Truth and Reconciliation

Our truths, our actions, our paths forward

National Day of Truth and Reconciliation at Rady commemorated difficult events, highlighted reconciliation initiatives and included the first community walk at the Bannatyne campus.

A group of people in orange shirts walking on the sidewalk.
Estimated Read Time:
4 minutes
Rady faculty, staff and learners participate in first Orange Shirt Day Community Walk on Bannatyne Campus.
Rady faculty, staff and learners participate in first Orange Shirt Day Community Walk on Bannatyne Campus.
Estimated Read Time:
4 minutes
By

Liane Carter and Alan Mackenzie

A packed crowd in orange shirts filled the Brodie Atrium – and later the community – honouring National Day for Truth and Reconciliation at the Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, hosted by Ongomiizwin-Indigenous Institute of Health and Healing.

The morning opened with a Pipe Ceremony and Water Ceremony where Elders shared truths about the day.

"Our presence reminds us of our resilience and our strength. And your presence reminds you of your allyship to us,” said George Muswaggon, Knowledge Keeper at Ongomiizwin, in his opening prayer.

Smudge was passed around Brodie Atrium following an honour song performed by Dr. Lisa Monkman, Indigenous physician advisor with Ongomiizwin.

George Muswaggon wearing orange shirt at podium in his opening prayer.
Crowd of people wearing orange shirts with a person smudging.
Dr. Josée Lavoie at podium speaking.

It was a day to reflect on difficult times, what the faculty has been doing and how these actions have impacted equity, said Dr. Josée Lavoie, dean, College of Community and Global Health, speaking on behalf of Dr. Peter Nickerson, dean and vice-provost (health sciences).

“If we are doing all of this, why is it that inequities still remain? That racism still remains in the health-care system? Why is it there is still unsafe water in communities? What are we not yet doing?”

The launch of a new initiative, CARE: Commitments, Accountability, Reconciliation and Equity, builds on the Truth and Reconciliation Action Plan for Rady Faculty of Health Sciences developed in 2016 by Ongomiizwin and community partners. CARE will create committees of Indigenous and non-Indigenous faculty, staff, learners, partners and representatives coming together to address and implement reconciliation.

“Actions and accountability [must be] at the center of it,” said Chantal Daniels, director of Ongomiizwin – Education. “This as Indigenous Peoples, is not our work to carry alone. You need to walk alongside us.”

Seven people on stage in orange shirts

Leaders representing the colleges shared reflections on reconciliation actions in progress.

“Reconciliation is ultimately about what we choose to do,” said Dr. Jacquie Ripat, dean, College of Rehabilitation Sciences. “That means continuing to create pathways for Indigenous students, strengthening Indigenous perspectives throughout our curricula and building meaningful partnerships with communities.”

Dr. Hope Anderson, dean, College of Pharmacy, recounted a new career pathways program for Indigenous students at Southeast Collegiate that the college developed and delivered last year in partnership with the faculty’s community engagement office.

“By introducing First Nations high school students to pharmacy as a profession, providing meaningful exposure to pharmacy education and career pathways…our hope is that the initiative is contributing to the development of an Indigenous health-professions pipeline and supports efforts to increase Indigenous representation within the health workforce,” Anderson said, noting the program will be held again this year.

This year’s National Day for Truth and Reconciliation also included the first Community Walk around the Bannatyne campus.

“We haven’t done a walk on the Bannatyne campus or in the community here, even though we are in the middle of one of the most densely populated Indigenous communities within Winnipeg,” said Melanie MacKinnon, executive director of Ongomiizwin – Indigenous Institute of Health and Healing.

MacKinnon thanked the College of Nursing for sharing this tradition and explained the braid carried during the walk.

“The braid was made by Elaine McIntosh of Sagkeeng First Nation, a residential school survivor, in honour of her mother who was also a residential school survivor…This braid has been carried for several years and symbolizes the interrelationship of all things and the resilience of the Indigenous people.”

This as Indigenous Peoples, is not our work to carry alone. You need to walk alongside us.

Chantal Daniels, director of Ongomiizwin – Education

Student representatives from the College of Nursing, who started the annual Orange Shirt Day walk at Fort Garry campus in 2015, shared the braid with students from the Bannatyne campus before walking with it through the community.

“What is being passed from one campus to another today carries a story, a history and a connection that extends well beyond this gathering,” MacKinnon said.

A feast and celebration in Brodie Atrium hosted by Ongomiizwin followed the walk.

Students in orange shirts sharing the braid on stage
Group of people wearing orange shirts crossing the street together.
Group of people wearing orange shirts walking toward Brodie Centre.

Nursing’s role in reconciliation highlighted at Orange Shirt Day event
 

About 200 people participated in the College of Nursing’s Orange Shirt Day walk on Sept. 28. The walk went from the college’s Helen Glass Centre for Nursing past the UM administration building and Migizii Agamik – Bald Eagle Lodge.

Prior to the walk, an opening ceremony was held, emceed by Kayleigh Pagee, Indigenous representative for the Nursing Students’ Association. In an emotional speech, Pagee spoke about her grandmother and great-grandmother, both residential school survivors.

“I would not be standing in this space if the generations before me had not endured what they did. They survived a system that was designed to take away our languages, our cultures, our traditions, our families and ultimately our identities. And yet, they held on,” she said.

“But survival came with a cost. The legacy of residential schools did not end when the schools closed. We still see the effects in our families, in our communities today … that is why I believe reconciliation cannot be something we acknowledge only once a year.” 

In her keynote address, UM alum Michelle Monkman, chief executive officer of Keewatinohk Inniniw Minoayawin Inc., spoke about the nursing profession’s role in reconciliation before reminding the First Nations, Inuit and Metis nurses and nursing students in attendance that they are needed and valuable.

“You’re still far too rare within this profession. There may be times when these systems make you question whether you belong here. Please do not give up. We need your voices, knowledge and leadership caring for our people, teaching those who will come after you, shaping policy and changing systems,” she said. 

Person in orange shirt talking with another person outside.
Keynote speaker Michelle Monkman

Watch a social media reel about this year’s Rady Faculty National Day for Truth and Reconciliation events.

Boilerplate: reconciliation

At UM, we are working together to advance reconciliation for transformative change, which is among the commitments you’ll find in MomentUM: Leading change together, the University of Manitoba’s 2024–2029 strategic plan.