Dear Members,

Today is National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, also known as Orange Shirt Day. This day is an important reminder that the journey towards healing is just that – a journey. We will all be at different stages of uncovering the Truths of Canada’s past and understanding the role that healthcare professionals, both past and current, have played in this history.

On September 18^th, the CMA hosted a public apology to Indigenous peoples. I was honored to have attended in person on behalf of CAEP and our membership. As a non-indigenous attendee, bearing witness to this event was difficult and moving. I learned about painful stories, coupled with resilience and courage; I watched sacred traditions and ceremonies of dancing, singing, and drumming; I witnessed and participated in shared commitments.

I felt awe and wonder, guilt and shame, sadness and anger…but also hope. I share this with you to prepare you, especially if you are new on this journey, and to encourage you to lean into the discomfort of learning the Truths. Non-indigenous people have a duty to help carry the weight of the past. There can be no reconciliation without Truth.

Today, I encourage each of you to take the time to learn a new truth about Canada’s Residential schools, Indian hospitals, anti-indigenous racism, and the ongoing effects of intergenerational trauma.

Emergency Departments, now more than ever, are the safety net for patients. EDs are often the only door open for patients to access health care. Past trauma from residential schools and Indian hospitals, and current harms from racism and discrimination, may lead people to avoid accessing care altogether. As Emergency Physicians, we have a duty to create culturally safe environments for all Canadians.

At CAEP we acknowledge the role of medical professionals, past and present, in contributing to systemic racism and inequities in health care. May we all, in partnership with the CMA, support efforts that move toward reconciliation, accountability, and healing. I hope that you will join with me and continue your journey of learning through some of the actions below:

1. Read or watch the Canadian Medical Association’s Apology for Harms to Indigenous Peoples from September 18th, 2024
2. Consider becoming a member of the Indigenous Physicians’ Association of Canada (IPAC). While membership is open to all Indigenous Medical Students, Residents, and Physicians, they also have an Associate Member category for allied physicians who are non-Indigenous.
3. Read the Calls to Action for Health from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission
4. Read Bringing Reconciliation to Healthcare in Canada: Wise Practices for Health Care Leaders.
5. Find out more about the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation here.
6. We also invite you to visit CAEP’s EDI Resource Centre and to contact jbeljo@caep.ca if you are interested in joining CAEP’s Antiracism and Anticolonialism Committee.

Regardless of your ancestry, stepping back into this dark history can take its toll on you. Please remember there are resources where you can seek support:

• For former residential school students can call 1-866-925-4419 for emotional crisis referral services and information on other health supports from the Government of Canada.
• Indigenous peoples across Canada can also go to 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for counselling and crisis intervention.
• Call the toll-free Help Line at 1-855-242-3310 or connect to the online chat (Please use Google Chrome).

Regards,

Aimee Kernick MD CCFP(EM)
CAEP President