September 30: Reflecting on Truth, Advancing Reconciliation

Our journey toward reconciliation began six years ago. This past year, we backed the apology we delivered in 2023 to the Anishinaabeg, Anishininewuk, Dakota Oyate, Denesuline, and Nehethowuk, and to the Inuit, with meaningful, dedicated action.

Our story is a daily commitment to learning, unlearning, and weaving Indigenous philosophies into our efforts to eliminate anti-Indigenous racism in medical care.

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. We founded our Restorative Practices Program on this belief.  

Our Restorative Practices Program is one of the 7 actions we have dedicated to this work. Read more about our actions here.

Over the last year, the program team, led by Tara Myran, has been across the province, making connections and engaging with people, communities, Indigenous organizations, and the government to raise awareness of the program. Read more in our annual report.

Earlier this year, 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. Elder Kathleen Green led the water ceremony and gifted us a powerful teaching on the connection among water, land, food, and our health.  

Last week, Tara and Dr. Ainslie Mihalchuk, Registrar and CEO were invited to speak at the University of Winnipeg’s Truth and Reconciliation Week to share how we are weaving Indigenous and Western worldviews together to create meaningful change in medical regulation.

CPSM staff participated in activities to honour Orange Shirt Day last week, including receiving a teaching on Two-Eyed Seeing from Nookomis Debbie Cielen, Elder, Director, Senior Manager at Life’s Journey Inc. Her words gave us an opportunity to commemorate and memorialize the children who never returned home from the Indian Residential Schools. She ended the teaching with a Hand Drum Song.

“As we continue to walk our journey, our commitment is on honour for all First Nations, Inuit, and Metis people who have been hurt or harmed when seeking medical care.”

-            Tara Myran, Knowledge Translation and Mobilization Specialist and Program Director, Restorative Practices Program

WHAT YOU CAN DO THIS SEPTEMBER 30

JOIN:    The Southern Chiefs’ Organization (SCO) for the 6th Annual Orange Shirt Day Healing Walk and Pow Wow on September 30, 2026, in Winnipeg on Treaty One Territory. 

HEAR: from members of the Sioux Valley Dakota Nation and from our Restorative Practices Team on CJOB on September 30 

WATCH: Remembering The Children: National Day for Truth and Reconciliation live broadcast from Parliament Hill on APTN or YouTube 

LEARN: A good way to gain a deeper understanding of the impacts of racism and discrimination on Indigenous peoples 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.