On September 30, Canadians mark the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. The day honours First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Survivors, their families, their communities, and those who never returned home from residential schools.
Public commemoration of the tragic and painful history and ongoing legacy of residential schools is a vital component of the reconciliation process, as it starts with acknowledging the truth.
This day coincides with Orange Shirt Day, an Indigenous-led grassroots commemorative day intended to raise awareness of the individual, family, and community inter-generational impacts of residential schools, and to honour the concept of “Every Child Matters.” The orange shirt is a symbol of the stripping away of culture, freedom, and human rights experienced by Indigenous children over generations.
Formalizing CRPNM’s Commitment
Ensuring cultural safety and humility through the implementation of the relevant Truth and Reconciliation (TRC) recommendations has been identified as a strategic priority for the College of Registered Psychiatric Nurses of Manitoba (CRPNM).
In 2022, we formalized our commitment to the TRC recommendations, and the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG) calls for justice by signing on as a partner to the Winnipeg Indigenous Accord.
Recognizing that reconciliation requires education and dialogue about the history and legacy of residential schools, Treaties, and Indigenous rights, as well as the historical and contemporary contributions of Indigenous peoples to Canadian society, we have set our goal to provide all College staff and Council members the opportunity to participate in the Manitoba Indigenous Cultural Safety Training (MICST) program. We accomplished this goal and demonstrated our accountability by reporting on our progress and by setting a new goal for this year.
Our journey has only just begun. We continue to reflect on the harm done by Canada’s residential school system, and seek to learn more about Indigenous perspectives, culture and history. In the future, we look to collaborate with Indigenous elders to provide meaningful learning opportunities based in culturally safe and humble practices.
This National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, explore the rich and diverse cultures, voices, experiences and stories of the First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples. Whether you want to read, listen, watch, or try, start your learning journey today.
