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Parts Known & Unknown: Exploring the Borders of Truth, Reconciliation and Redress

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Parts Known & Unknown: Exploring the Borders of Truth, Reconciliation and Redress

W. Kamau Bell joined Anthony Bourdain in Kenya in what was to be the final season of the CNN series, Parts Unknown. Kamau has roots in Kenya and this was his first time travelling to the motherlands of his people, and he stated something that I thought was interesting. He said something like, “coming to Kenya, you know, it’s nice to have a diasporic-kind-of-connection, even though I did not come from Kenya, but I have roots in Kenya, and even if that frame that the connection was built through was colonialism.”

It made me think about what it would be like for someone like myself to travel to the ancestral homes of my people. Well, this is my home. Certainly, more than it is your home, and in this era of truth and reconciliation, it is now both my home as much as it is your home. I come from no other place in the world than from right here, diitiidʔaaʔtx̣ – Ditidaht, we are the Nuuchahnulth and the seas for miles of shoreline and all of the land on the western side of our Vancouver Island home, from Point No Point in the south to Brooks Peninsula in the north, is Nuuchahnulth territory, our haahuulthii.

In the conclusion of that episode with W. Kamau Bell in Parts Unknown, Tony narrates an epilogue, “Who gets to tell the stories? This is a question asked often. The answer in this case, for better or for worse, is I do, at least this time out. I do my best, I look, I listen, but in the end, I know it’s my story. Not Kamau’s, not Kenya’s, or Kenyans’. Those stories are yet to be heard.”

It’s important for colonial settlers, and for new settlers, to Canada to consider who you are and where you come from, and what it means to live in British Columbia, and to think about your own frame of reference as being truly Canadian, even if that frame that the connection was built through was colonialism. The context, the narrative, the history, the good or bad of it, the story of what it means to be Canadian is apart and a part of your individual and shared story as a British Columbian, as a Canadian, as an unwelcomed or welcomed colonial settler, and as a new settler. The stories that have yet to be heard, and are now starting in some ways to be told, is our story, my story, of what it means to be diitiidʔaaʔtx̣, to be Nuuchahnulth, to be First Nations, to be Indigenous, and to also be Canadian in this country and in this province.

The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is a unique opportunity to bridge the divide of our individual and collective stories, our distinct and shared experiences, and our united effort to right and write a new history chaptered with the stories of a sincere determination to tell the truths of the past, to reaffirm and renew our commitments to reconcile all things oppressive, racist and insufferable, and to create an honest and just redress for all Indigenous – First Nations, Inuit, Métis – peoples. It would be momentous to proclaim someday that we all come from a country in which the frame that the connection was built through was equality, acceptance and compassion.

It’s fair to ask, “What will you do between October 1^st, 2022 and September 29^th, 2023, to recognize your part in this history, this story, and what will you actively do to shift the narrative?” We’re at an urgent time in our country’s history to thoughtfully and actively explore all parts known and unknown in our ongoing journey to come to terms with each other and with our past, and with the present day. I look forward to the work ahead this year, and I’ll look forward to us hearing each other’s stories next year and in the many years to come.

With Respect,

Derek Thompson – Thlaapkiituup
Indigenous Initiatives Advisor, Office of Respectful Environments, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion

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This guide outlines four practical, reflective steps to help deepen awareness of bias in everyday interactions and decision-making. Adapted from Deep Diversity by Shakil Choudhury, these steps are intended as an ongoing practice to support more equitable, reflective, and inclusive approaches in education, research, and clinical environments.

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Job Posting: Associate Dean, Reconciliation, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (REDI)

Job Posting: Equity Education Specialist, Dialogue and Facilitation

Farewell Saleem Razack, Senior Faculty Advisor, REDI Office

We would like to congratulate Saleem Razack on his new role as Dean of Medicine at Dalhousie University. As he prepares to step into this position, Saleem will be moving on from his role as Senior Faculty Advisor in the Office of Respectful Environments, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (REDI) in June.

In his time with REDI, Saleem has played a vital role in shaping the Faculty’s approach to anti-racism and equity. As Senior Faculty Advisor, he has provided strategic guidance on the implementation of a comprehensive anti-racism plan, helping to ground this work in both strong theory and lived realities within clinical and educational settings. He engaged in conflict transformation by bringing a trauma-informed lens to difficult conversations and thoughtfully holding complex polarities. He has consistently worked to support and contribute to a vibrant, diverse, and inclusive community across the Faculty of Medicine and its affiliated sites.

