CIHR recognizes the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
Statement from Tammy Clifford, Acting President of CIHR

Both the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day take place on September 30.

Orange Shirt Day is an Indigenous-led grassroots commemorative day intended to raise awareness of the individual, family and community inter-generational impacts of residential schools, and to promote the concept of “Every Child Matters.” The orange shirt is a symbol of the stripping away of culture, freedom and self-esteem experienced by Indigenous children over generations. On September 30, all Canadians are encouraged to wear orange to honour the thousands of Survivors of residential schools, in a small gesture of solidarity and allyship.

At CIHR, we continue to engage and co-develop with First Nations, Inuit and Métis Peoples in health research, as we focus on the learning and actions that are needed in our reconciliation journey. We recognize that CIHR’s current and future Indigenous health research needs must be guided by Indigenous Peoples and communities and support Indigenous leadership and ways of knowing and being. We will continue to work towards improving the health and well-being of First Nations, Inuit and Métis Peoples and advancing the self-determination of Indigenous Peoples in health research.

Actions by the federal government toward truth and reconciliation involve acknowledging its role in these schools. Notable efforts include the Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s final report, and the Implementing the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act, which became law in 2021. These initiatives, including endeavours by CIHR, must be ongoing.

As a health research funding body, CIHR has a unique role to play to advance reconciliation. For too long, Indigenous knowledges and ways of knowing have been undervalued, and First Nations, Inuit and Métis Peoples’ potential contributions to health have been ignored. CIHR is actively monitoring and growing investments in First Nations, Inuit, and Metis health research. CIHR is supporting several Indigenous health research projects, and this October we will renew funding for the Network Environments for Indigenous Health Research. In all of this, we recognize the hard work of First Nations, Inuit and Métis Peoples who are modelling ways in which we can decolonize our work at CIHR.

We know we have a lot of internal work still ahead of us to face and address the harms that have been done in the past and how to prevent doing further harm in health research in the future. Every one of us has a responsibility to be aware of the possible impact of our work and our behaviour, and to ensure meaningful change in addressing historical and on-going injustices and fostering reconciliation.

Reconciliation is a learning process, and CIHR executives, board and committee members, and staff will continue to reflect, learn, listen, and be accountable for our actions. We are proceeding in this work in the spirit of humility and reciprocity and we are grateful for the guidance and leadership provided to us by Indigenous committee members, employees, partners, and advisors.

Sincerely,

Tammy Clifford, PhD
Acting President, Canadian Institutes of Health Research

Date modified:

2024-09-27