Truth & Reconciliation

I have spent the last few days pondering how to write a post that truly gives this day the respect and justice it deserves. My truth is that I have been blessed to count many Indigenous and Metis persons as friends and family and have experienced their kindness and generosity of spirit many times. I wish I had better understood the challenges they faced when I was growing up and could have been a stronger ally and advocate at the time.

I have been greatly inspired by those leading the path to meaningful changes in the health and educational sectors and wish to thank them for their continued hard work and energy -- Alika Lafontaine , Mustimuhw , Shaun McCumber , Mark Sommerfeld , Claudette Commanda , OKAKI , Wabano Centre for Aboriginal Health , and Sioux Lookout Meno Ya Win Health Centre .

I also pause to reflect on friends whose lives have been irreparably affected by the scourge of addictions, abuse, family separation, and substance-related birth defects or disabilities. I met an amazing woman at a recent conference who enlightened me on her struggle as a survivor of the 60's Scoop - she lamented her loss of culture, language, identity, and the ongoing frustration of straddling two worlds but not belonging in either. These are the truths that go beyond the residential school stories we see in the news. These are the truths that I was so blind to even thought I was growing up alongside it all my life.

What does Reconciliation mean to me? It means more than reciting land acknowledgements or wearing an orange shirt. It means more than reposting someone else's words. For me, I feel deeply and think often on the health inequities that exist to our day, and how nonsensical this is in a world that can invent quantum computing and autonomous vehicles. I cannot sit still but I also know it is not my place to lead the change. It means taking pause to consider how I use my voice, my career opportunities, and my abilities to seek solutions and build bridges. It means taking off my usual "leader" hat and being a listener, a learner, and allowing these amazing Indigenous leaders and organizations to point the way to healthier future where all Canadians can benefit. I hope that my children will have a different story to tell when they are my age, and that our First Nations communities will heal, blossom, and inspire generations to come.