Indigenous Health Professions Program

A message on the anniversary of the death of Joyce Echaquan (September 28) and the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (Orange Shirt Day, September 30)

On these two days of mourning and reflection, we in the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences honour the memories of Joyce Echaquan and the victims and survivors of residential schools across Quebec and Canada. As Indigenous Health Professions Program Director Konwahahawi (Sarah) Rourke reminds us in her moving statement today, mcgill.ca/x/whu, these two events are powerfully connected examples of the harmful and lasting impact colonization has had on Indigenous peoples’ education and healthcare. The Faculty will continue to partner with Indigenous colleagues, communities and learners to create spaces together where they can teach and learn, be cared for and be healers, in an environment that is compassionate, respectful and culturally safe.

In the spirit of celebrating and learning about our vibrant Indigenous communities, I hope you can join in the activities offered during McGill’s Indigenous Awareness Weeks, which wrap up on October 2: mcgill.ca/x/whb

Lesley Fellows, MDCM, DPhil
Vice-President (Health Affairs)
Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences

Today, the students from 2nd year in McGill Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences took part in an important cross-cultural activity, alternative to the blanket exercice.

Facilitators:
Amy Shawanda, PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Family Medicine, & Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences' IHPP Joelle Majeau and Sophie-Claude Miller Outreach Administrators.

📷 : Sophie-Claude Miller

"National Ribbon Skirt Day is a Canadian holiday celebrating the ribbon skirt traditionally worn by Indigenous women. It was first celebrated on 4 January 2023.

The day was inspired by the experience of Isabella Kulak, an Indigenous girl who wore a ribbon skirt to a "formal dress day" at her elementary school but was told it did not meet the standard of "formal dress". This interaction prompted a reaction on social media, a march to the school, and a push for the federal government to recognize the ribbon skirt.

Senator Mary Jane McCallum put forward Bill S-219, An Act respecting a National Ribbon Skirt Day, in honor of Kulak. The bill received unanimous support in Parliament and was passed into law in December 2022."



🧑🏽‍⚖️ ⚖️

"La journée nationale de la jupe à ruban est une fête au Canada qui célèbre la jupe à rubans, traditionnellement portée par des femmes autochtones. Elle est célébrée depuis le 4 janvier 2023.

La journée fût inspirée par l’expérience d’Isabelle Kulak, une fille autochtone qui a porté une jupe à rubans pour ‘’une journée de tenue formelle’’ à son école primaire, mais qui c’était faire dire que cela ne rencontrait pas les standards de ‘’tenue formelle’’. Cette interaction a suscité une vague de réactions dans les médias sociaux, une marche à son école et une pression pour que le gouvernement fédéral reconnaisse la jupe à rubans.

La Sénatrice Mary Jane McCAllum a présenté le projet de loi S-219, une loi observant une journée nationale de la jupe à rubans, en l’honneur de Kulak. Ce projet de loi reçu un support unanime au Parlement et la loi a été adoptée en décembre 2022."



SOURCE: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Ribbon_Skirt_Day

LAW: https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/N-16.2/FullText.html

📷 : Sophie-Claude Miller

Statement on the anniversary of the death of Joyce Echaquan (September 28) and the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (September 30)
Please read : mcgill.ca/x/UhM
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Message à l’occasion de l’anniversaire du décès de Joyce Echaquan (28 septembre) et de la Journée nationale de la vérité et de la réconciliation (30 septembre)
Lire la suite : mcgill.ca/x/UhQ

“A lot has been done. In my opinion, our focus should not be about what is wrong, but about what is right,” says Rourke, who describes herself as an idealist. “It’s about creating a safe space for Indigenous people and for non-Indigenous people, and learning how to be a good ally. Bundled arrows are stronger.”

Art that heals Campus Outaouais, the western arm of the McGill School of Medicine, is one of the few institutions that can boast of owning a Monnet—though this one has two n’s. At 37, Caroline Monnet, who is of Franco-Anishinaabe (Algonquin) descent, has already established a reputation as one of the most vers...