Spotlight: Recognizing The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, and Orange Shirt Day
Thursday, September 30 is The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation as well as Orange Shirt Day. We encourage Team CHEO, along with our broader community members, to spend time reflecting on the history and legacy of residential schools and the continuing intergenerational impacts on Indigenous people, families and communities.
Resources, education opportunities and community events
There are many ways to get involved, learn about & reflect on the lives, history and invaluable past and present contributions of Indigenous peoples. Here are some resources to help get you started:
- The First Nation Child & Family Caring Society — from September 27-October 1, they have made a collection of their family-friendly books and videos available online for free to help you learn and talk about Indigenous history and the path forward to reconciliation, as a family.
- How to access public services and supports through Jordan’s Principle — an infographic by The First Nation Child & Family Caring Society
- Remember Me: A National Day of Remembrance Walk — in-person walk, virtual live stream available
- CHEO's Indigenous Peoples resource page — for books, videos and local contacts to support Indigenous peoples, as well as resources to help kids, youth and families learn about Indigenous history and culture.
- Reads2CHEO with David Robertson — listen in for a virtual storytime with author David Robertson, reading his book "When We Were Alone."
- CHEO's Nunavut Cultural Competency Modules — available online for CHEO staff, medical staff researchers and more, as well as for any community providers who are looking to increase their cultural competency.
Join us for a Truth & Reconciliation reflection and Orange Shirt Day photo
If you will be at CHEO on September 30, we encourage you to join Team CHEO in reflecting on and honouring the lives and history of Indigenous peoples. Help raise awareness & show solidarity with Indigenous communities by wearing orange for #OrangeShirtDay.
You're also encouraged to join us at 11:30am outside, by the main entrance, for a group photo in your orange shirt and an activity to help us all reflect and make a commitment to reconciliation. Attendees will be given a paper cutout of an orange shirt and asked to reflect on and write down ways you can commit to reconciliation.
About our Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Indigeneity Task Force
Our Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Indigeneity (EDII) Task Force is made up of staff, medical staff, volunteers and youth/family advisors across CHEO, the CHEO Research Institute and the CHEO Foundation. Our EDII Steering Committee is part of CHEO’s larger EDII Task Force and is guiding work across our three organizations to address inequities and put forward recommendations for change.
Our EDII Task Force is working in close collaboration with existing committees, groups and circles across our three organizations, including:
- Indigenous Circle
- Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity and Expression (SOGIE) Committee
- Accessibility Committee
Our Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Indigeneity strategic goals
We have five strategic goals guiding our work across CHEO, the CHEO Research Institute and the CHEO Foundation. Each strategic goal has a working group helping to implement recommendations and activities in their area.
Our five strategic goals are:
- We are our community: Team CHEO is representative of the communities we serve across all three of our organizations
- Everyone belongs: We foster a sense of belonging
- Know better, do better: We have a culture of continuous training, education & research around Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Indigeneity
- Working together: We build and maintain relationships with the broader community that reflect Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Indigeneity
- Equitable access and care for all: Every child, youth and family has equitable access to and delivery of effective and appropriate health-care services and experiences