Recognising Heritage and Legacy
Posted on September 23, 2021
CONTENT/TRIGGER WARNING: Mentions of residential schools and colonial impacts.
In this year of social justice and climate change at NOSM, what impresses me most is how people have rallied together for a common purpose and to achieve a higher purpose. Part of being a good citizen is acknowledging and observing history, heritage and our interconnected legacies in Canada. It is recognition of the past and the present, a conduit for healthy dialogue, and recognition of the legacy of our ancestors.
National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
On September 30—a day previously known as Orange Shirt Day—we will observe the newly introduced National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. Created in response to the 80th Call to Action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) Report, the day is reserved for public reflection and acknowledgement of the hard truths and ongoing intergenerational trauma caused by residential schools.
NOSM will be closed next Thursday in honour of reconciliation, recognising that it has been established as a statutory holiday in Canada. It will be reserved as a time of solemn reflection and deeper learning for the NOSM community. Non-Indigenous people looking to reflect on the legacies of the residential school system may choose to honour and learn more from Survivors, their families, and communities. Learning about the history and legacy of residential schools remains a vital component of reconciliation.
Residential schools in Canada were first established in the 1880s and the last federally-funded school closed in 1996. More than 150,000 Indigenous children were forcibly taken from their families and placed in the schools, where horrendous abuse occurred. Children were severely punished for practising their culture and speaking their languages. The intention was to systematically eradicate Indigenous, First Nations, Métis and Inuit cultures across Canada. The result was multi-intergenerational trauma. The devastating effects of the residential schools are far-reaching and recently compounded by the findings of thousands of unmarked graves of children.
The Unforgotten, a series of educational films and toolkits funded by the Canadian Medical Association, was created to raise awareness about the ongoing deep inequities that exist in health-care services for Indigenous peoples across Canada. On this day of reflection, we can each take time to learn about the present-day impacts of colonialism and racism on the health system and recognise the ongoing experiences of racism that Indigenous peoples continue to face.
La Journée des Franco-Ontariennes et Franco-Ontariens
The Province of Ontario officially recognizes September 25 as Franco-Ontarian Day, marking the contributions of Francophones in Ontario. The Franco-Ontarian flag was first flown on September 25, 1975 at the University of Sudbury. Since September 2020, it is now recognized as an official emblem of Ontario. The flag includes the trillium representing membership in the wider Ontarian community and the fleur-de-lys as belonging to the global Francophone community. The green and white colours symbolise summer and winter respectively.
Francophones in Ontario have the right to request and receive services in their own language—a right enshrined in the French Language Services Act. Research shows that Francophones who receive services in their first language are better able to follow the advice of their health-care providers, have less need for hospital services and remain in better health.[1]
The French Language Services Act and NOSM’s mandate both have a focus on social accountability, inclusiveness, respect and equity. Developing clear expectations as they pertain to French-language services remains a key priority for NOSM. We are making strides with the implementation of the Active Offer of French language services in the organizational culture of NOSM. This provides an opportunity for learners, staff, and faculty to gain an increased awareness on how best to respond to the needs of Francophones.
Today, French is the first official language of more than 620,000 Ontarians with nearly 21 per cent living in Northern Ontario. In recent years, 20 to 25 per cent of students in NOSM’s MD classes are Francophone. We at NOSM are proud of our commitment to the Franco-Ontarian culture and our Francophone learners.
Use your voice
Please pay careful attention to the opportunities to learn about our Indigenous and Francophone histories and acknowledge the importance of the culture, heritage and legacy. It is an opportunity to reflect on the richness of our present-day lives and the critical, often difficult lessons we must learn to understand the value of diversity, equity, inclusion and compassion.
History was my first academic course of passion. I feel it teaches us about the past and where we are headed in the future. History helps to build responsible citizenry and values. History in health care helps us determine facts and genetic familial risks. The more a person’s past is known, the better it helps prepare them for the future—and I know it’s a bright future.
Miigwetch, thank you, marsi, merci,
Dr. Sarita Verma
Dean, President and CEO
Northern Ontario School of Medicine
If you have any feedback or comments, please reach out at
dean@nosm.ca and follow me on twitter @ddsv3.
NOSM Recognizing National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
On Wednesday, September 29 from 12:00 to 2:00 p.m., everyone is invited to listen, learn, and reflect on the impacts of residential schools and recently uncovered truths of the unmarked burial sites of Indigenous children at and near Residential School locations across Canada. Join us to hear from Drs. Scott Hamilton and Kona Williams. Empowering families and communities—as we collectively support their decision as to how to best honour the burials of loved ones who did not make it home—is one step towards reconciliation. In honour of the day, NOSM is selling orange tees by artist, Isaac Murdoch. The artwork, called ‘Bring the Children Home. It’s Time.’ is a rendering of what is believed to be hundreds of years old pictograph discovered near the site of the old residential schools in Spanish, west of Sudbury. Learn more.
NOSM’s Vaccination Policy
NOSM University Consultation
What does Canada’s first stand-alone medical university look like to you? As NOSM evolves into NOSM University, we are consulting widely with Northern Ontarians. Input and guidance received from multiple sources, including an online survey, a series of key informant interviews, and town halls will be used to shape NOSM’s priorities. To review The NOSM Challenge 2025, please visit strategicplan.nosm.ca.
Your input is critical. This survey will take approximately 10 minutes to complete.
You’re invited: Join us for the first in a series of town halls.
Tuesday, October 5, 2021
5:30 – 6:30 p.m.
Delta Hotels by Marriott
2240 Sleeping Giant Parkway, Thunder Bay
Join WebEx videoconference meeting
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Join by phone, toll free: +1-855-699-3239
Access code: 161 462 9462
You may wish to test the videoconferencing software ahead of time.
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Other events are being planned across Northern Ontario. Keep an eye on your email for invitations from Dr. Verma.
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