Saleem served as a moderator and speaker at many REDI events, including Inclusive Professionalism in Medicine; Moving from Harm to Healing in EDI, Medical Education, and Clinical Practice; Managing Fragility and Saviourism Reactions in EDI work; and Gender-affirming Care in Action: Stories and Insights from the Frontline. He hosted the thought-provoking Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada podcast series, Equity on Life Support, and was a driving force behind many REDI resources, including the Writing Inclusive Case Studies tip sheet. Throughout his work, Saleem brought a strong ability to translate equity, diversity, and inclusion concepts into meaningful and practical applications within medical education, helping bridge the clinical and academic dimensions of medicine

Saleem joined UBC and BC Children’s Hospital in January 2023 following a distinguished 25-year career at McGill University as a pediatric intensivist, medical educator, and education researcher. A graduate of the University of Toronto, his research has focused on the intersections of assessment, professionalism, and equity, diversity, inclusion, and anti-racism, supported by SSHRC and CIHR. His many recognitions include the AFMC President’s Award for Exemplary National Leadership in Academic Medicine, the AFMC May Cohen Award for outstanding contributions to equity in medical education, the Haile T. Debas Award at McGill, and the Pediatric Chairs of Canada Award for outstanding contribution to medical education.

Beyond his accomplishments, Saleem brings a rare depth of understanding to equity and anti-oppression work. He has an exceptional ability to engage with the perspectives of people from historically, systemically, and persistently marginalized groups, informed by his own intersectional experiences and a deep commitment to justice. His thinking is nuanced and systems-oriented, with a strong ability to examine power, structures, and the broader context shaping health and education.

Saleem has been an invaluable bridge between REDI and the clinical environment, helping to ensure that our work is relevant and grounded for clinicians, learners, and leaders. His insights have strengthened our ability to design content, sessions, and initiatives that resonate in practice.

As an educator, Saleem is engaging, thoughtful, and often brings humour and candour into complex conversations. He has a gift for making difficult topics accessible while maintaining their depth and importance. His observations, rooted in lived experience and deep scholarship, have encouraged more critical and intentional approaches to this work.

As a leader and colleague, Saleem is known by his colleagues for his humility, compassion, and courage. He approaches others with care, creating space for honest dialogue while supporting learners, faculty, and leaders to grow. He is a trusted mentor and coach, with many learners attesting to his encouragement and steady support. He brings a thoughtful balance, knowing when to slow down and listen and when to move work forward with clarity and purpose.

Saleem also uses his position and influence to advocate for others, often acting as a source of support for those navigating complex systems. His willingness to speak openly, to challenge, and to lead with integrity has had a lasting impact on our community.

Saleem’s contributions to REDI and the Faculty of Medicine have been significant. He will be greatly missed, and we are deeply grateful for all that he has shared with us. We wish him every success in his new role.

Unpacking Polarities, Diversity Meets Reality: Grappling with the Hard Edges of Inclusive Clinical Teaching

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4 Steps to Help Deepen Awareness of Bias

Research Voices from the Field with Danièle Behn Smith, Jessica Chenery, Naomi Dove & Kate Jongbloed

Research Voices from the Field is a new feature that showcases cutting-edge research that breaks barriers and promotes inclusion in medicine. Each edition spotlights a research publication and includes insights directly from the authors—revealing their motivations, the significance of their findings, and why the research matters for healthcare professionals everywhere.

In this edition, Danièle Behn Smith, Jessica Chenery, Naomi Dove & Kate Jongbloed reflect on their article book “Using a metaphor of baskets and copper pots to identify “what work, whose work” in truth, rights, responsibilities, and reconciliation in public health” and its relevance to any settler seeking to take up their role and responsibility in reconciliation.

Origin Story of the Basket & Copper Pot Metaphor

In 2022, the U&U team was invited by Jess and Naomi to present to BCCDC Leadership. Beforehand, we discussed a tension they faced: Chee Mamuk is a community serving, Indigenous-led public health program. Release of the In Plain Sight report resulted in skyrocketing requests for Chee Mamuk to advise on BCCDC’s other programs. While awesome that settler colleagues were committed to addressing Indigenous-specific racism, the avalanche of requests pulled Chee Mamuk away from their community-facing work. It also created stress for Indigenous staff with lived experience of Indigenous-specific racism who had not opted in to Indigenous-specific anti-racism diagnostic work when they accepted their roles at BCCDC.

Meanwhile, Danièle and Kate had been having a similar conversation: talking about how Danièle’s job title – Deputy Provincial Health Officer Indigenous Health – didn’t reflect all the time she was spending on helping settlers “fix themselves” and leading Indigenous-specific anti-racist transformation. We kept referring to “two different buckets of work.”

As Kate was preparing slides for the BCCDC talk, her dad arrived from Holland with the copper pot that was her inheritance following her Oma’s death. The conversations we’d been having clicked and the basket/copper pot metaphor was born. After the presentation and those that followed, we heard from many settler colleagues that the metaphor helped them to have an “ah ha” moment and see their role in reconciliation.

