The information and resources below contain information that may be disturbing to some individuals, especially to residential school survivors. If you or someone you know is triggered by the content in this resource guide, please call the 24-Hour National Survivors Crisis Line at 1- 866-925-4419.

September 30, 2021, marks the first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

The day honours the lost children and Survivors of residential schools, their families and communities. Public commemoration of the tragic and painful history and ongoing impacts of residential schools is a vital component of the reconciliation process.

The creation of this federal statutory holiday was through legislative amendments made by Parliament. On June 3, 2021, Bill C-5, An Act to amend the Bills of Exchange Act, the Interpretation Act and the Canada Labour Code (National Day for Truth and Reconciliation) received Royal Assent.

To learn more about this new, federal holiday, and the history behind Orange Shirt Day, please read the Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion‘s latest resource. You will find background information and things to do to offer support like donating to trusted Indigenous charities or hosting a conversation at your organization. There are also links to various articles, books, and reports to read; films and videos to watch; podcasts to listen to; and, accounts to follow on social media.

Today, our team will begin taking a 12-lesson Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) called ‘Indigenous Canada’. This course is offered by the University of Alberta and is hosted through Coursera. Enrollment is free and made accessible to all.

We encourage you to join us as we work to educate ourselves on Indigenous histories and contemporary issues in Canada, allyship, and unconscious bias.

CHIMA is also leading its own initiatives to broaden our understanding of diversity and inclusion.

Allyship & Action

We want to be better allies to Indigenous Peoples and will be leading a session called ‘Allyship & Action,’ with Rumina Morris, MSW, RSW, an equity and inclusion expert. Our goal is to learn how to promote a more inclusive workplace and offer concrete ways to model these concepts for others so they can do the same.

Unpacking Unconscious Bias

Rumina will also be facilitating another CHIMA session titled ‘Unpacking Unconscious Bias’. Participants will learn about unconscious biases as they relate to their decision-making abilities and relationships with team members. Through examining where stereotypes and generalizations stem from, participants will recognize how unchecked biases can inadvertently result in microaggressions and unintended harm.

Please subscribe to our email communications to be the first to know about two education sessions we will be launching in the near future.

To connect CHIMA with your local Indigenous communities contact:

Kaitlin McNamara
Marketing and Community Manager
Canadian College of Health Information Management
Canadian Health Information Management Association
Direct: +1-343-803-3774 
kaitlin.mcnamara@echima.ca