South Island Division of Family Practice

National Day for Truth and Reconciliation - September 30th

 

 

"orange and white graphic of a sun with a silhouette of a narwhal, flower and eagle"

We have put together a list of resources about National Day for Truth and Reconciliation that we are proud to share with you. Please feel welcome to distribute these resources to anyone who may be looking for a way to honour this important day.

How can you get involved?

South Island Powwow

The Songhees Nation held its 2022 Powwow at Royal Athletic Park (1014 Caledonia Avenue) on September 30th, 2022. It offered Survivors and their families an opportunity to be recognized in the spirit of reconciliation. 

Check back here for information on this year's upcoming Powwow, September 2023.

 

Legacy of Hope

A national Indigenous charitable organization with the mandate to educate and create awareness and understanding about the Residential School System, including the intergenerational impacts such as the removal of generations of Indigenous children from their families, including the Sixties Scoop, the post-traumatic stress disorders that many First Nations, Inuit, and Metis continue to experience, all while trying to address racism, foster empathy and understanding and inspire action to improve the situation of Indigenous Peoples today.  The LHF supports the ongoing healing process of Residential School Survivors, and their families and seeks their input on projects that honour them.

 

Orange Shirt Day

Includes local places to pick up Orange Shirt Day shirts, hoodies, buttons, etc.

 

Reconciliation Canada

Born from the vision of Chief Dr. Robert Joseph, Gwawaenuk Elder, Reconciliation Canada is leading the way in engaging Canadians in dialogue and transformative experiences that revitalize the relationships among Indigenous peoples and all Canadians. Our model for reconciliation engages people in open and honest conversation to understand our diverse histories and experiences. We actively engage multi-faith and multi-cultural communities to explore the meaning of reconciliation. Together, we are charting a New Way Forward.

Reconciliation Canada actively provides programs and initiatives to inspire positive change in communities throughout Canada.

 

San’yas Indigenous Cultural Safety Training

If you are a South Island Division member, there is an opportunity to have the cost of this course reimbursed.  Please contact ap@sidfp.com for more information.

 

What can you read?

21 Things You May Not Know About the Indian Act by Bob Joseph, et al.

Braiding Sweetgrass – Robin Wall Kimmerer

In Plain Sight: Addressing Indigenous-Specific Racism and Discrimination in BC Health Care

Power and Privilege in Canada by Dr Amy Tan

Project of Heart: Illuminating the hidden history of Indian Residential Schools in BC by the BCTF.”

Seven Fallen Feathers – Tanya Talaga

SIDFP Fall 2020 Newsletter: The Pulse!

The Deepest Well by Nadine Burke Harris

The Inconvenient Indian: A Curious Account of Native People in North America by Thomas King

Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada: Calls to Action

Vancouver Island Map of First Nations

 

What can you watch?

My dad’s unbelievable story, untold by him.

In recognition of Oral Health Month, the FNHA and Connie Paul, Teltitelwet/Yetta, of Tsartlip First Nation, are pleased to share the video, “My dad’s dental story” or “My dad’s unbelievable story, untold by him.” In it, Connie, who is a Registered Nurse and Home Care Coordinator for Snuneymuxw First Nation, shares the story of her father Benny Paul’s dental experience during his time in residential school.

The video speaks to the importance of hardwiring cultural safety and humility within the dental system and the need to educate dental practitioners on how trauma can influence generations of health care clients. As Connie notes, “People have to heal with dignity or they will not heal at all.”

Learn more: https://www.fnha.ca/about/news-and-events/news/watch-my-dads-unbelievable-story-untold-by-him

Note: This video contains sensitive content about residential school experiences and could be triggering for some viewers. For culturally safe crisis support, please phone: 1-800-KUU-US17 | 1-800-588-8717

 

Phyllis’ story

Orange Shirt Day is a legacy of the St. Joseph Mission (SJM) residential school commemoration event held in Williams Lake, BC, Canada, in May 2013.  It grew out of Phyllis’ story of having her shiny new orange shirt taken away on her first day of school at the Mission, and it has become an opportunity to keep the discussion on all aspects of residential schools happening annually.

 

Picking up the Pieces: The Making of the Witness Blanket

Inspired by a woven blanket, this large‐scale art installation is made from hundreds of items reclaimed from residential schools, churches, government buildings and traditional and cultural structures across Canada.

The process of gathering these objects and their stories took artist Carey Newman and his team from coast to coast to coast. They travelled over 200,000 kilometres, visited 77 communities, met over 10,000 people, and welcomed over a thousand objects into their care.

Each object has a story to tell, each survivor has something to say. The 90‐minute feature documentary film Picking Up the Pieces: The Making of the Witness Blanket weaves those stories with Carey Newman’s personal journey, examining how art can open our hearts to the pain of truth and the beauty of resilience.

The makers of the documentary have made it freely available online to share the power of storytelling and testimony during a time of fear, uncertainty and social isolation. They invite you to bear witness.

This film shares traumatic stories of Indian residential school survivors. Please watch and share with gentleness. If you or your family members have a history with residential schools, make sure before watching that you can connect with support.

http://witnessblanket.ca/#!/project/

 

Reel Injun

A look at representations of Native Americans in Hollywood cinema from the days of Thomas Edison to today, highlighting the way such predominantly negative portrayals impacted historical understanding of the Native American experience on both sides.

 

Stolen Children

Stolen Children explores the impact of residential schools on former students and their children and grandchildren.  Survivors share their harrowing experiences and discuss the legacy of fear, abuse and suicide being passed down from generation to generation.

 

Webinar – TRC: A day of reflection - 10:30am

It has been six years since the release of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s (TRC) Final Report and its 94 Calls to Action to pursue reconciliation.  This 90-minute webinar will be hosted by Gracie Kelly, Indigenous Relations Manager at the Chilliwack Division of Family Practice with guest speaker Francis Horne Sr. (Khut Whee Mul Ukh), Indigenous Cultural Advisor at the Fraser Health Authority, to reflect on the TRC and a path towards reconciliation.