Today, I want to reflect on what the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation asks of each of us. As the president of the Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions, I know it asks me to be humble, to uphold reconciliation and to pursue safety for Indigenous nurses and Indigenous patients in the health care system. This means listening, learning and acting in allyship in every avenue that I have.
The CFNU has the power to influence change in the health care system, and we are committed to using that power to stand up for Indigenous Peoples’ safety and inclusion.
After many months of learning and planning, the CFNU apologised to First Nations, Inuit and Métis Peoples for the harms Indigenous Peoples have faced historically and currently face in health care. You can find CFNU’s apology in full, to read or to view, at reconciliation.nursesunions.ca.
Indigenous people deserve the very best care possible. They deserve to feel safe in our care and to trust that nurses are effective advocates for them. Too often, this has not been the case. Acknowledging this truth with humility and a willingness to learn more lays the foundation for a path towards meaningful reconciliation.
As allies, reconciliation means action. At the 22nd Biennial Convention in June, CFNU members passed a resolution committing the organization to concrete efforts to address racism against Indigenous patients in the health care system. Since then, we have been integrating equity and Indigenous health rights into all our advocacy, and we have been hard at work on a plan of action to make good on our commitment to reconciliation. I look forward to sharing this plan with you in the coming months.
I ask that you join me on this journey, so we can walk the path of reconciliation together. Learn about Orange Shirt Day – the Indigenous-led movement that honours the children who were lost in the deeply harmful residential school system.
Hear from Susan and Marla – two nurses who generously shared parts of their experiences as Indigenous nurses with us in these moving videos, so that we can hear and understand more about Indigenous nurse and patient safety.
Watch CFNU’s webinar with teacher and author Rose LeMay, who led this live learning event for nurses to have the historical knowledge necessary for reconciliation.
Take part in community today. Go to an event in your community with friends and family. Or join online the National Commemorative Event hosted by APTN and the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation.
Commit to learning how you can act on reconciliation. CFNU’s report Beyond Equity is a good place to start learning more about how to confront the colonial health legacy and what actionable strategies exist to combat anti-Indigenous racism in health care.
And remember, reconciliation does not end today. We carry it forward, together, in our words and our actions each and every day.
In unwavering solidarity,
Linda Silas, CFNU President