The legacy of colonization and the ongoing trauma of Canada’s residential school system continue to shape our health care and health research systems.
As a funder and convenor, we sit at the intersection of many communities across British Columbia’s health research ecosystem. We recognize that our position gives us an opportunity to create change where harms have occurred, and we continue to work towards meaningful system change. Our actions reflect our commitment to Indigenous research leadership and are guided by BC’s Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action.
As we advance this work, it is important to understand our own history and journey. With guidance from Indigenous partners and advisors, we are reflecting on where we have needed to listen, and how we are actively learning to become a more culturally safe and accountable partner in Indigenous health research.
“We lose so much when we don’t talk about our harmful stories. We forget what happened to us and we fall into the same traps over and over again,” says Harley Eagle, Indigenous Cultural Safety Advisor.
Timelines have long been used by Indigenous Peoples to hold complex histories and honour relational truth-telling. As we reflect on our actions and relationships, we are developing a timeline to document our continued learning. This interactive tool will look across our organization’s history to identify key moments of learning and growth. We look forward to sharing this work with you soon.
