September 30 is the fourth annual National Day for Truth and Reconciliation in Canada and Orange Shirt Day. It is a time to remember the children lost to residential schools, and to honour the communities still impacted by the history of that system.
On Monday, September 30, at 3:00pm, the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation, with APTN, will broadcast the annual “Remembering the Children” gathering on Parliament Hill, on the unceded and unsurrendered territory of the Anishinaabe Algonquin Nation. You can join the gathering, virtually, here: https://www.aptntv.ca/ndtr/rtc/.
AFHTO is committed to honouring the principles of truth and reconciliation and acknowledges the need to arrive at a better understanding of colonization, the trauma of residential schools for Indigenous people and communities, and the ongoing impacts of systemic racism.
AFHTO also acknowledges the need for healthcare providers to take steps to create safer spaces and change for Indigenous health and wellbeing and is committed to working in concert with Indigenous and non-Indigenous providers in the healthcare system to ensure health services and supports are delivered in manners that are culturally appropriate, comfortable, respectful, and inclusive.
We encourage members to seek understanding about the experiences of Indigenous peoples and recognize that historical and ongoing systemic wrongs have impacts that affects us all. One avenue for greater understanding are IPHCC Foundations of Indigenous Cultural Safety (ICS) e-learning modules, where members can learn the importance of adopting culturally safe and appropriate practices when serving Indigenous clients and patients.
AFHTO acknowledges that we are on the traditional territory of many nations including the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee and the Wendat peoples and is now home to many diverse First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples. We also acknowledge that Toronto is covered by Treaty 13 signed with the Mississaugas of the Credit, and the Williams Treaties signed with multiple Mississaugas and Chippewa bands.