National Day for Truth and Reconciliation: Alliance statement
As we mark National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, we honour all survivors of residential schools and the sixties scoop, their families, and all the children who never came home. We hold and acknowledge the truths of the intergenerational trauma that Indigenous people and communities have endured and continue to live through because of hundreds of years of systemic racism and colonial violence. We recognize this day is not only about remembrance, but about action and change — guided by truth, humility, and respect.
A key enabler of reconciliation in health and wellbeing is the call to action from Indigenous leaders: “Indigenous health in Indigenous hands.”
What ‘Indigenous Health in Indigenous Hands’ Means and Looks Like
This principle affirms the right of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples to govern, design, deliver, and evaluate their own health services. It reflects self-determination, Indigenous knowledge and ways to being, and accountability back to Indigenous communities. It prioritizes Indigenous needs, voices, and leadership. It reflects a systemic response to the systemic colonialism Indigenous people in Canada face.
Across Turtle Island, Indigenous health organizations live this reality every day. The Indigenous Primary Health Care Council (IPHCC) brings together Indigenous-governed health organizations, advocating for health equity across the province. The Alliance for Healthier Communities and its members stand today and every day in solidarity with IPHCC and its members, for Indigenous health in Indigenous hands, and shared advocacy across all areas impacting Indigenous health and wellbeing.
The Ongoing Truths
As we advocate for Indigenous health in Indigenous hands, we cannot look away from the ongoing history of colonial trauma and violence against Indigenous people and communities, or from the inequities and systemic racism that continue today:
- Clean water: Communities such as Pikangikum First Nation, an Ojibway community more than 500 kilometres northwest of Thunder Bay, and in more than two dozen others across Ontario, cannot access clean water. This is a fundamental issue of health, and governments must work together to end all water advisories in Indigenous communities.
- Systemic racism: Recent incidents, such as that of Justin Flett in Manitoba, who spent 30 hours trying to get treatment for acute appendicitis, show that systemic anti-Indigenous racism continues in health care, putting Indigenous lives at risk. While the Government of Canada has a plan that it’s committed to for addressing anti-Indigenous racism in health care, and the Canadian Medical Association recently updated its code of ethics to focus attention on the issue for physicians, much more needs to be done.
- Mental health: Suicide rates among Indigenous youth remain far higher than the national average. Communities have been clear that culturally grounded, land-based supports are what works, along with culturally-safe, Indigenous-led services and supports, including access to language programs, which are shown to improve health outcomes, including mental health outcomes, for Indigenous people.
- Costs of climate change: These fast-changing impacts on health -- from heatwaves to wildfires and more -- are disproportionately impacting Indigenous health. The Alliance’s Health Equity Charter is currently being updated by members to highlight the urgent need for action to address impacts of climate change on health.
These are the truths we must carry on this day, and every day, to motivate action.
The Calls to Action
The Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action 18-24 make responsibilities clear: Canada must close health gaps, address barriers and systemic racism, recognize Indigenous health rights, and increase Indigenous leadership in health systems. Some progress has been made, but much remains to be done.
Our Place in This Work
At the Alliance, our commitments and our members’ commitments are grounded in listening, action, and accountability:
- Support Indigenous governance and self-determination: We will use our voice to advocate for sustained, equitable funding for Indigenous-governed health organizations, while respecting their autonomy to define health and wellness on their own terms.
- Cultural safety: We will continue to support and learn from Indigenous educators and knowledge-keepers, and continue our own cultural safety and anti-racism training across our sector -- knowing this work is never complete. We will continue to encourage other non-Indigenous leaders and partners to take part in Indigenous Cultural Safety Training to transform their organizations.
- Uphold the TRC Calls to Action: We will measure our efforts against Calls to Action 18 to 24, keeping reconciliation at the centre of how we work.
- Address determinants of health: We will stand alongside Indigenous partners in calling for action on clean water, housing, food security, and programs and services to support mental health — determinants that shape health in communities.
- Stay accountable: We will listen, report openly, and act with humility, knowing accountability must flow to Indigenous communities and leadership.
Walking Together
Reconciliation must be a daily practice: reshaping relationships, making and keeping commitments, and listening to and following Indigenous leadership.
On this National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, we reflect, we listen, and we recommit ourselves to solidarity through action. We know that reconciliation in health is not possible until Indigenous health is truly in Indigenous hands. Today, we remember. And tomorrow, we keep working and standing together.
