September 30, 2022
On National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, the Catholic health community acknowledges the past and present impacts of colonialism in Canada and remains committed to building relationships with Indigenous Peoples that contribute to justice, healing, and reconciliation.
Across Canada, our member organizations serve many residential school survivors, their descendants, and their families and communities. We bear witness to continued demonstration of their strength and resilience, while also grappling with present day inequities, racism, and oppression.
Catholic health is committed to being a healing presence on the journey of Truth and Reconciliation and moving forward with honesty about our history and the impact of our action on the health status of Indigenous Peoples. In doing so, we acknowledge difficult truths and seek to build trust and relationships through the ongoing self-examination, learning, dialogue and concrete action necessary to address the harms of the past and create a more equitable future.
Working to ensure culturally safe places for authentic healing and restoration, mutual understanding and trust is a key part of this journey. At the CHAC National Conference 2022, Looking Within: Creating Culturally Safe Environments of Care for Indigenous Peoples, we experienced and explored this long and necessary path of learning, discovery and renewal with much gratitude to the speakers who shared their wisdom, stories and guidance. Over 400 conference participants returned to their organizations with learning and toolkit resources to act on the questions and insights raised by this experience. We still have much to do and will carry the spirit of this gathering onward.
Together we will work to nurture and build on these embers of hope for transformative change for Indigenous People receiving care within Catholic health coast to coast.
With gratitude to Fort William First Nation and St. Joseph's Care Group, Thunder Bay, for hosting the 59th Annual National Conference:
Looking Within: Creating Culturally Safe Environments of Care for Indigenous People from May 11-13, 2022.