A message from our CEO

At the age of 6, Phyllis Webstad from the Stswecem’c Xgat’tem First Nation left Dog Creek reserve to go to the Mission – the St. Joseph’s Residential School near Williams Lake, B.C.  She was the third generation in her family to go to residential school, with both her grandmother and her mother attending the Mission for 10 years. Phyllis’ grandmother purchased her a new orange shirt, which she wore to her first day of school.  On arrival, she was stripped and her clothing taken away, including her new orange shirt which she never saw again. From this day forward, the colour orange reminded Phyllis of her time at residential school – how her feelings didn’t matter, how she and the other children were not cared for, how their cries were ignored.  

The orange shirt now serves as an important reminder of the hundreds of thousands of First Nations, Inuit and Métis children who were denied their identity and separated from their language, culture, spiritual traditions and collective history in an effort to assimilate them into white Canadian society.

Orange Shirt Day is a day to recognize the profound impact of residential schools, to honour the survivors and their families, and to remember the many children who never made it home – including the thousands of children who lie in unmarked graves. Importantly, it is also a day to commit to definitive social action that responds to the past and ongoing injustices experienced by First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples in Canada in truthful, meaningful and respectful ways. 

As health-care providers and institutions, we are accustomed to taking leadership and action in the domain of healing. A foundational principle in responding to Orange Shirt Day is that the leadership and directions for action must come from First Nations, Inuit and Métis individuals, communities and organizations. To do anything else, however well intentioned, gets in the way of restoring voice, dignity and livelihood for First Peoples in Canada.

We are fortunate that there has been much strong First Nations, Inuit and Métis leadership and directions for action on the matter of residential schools. In fact, the establishment of September 30 as the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, or “Orange Shirt” day, by the federal government is the 80th Call to Action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. 

In response to feedback from First Nations, Inuit and Métis community and leaders that there has been lots of discussion and policy recommendations on the topic of reconciliation and not enough tangible change, I will focus the remainder of this message on concrete actions that each of you can take as individuals and that we are working on as an institution.

Concrete actions that can be taken by individuals

Change starts with each of us as individuals. Self-reflection is a critical and important step towards reconciliation. We cannot change what we do not acknowledge. September 30 provides an opportunity to reflect on the injustices committed against Indigenous peoples and the many ongoing inequities that continue to exist today. I have included below recommendations from First Nations, Inuit and Métis leaders for those wanting to engage on the journey of self-reflection and acknowledgement.

  1. Purchase, read and share Phyllis Webstad’s Beyond the Orange Shirt story book. This critically acclaimed book tells the orange shirt story in Phyllis’s own words and also shares stories and teachings from residential school survivors and their families.
  2. Find a buddy and commit to reading and discussing the summary report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission over the next one to two months. 
  3. Take the San’yas Indigenous Cultural Safety Training course.
  4. Donate to one of the more than 20 local Indigenous health and social service organizations in Toronto – you can do so via the Toronto Aboriginal Support Services Council or the Anishnaabe Health Foundation – or support an Indigenous health or health sciences student (e.g. through Indspire or Indigenous Physicians Association of Canada)

Concrete actions that Unity Health is taking

As individuals and as members of the Unity Health Toronto team, it is our responsibility to educate ourselves and to continually work to improve the experiences that Indigenous people have in our organization. We know that for Indigenous peoples, racism has long been associated with worse health outcomes – the tragic death of Joyce Echaquan last year being but one example.  At Unity Health, we are committed to making transformative changes in our relationship with Indigenous peoples and in supporting Indigenous-led improvements to health care and care experiences.  Here are some tangible steps we are taking as an institution:

  1. In the coming weeks, we anticipate filling a short-term advisory leadership role that will help us lay the foundation, and develop a structure, to support this ongoing transformation. A key objective includes developing a longer-term strategy that encompasses ongoing leadership and staffing.
  2. We continue to support Indigenous-led efforts to fight COVID-19, including assistance with vaccine supply, staffing, IT and test processing at the Auduzhe Mino Nesewinong (Place for Health Breathing) for First Nations, Inuit and Métis COVID-19 testing, case management, contact tracing and vaccination clinic.
  3. Our Board of Directors has embarked on a special process to recruit at least one Indigenous leader to serve on the board of Unity Health. The First Nations, Inuit and Métis Community Advisory Panel is helping to shape this process.
  4. We are working to create Indigenous sacred spaces at our sites to support Indigenous spiritual practices and ceremony for patients throughout their healing journey. We have a permanent space identified at our St. Michael’s site and are working to obtain consultation from the Indigenous community on how to design this space in a good way.

We still have a long way to go, but my hope is that you’ll join me and other Canadians on this inaugural National Day of Truth and Reconciliation to spend some time reflecting on the crimes our country has committed against the Indigenous peoples of this land and whole-heartedly commit to taking action towards reconciliation.

Sincerely,
Tim Rutledge
President and CEO
Unity Health Toronto