Adding to the metaphor

In 2024, BCCDC hired its first ever Executive Director of Indigenous Health, held by Janene Erickson (Nak’azdli Whut’en). Janene brings her lived experience as a BC First Nations Woman along with her MPH from UBC SPPH, where she now teaches about Indigenous-specific racism and its impacts on health.

Janene differentiates Chee Mamuk’s “Basket Work” from her role as a “Copper Pot Coach.” A “Copper Pot Coach” is an Indigenous person who has agreed to work closely with settlers as they strengthen their capacity to identify and eradicate Indigenous-specific racism. What’s important is that Indigenous colleagues (and teams) determine for themselves if and how they engage with either these types of work, or neither.

Coming together to write the article

We wrote the paper, published in the Canadian Journal of Public Health, because we were excited to share our experience as two “duos” – each made up of an Indigenous person (basket knowledge) and Settler person (copper pot responsibility). We also realized that our duos were in relationship in ways that reflected our emerging metaphor: Jess and Naomi were leading a team with a “basket work” mandate. Danièle and Kate were leading a “copper pot” project. We were able to work together to shift some of the copper pot burden off the shoulders of those focused on basket work.

For Chee Mamuk, copper pot work was never part of their mandate, but it got added on to their already full plate following the In Plain Sight report. We wanted to share our insights to help give language to conversations about “what work, whose work” in Indigenous rights, truth, and reconciliation that are being navigated across the country.

Danièle Behn Smith,
Deputy Provincial Health Officer, Indigenous Health

Dr. Behn Smith is Métis from the Red River Valley and Eh Cho Dene from Fort Nelson First Nation. She has the honour and privilege of working as BC’s Deputy Provincial Health Officer, Indigenous Health. She works alongside Dr. Bonnie Henry and other team members at the BC Office of the Provincial Health Officer to uphold the inherent rights of Indigenous peoples, unlearn and undo systemic white supremacy and racism and advance true reconciliation.

Jessica Chenery
Director, Chee Mamuk, BC Centre for Disease Control

Indigenous ancestry is Coast Salish on Vancouver Island- Shíshálh and Penelakut First Nations as well as Portuguese and Scottish ancestry. Jessica enjoys her work as the Director of Chee Mamuk (‘New Work’ in Chinook jargon), a self-determining Indigenous-led program within the BC Centre for Disease Control.

Naomi Dove
Medical Lead, Chee Mamuk, BC Centre for Disease Control

Dr. Naomi Dove is a settler of British and Newfoundland descent raised on the territory of the Anishinaabe and Métis people of Treaty Three and Treaty 3 Adhesion in Northwestern Ontario. She is honoured and grateful to be invited in as a guest to work with the Chee Mamuk team as Medical Lead.

Kate Jongbloed
Senior Scientist, U&U lab, BC Centre for Disease Control

I am a white occupier living on the territories of the xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish), and Səl̓ílwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations. I am an epidemiologist and mixed methods health researcher with 15+ years of experience documenting and responding to the impacts of settler colonialism on health and wellness. Recently, I completed a two-year CIHR Health Systems Impact Post-Doctoral Fellowship mentored by Dr. Danièle Behn Smith in the BC Office of the Provincial Health Officer. Now, I am a Senior Scientist at the BC Centre for Disease Control working to grow an “unlearning and undoing white supremacy and Indigenous specific racism lab” (U&U Lab) for population and public health in BC. Two of my other roles are Adjunct Professor at University of Victoria’s School of Public Health and Social Policy and Associate with Qoqoq Consulting Ltd.

Using a metaphor of baskets and copper pots to identify “what work, whose work” in truth, rights, responsibilities, and reconciliation in public health

Authors: Danièle Behn Smith, Jessica Chenery, Naomi Dove & Kate Jongbloed

Abstract

Ten years since the Truth & Reconciliation Commission Report, Canadian institutions—including public health systems—have yet to advance the Calls to Action in a sustained, transformative way. As public health leaders in the territory now known as British Columbia, we witness tension as colleagues grapple with, “What is the work of Truth & Reconciliation? Whose work is it?”. Too often, truth and reconciliation is delegated to a small Indigenous team (or, individual) dangling, isolated off the side of an organizational chart. We offer a metaphor highlighting two interconnected, but distinct areas of work to advance truth and reconciliation in public health. One is the work of reclaiming and resurgence of languages, culture, medicines, and connection to territory, undertaken by and for First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Peoples. The other is eradicating Indigenous-specific racism and white supremacy to advance cultural safety. It is not up to Indigenous people to eradicate racism; as it is constructed, maintained, and perpetuated by settlers, settlers are those with the power to eradicate it. As we move towards the anniversary of the TRC, we share a metaphor that helps our settler colleagues understand and claim their responsibility in truth, rights, and reconciliation in public health.

Events

Parts Known & Unknown: Exploring the Borders of Truth, Reconciliation and Redress