He became the Chief Medical Health Officer of Ontario. He wrote the very first Health Code in Ontario. He was president of the American Public Health Association. He was a North American expert on public health. Dr. Peter Henderson Bryce wanted to become Canada's first public health officer. When an opening came up at Indian Affairs, he decided it would be a good stepping stone.

In this series, we look at the practices, policies, and official correspondence to reveal the intentional actions and acts of indifference that contributed to poor health and lethal outcomes. There will be examples of people who pushed back - the whistleblowers - the parents, the Indigenous communities, the bureaucrats, and members of the clergy. The experts interviewed highlight how archival documents only reveal part of the history and that numerous questions remain.

Content Warning: This series talks about Indian Residential Schools, medical racism, segregated health care, and missing patients.If you are a Residential School Survivor or Intergenerational Survivor, you can access support through the National Indian Residential School Crisis Line at 1-866-925-4419. Mental health and crisis support is also available through Hope 4 Wellness at 1-855-242-3310.

Credits:

Written/Produced by Maia-Foster Sanchez

Co-Producer: Ryan Barnett

Additional Voices: Gabriel Maracle

Our series advisors are Teresa Edwards, Kaila Johnston, and Erin Millions.

Artwork by Caleb Ellison-Dysart

A Knockabout Media Production | Funded by the Government of Canada

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The Story Of A National Crime: "A Condition Disgraceful to the Country" 33:00 Share

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The Story Of A National Crime: "A Condition Disgraceful to the Country"