A moment of silence on Orange Shirt Day and National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

Posted on September 30, 2021

Summary:

SickKids remains committed to continuing to examine and decolonize hospital practices on our reconciliation journey and to support culturally safe services for children and families. SickKids will observe a moment of silence today to honour the victims and survivors of residential schools.

Today is Orange Shirt Day and beginning this year, September 30 marks the first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. This is an opportunity to reflect on the intergenerational trauma and legacy of the residential school system that continues to impact Indigenous families and communities today, and to come together in the spirit of reconciliation.

In collaboration with Indigenous Advisors, SickKids remains committed to continuing to examine and decolonize hospital practices on our reconciliation journey and to support culturally appropriate services for children and families at SickKids and across the province through SickKids’ Indigenous Health Strategy. A new Indigenous Health Council recently launched at SickKids and co-chaired by Melanie Laking, the Indigenous Advisor and parent, will advance key priorities aimed at creating a culturally safe care environment for Indigenous patients and families.

There are several ways we are recognizing Orange Shirt Day and the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation:

At 12:05 p.m., SickKids will observe a minute of silence to honour the victims and survivors of residential schools. The moment of silence will be marked by an overhead announcement on the SickKids campus during a Health Equity Rounds virtual event for staff hosted by author Suzanne Methot, who will lead a critical discussion on health equity and culturally safe practices.
Patients and families are invited to tune into The SKOOP (SickKids’ Channel 41) at 11 a.m. for a special story time with author Dallas Hunt. Dallas will be reading his book, “Awâsis and the World-Famous Bannock.”
A second land acknowledgement plaque in the hospital has been installed near the Elizabeth Street entrance this week in honour of our commitment toward reconciliation and to offer gratitude for the opportunity to share this land in caring for children and their families. Emily Kewageshig, an Ojibwe Woodland artist, was commissioned to paint the land acknowledgement plaques in the hospital.
We will continue to fly our flags at half mast until the end of the day to mourn the discovery of over 1,500 unmarked graves across Canada.

A wooden plaque painted with tree branches, leaves, flowers and human faces. At the centre is the SickKids Land Acknowledgement statement, included in the image caption. — Land acknowledgement plaque near the Elizabeth Street entrance with artwork by Emily Kewageshig, an Ojibwe Woodland artist. The plaque reads "I (we) would like to begin by acknowledging the land on which SickKids operates. For thousands of years it has been the traditional land of the Huron-Wendat and Petun First Nations, the Seneca, and most recently, the Mississaugas of the Credit River. Today, Toronto is home to Indigenous Peoples from across Turtle Island. SickKids is committed to working toward new relationships that include First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples, and is grateful for the opportunity to share this land in caring for children and their families."