What Truth and Reconciliation Means To You

For me, it is a practice of listening, learning (unlearning) and ongoing self reflection. Self-reflection is not a one-time exercise. It’s a lifelong commitment to examining my own biases, privileges, and actions. It’s asking myself tough questions: How am I contributing? How can I be a better ally? What blind spots do I have? What can I be doing better? It’s about speaking up to create space for others even when it’s difficult or uncomfortable. Sitting with the feeling of being uncomfortable and examining it. Knowing that I won’t always say the right or do the right thing but being open to growth and learning from mistakes. Doing what I can, using my privilege to start difficult conversations, uplift Indigenous voices, support local artists and knowledge keepers, and a commitment to engaging with respect, humility and reciprocity.

Gratitude to Sarah Jim and the Jim family for welcoming Patrick and myself to participate in the W̱S͸ḴEM Ivy Project on their land in the Tseycum village in W̱SÁNEĆ. Invasive English ivy in this forest is a product of colonization and threatens the biodiversity of the sacred land. I am so grateful for the teachings I have received on the healing aspects of being in the forest, river bathing and plant medicine.

I commit to reciprocity and walking softly on the lands and waters that have been stewarded by Indigenous people here since the beginning of time. It is a great privilege to live harmoniously with the forest, waters, ocean, critters and creatures.

More on the project here: https://www.wsikemivyproject.com/

A part of my cultural learning journey has involved learning the truths of colonization in Canada through listening to and reading the stories of various First Nations, Metis and Inuit Peoples including their experiences in residential or industrial schools; the impact that these schools, colonization, being stripped of one's culture, and being separated from family have had on them; the unfair treatment with law enforcement that they have experienced; the lack of care they have received from the health care system; and so much more, as well as witnessing some of these realities first hand. Colonization has resulted in and continues to result in the deprivation of Indigenous Peoples from their language, culture, and economic prosperity potential, as well as the resulting impact on their health and the destruction to our environment. We must be aware of these truths in order to know how to move forward and ensure that history does not continue to repeat itself.

I am inspired by the resiliency of Indigenous Peoples. There is so much that we can all learn from the wisdoms of Indigenous Peoples including the importance of connection to their communities, environmental stewardship, wellness practices, and so much more. I am grateful to all those that have shared their stories and knowledge with me. I am committed to continue to learn more about the truths of the impact of colonization, to speak out when I observe injustices, to reflect on my own biases, to support economic reconciliation, to practice a Two-Eyed Seeing approach in my day-to-day life, and to learn ways to support the beautiful lands on which I'm so fortunate to be able to call home.

I acknowledge that settler colonialism has granted unearned privilege to generations of my ancestors since they arrived on the shores of Turtle Island from England in 1858. The comfort and affluence that my family now enjoys is a direct result of the legacy of colonization. I aim to learn more about the Canadian historical narrative and challenge the myth that immigrants in the 1800s were simply benevolent peoples looking for a new homeland. However, uncomfortable it makes me feel, I will confront the painful history of colonization, violence, racism, and injustice that continues to impact Indigenous communities today. I am committed to examining how colonial denial, guilt, and misplaced empathy have caused harm, and I am dedicated to working toward real change and reconciliation. I deeply regret the effects of these historical injustices and the way they continue to influence our present.

For me, truth and reconciliation are deeply personal, as they prompt me to reflect on my own journey, one where I faced bullying as a resident and junior staff in my hospital. Those who saw themselves as superior used my name and the color of my skin to justify their belittling comments and actions, instead of recognizing my skills and who I truly was. It was a painful time, but I managed to climb out of that space, and I’ve since forgiven them for what they did.

I now believe that true reconciliation requires each of us to take a step back and reflect on the moments where we may have hurt someone, intentionally or not. Without kindness, we cannot build a compassionate and just society. It’s through empathy and understanding that we can truly move forward together.

Since joining the Victoria PCN and moving to the beautiful territory of the Lək̓ʷəŋən peoples, I’ve had the privilege of learning about the painful histories of colonialism and their ongoing impact on Indigenous peoples in our community, particularly in healthcare. I’ve come to appreciate the importance of listening with an open heart, prioritizing connection over content, and approaching my work with genuine intentions that benefit the Indigenous community.

It's not easy to feel into the impacts Indigenous people are experiencing but I deeply appreciate the opportunities to do it. At the Métis Health & Wellness event a workshop offered a role play to help experience what it's like to feel unsafe. It was very powerful, even for the witnessing audience. It underlined the importance of my own cultural safety learning and the immense value of the new Indigenous Wellness Providers helping patients feel safe. While there is so much learning and work to do, it's encouraging to see this kind of meaningful change in action in our community.

I am so truly grateful to the many opportunities for Indigenous Cultural learnings provided through the Victoria PCN over the past year. Two-eyed seeing presentation by Len Pierre is just one example - it opened up my thinking and my feelings, helping me recognize my biases and ways in which I can work towards reconciliation. Thank you to the Victoria PCN team!