing trauma-informed, respectful, and holistic first-aid response.

Call to Action 24:

“We call upon medical and nursing schools in Canada to require all students to take a course dealing with Aboriginal health issues, including the history and legacy of residential schools…”

FAST Commitment:

FAST responders and executive team will undergo Indigenous-led education and training through organizations such as the Indian Residential School Survivors Society (IRSSS) to build foundational understanding of the impacts of colonialism on the treatment of Indigenous Peoples in healthcare settings.

Ongoing Responsibility

FAST will review this Action Plan at the start of each academic semester, including whether commitments are being met and where gaps remain.

FAST will seek feedback from the UBC community through anonymous feedback surveys and adjust practices accordingly.

FAST recognizes reconciliation as an ongoing process, not a completed task, and commits to revisiting its role and impact throughout each academic semester.

FAST will avoid symbolic actions that are not grounded in learning or accountability and focus instead on meaningful, genuine support.

The following sources and resources were consulted in the development of this Action Plan:

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