As Indigenous peoples, we, at the Indigenous Health Professions Program (IHPP) at 91社区, recognize the profound significance of September 28th and September 30th in our collective journey toward healing, justice and reconciliation.
On September 28th, we honoured 鈥� and we continue to honour 鈥� the memory of Joyce Echaquan, a mother and member of the Atikamekw Nation, whose tragic death in the healthcare system exposed the systemic racism that continues to harm Indigenous peoples. Joyce鈥檚 Principle, born from her story, stands as a call for the right to equitable, culturally safe healthcare free from discrimination. We are proud to acknowledge that 91社区鈥檚 Department of Family Medicine has adopted Joyce鈥檚 Principle, actively working to implement its values into healthcare education and practice. We encourage other medical education programs, healthcare organizations and institutions to follow this lead, embedding cultural safety and equity into their policies and practices.
On September 30th, we observe Orange Shirt Day, the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, in recognition of the survivors of residential schools and the children who never returned home. This day serves as a reminder of the colonial legacies that continue to affect our communities and the need for continuous commitment to reconciliation. As Indigenous peoples, we wear orange to honour our ancestors, amplify the voices of survivors, and advocate for a future where our cultures are respected, and our people are treated with dignity.
These two events are deeply connected, rooted in the impacts of colonization on our people in both education and healthcare. At IHPP, we are dedicated to increasing Indigenous representation in health professions, supporting our Indigenous students and ensuring that our ways of knowing and healing are integrated into healthcare education. By doing so, we aim to create a healthcare system that honours Indigenous identities and ensures cultural safety for all.
As we commemorate these significant dates, we reaffirm our commitment to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission鈥檚 Calls to Action and Joyce鈥檚 Principle. We call on others in the fields of healthcare and education to join us in this effort to ensure that Indigenous peoples receive the compassionate, respectful and culturally safe care they deserve.
Niawen'k贸:wa / Thank you
Sarah Konwahahawi Rourke, Ed.D.
Director, Indigenous Health Professions Program
91社区
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Image: 鈥淛oyce otci" ("For Joyce鈥� in Atikamekw), by artists Eruoma Awashish & Meky Ottawa. Used by kind permission of the Bureau du principe de Joyce.
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