Celebrating National Indigenous Peoples Day
On June 21, National Indigenous Peoples Day, we celebrate Indigenous Peoples and their cultures, languages, knowledge and philosophies, and their stewardship of the land and water on which we live and work.
It is a privilege to regulate the practice of medicine on these lands. Our commitment to preventing anti-Indigenous racism from occurring in medical care requires listening and learning with humility every day. Our Restorative Practices Program was founded on this belief.
On June 11, we held a Water Ceremony to celebrate the one-year anniversary of the Restorative Practices Program and to reaffirm our commitment to ensuring the program operates in a meaningful way, is Indigenous-led, and is guided by Indigenous philosophies and in consultation with First Nations, Inuit and Métis people.
The water ceremony was conducted by Elder Kathleen Green, who gifted us with a powerful teaching on the connection among water, land, food, and our health.
What you can do
We encourage registrants to participate in local events, support Indigenous voices and businesses, and take time to learn about the histories and cultures of First Nations, Inuit and Métis people.
- A good way to gain a deeper understanding of Indigenous history, culture, and the impacts of racism and discrimination is through one of our pre-approved cultural safety trainings. This education is mandatory for all registrants to create a culturally safe practice environment for all patients.
Learn more about the mandatory training which must be completed by October 31, 2027.
- Learn more about the Restorative Practices Program, download a one-pager about the program, or watch a video of a Pipe Ceremony held last June to honour the launch of the program.