Indigenous Speakers Series - Respectful Environments, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion

Truth and Reconciliation: Our Plan for Change

The Indigenous Speakers Series is an original and important platform to begin, continue and advance the conversation about telling the truth and reconciling for the future. First Nations in British Columbia and Canada possess an exceptional ability to speak. This gift is unparalleled in the context of Indigenous history and origin in Canada. When we think of the great leaders of the recent past it brings forward the presence of our Ancestors. The ability to perpetuate oral histories that are anchored to the beginning of time speaks to a confidence that is simultaneously spiritual and modern. There has never been a more important time to call upon our elders, leaders, scholars, and people to speak about our individual and shared truths and to anchor compassion in reconciling for the future.

As health systems in British Columbia begin to develop, improve and implement standards of Cultural Safety and Humility, and policies to manage racism and discrimination, it is both timely and relevant to advance our individual and collective understanding about Indigenous peoples – First Nations, Métis and Inuit. The Faculty of Medicine, its distributed campuses, and its associated learning, work, social, and institutional environments must reflect our best principles of Respect, Integrity, Compassion, Collaboration, and Equity in a deliberate effort to Transform Health for Everyone – and to transform our own academic culture for all students, faculty and staff. You are welcome to join us in a spirit of integrity and understanding in this original new series

Events

My Privilege, My Responsibility: A Higher Calling To Do Better in an Era of Truth, Reconciliation & Redress with Sheila North
Join us virtually on Wednesday, February 15th, 2023 from 12:00 pm – 1:30 pm (PST), to learn about the activism of Sheila North, the creator of the widely used hashtag #MMIW – a movement that advocates for the end of violence against First Nations/ Indigenous women and girls.
Recording: We Are All That Is Possible: Indigenous Principles and Perspectives of Disability & Belonging with Joanne Mills
Watch the recording for a conversation with Joanne Mills. In this fourth session of the Indigenous Speaker Series, we had an opportunity to better inform our sensibilities and perceptions about Indigenous peoples whom are both challenged with, and gifted with, developmental disabilities.
Recording: Transformative Change According to Doug Kelly: Creating the BC First Nations Health Authority
Watch the recording of a conversation with Grand Chief Doug Kelly – Cheam First Nation. In this third session of the Indigenous Speaker Series, we learnt about the work and leadership of GC Doug Kelly in the creation of the First Nations Health Authority, and his experiences and insights as the former Chair of the First Nations Health Council.
Recording: Diagnosing Truth, Healing and Conciliation Inside BC Health Care Systems with Dr. Danièle Behn Smith
Watch the recording of a conversation with Dr. Danièle Behn Smith, Deputy Provincial Health Officer, Indigenous Health. In this second Indigenous Speaker Series session, Dr. Behn Smith’s shares her unique perspective on how health and academic systems can best approach the work in relation to the processes of Truth and Reconciliation.
Recording: We Are Children of Indian Residential School Survivors: Awakening Our Spirits, Our Purpose & Our Confidence
Thank you for joining us on Wednesday, September 21, 2022 from 12:00 pm – 3:30 pm (PST), for “We Are Children of Indian Residential School Survivors: Awakening Our Spirits, Our Purpose & Our Confidence”, the first session in this year’s Indigenous Speakers’ series. For those unable to attend a video recording is available.

Watch Recordings of Previous Sessions from the 2021-2022 Series

Continue Learning

“The time to make things happen is now. The time to seek out our individual and shared power is now.”

Read the Message from the Indigenous Initiatives Advisor, Derek Thompson – Thlaapkiituup, here

Learn more about REDI’s Indigenous Initiatives here

Discover REDI’s Indigenous-Specific Resources here