September 30 is the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day. It is an opportunity to honour Residential School Survivors, remember the children who never returned home, and reflect on the ongoing impacts of residential schools on Indigenous Peoples, families, and communities.
As the regulator of occupational therapists in Ontario, COTO has a responsibility to support learning and action toward supporting reconciliation and culturally safer health care. This work is continuous and requires listening to and learning from Indigenous voices and experiences.
We are grateful for the guidance and perspectives shared by COTO’s Indigenous Insights Advisory Committee. The Committee helps inform our work and strengthens our commitment to truth and reconciliation.
Gillian Slaughter
COTO Registrar & CEO
Resources for Learning and Reflection
- Indigenous Canada (University of Alberta’s Massive Open Online Course)
- Indigenous Primary Health Care Council (IPHCC)
- National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation: Educational resources
- National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (Canada.ca)
- National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (Ontario.ca)
- Ontario Native Women’s Association (ONWA)
- Orange Shirt Day: Every Child Matters
- Whose Land?