September 30 marks National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day.
Orange Shirt Day – Every Child Matters began in Williams Lake, B.C., on Sept. 30, 2013. Established to honour Residential School Survivors, their families, and those who never returned home, it serves as a powerful reminder of the lasting impacts of the Residential School system.
This year also marks 11 years since the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) released its 94 calls to action—recommendations aimed at addressing the harms of residential schools and advancing reconciliation across Canada. While progress has been made, meaningful change remains uneven and slow; in 11 years, only 15 of the calls have been completed.
At BCCNM, we are committed to addressing Indigenous-specific racism in the health-care system and to leading with truth and accountability. While our work is guided by the TRC's calls to action, it is also informed by many foundational reports and frameworks, including the Playbook to Eliminate Indigenous-Specific Racism & White Supremacy in BC Health College Governance (2023), Remembering Keegan: A BC First Nations Case Study Reflection (2022), the Health Standards Organization’s B.C. Cultural Safety and Humility Standard (2022), the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act Action Plan (2022), In Plain Sight: Addressing Indigenous-specific Racism and Discrimination in B.C. Health Care (2020), Joyce's Principle (2020), the Final Report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (2019), Out of Sight (2017), and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (2007).
These reports have consistently highlighted the harms Indigenous Peoples continue to experience within health and social systems. As a health regulator, we acknowledge that systemic racism continues to exist within the health-care system and that BCCNM is a part of that system. Recognizing this reality requires more than reflection. It requires action, accountability, and a willingness to change. We are accountable to the relationships we hold with Indigenous Peoples, knowledge keepers, and communities. That accountability must show up in how we lead, how we listen, and how we change—not once, but every day.
Therefore, our work in addressing Indigenous-specific racism continues to be guided by a commitment to relational accountability—a principle that reminds us that our actions must be rooted in the relationships we hold and the responsibilities those relationships carry. It means showing up with humility, listening carefully, following through on commitments, being prepared to change, and demonstrating accountability by following up on the impact of those changes.
Our updated Redressing Harm to
Indigenous Peoples in the Health-care System action plan reflects this commitment. The Redressing Harm plan responds to the calls and recommendations set out in foundational reports, while identifying actions specific to our role as a regulator. The plan focuses on addressing harm, shifting power, strengthening accountability, and creating conditions for meaningful and lasting change.
The current Redress Plan concludes at the end of this year and will be reviewed and recommitted to in 2027 to continue advancing the calls to action, along with other actions and recommendations identified in the foundational reports. By year-end, the college will have a clear record of its progress and a well-defined understanding of the work that will carry forward. Currently, there are 12 recommendations across eight team plans that have been committed to from the TRC.
As we mark the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day, we reaffirm our commitment to learning, listening, being relational in our approach, and taking action. We will continue to be guided by Indigenous Peoples, their experiences and teachings, and the foundational reports as we work toward creating a health-care system that is safer, more equitable, and accessible for all.
We encourage you to purchase from Indigenous artists and businesses and wear an orange shirt and take this day as an opportunity to deepen your understanding of the realities Indigenous Peoples face in Canada. You can start by learning more about the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day, including events and learning opportunities in your community by visiting the Government of Canada's website (National Day for Truth and Reconciliation). We also strongly encourage you to familiarize yourself with the foundational reports mentioned above.
To learn more about BCCNM and our commitment to addressing Indigenous-specific anti-racism, please visit our website for more information, reports, and related resources.