CCH Recognizes National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
2021-09-30
To raise
awareness and honour the victims and survivors of residential schools, Cornwall
Community Hospital (CCH) is observing the National Day for Truth and
Reconciliation on September 30, 2021 by asking staff and physicians to
participate in Orange Shirt Day.
An orange flag
has also been raised at half-mast on the hospital grounds and educational
resources on the history and injustices faced by Indigenous communities have
been shared with staff.
Orange Shirt
Day, also observed on September 30, originates from a
story told by residential school survivor Phyllis (Jack) Webstad of her
first day at residential school when her new orange shirt, bought by her
grandmother, was taken from her as a six-year-old girl. It is now a symbol of
the stripping away of culture, freedom and self-esteem experienced by
Indigenous children over generations.
“Today we wear
orange in recognition of the devastating impact that residential schools had on
our Indigenous children and communities, and also to affirm our commitment that
everyone around us matters. Marking this day is an important step towards
reconciliation, and allows us to learn and reflect on the harm caused by
residential schools to First Nations,” says Jeanette Despatie, President and
CEO.
Staff have also
been asked to reflect on what Orange Shirt Day means to them by writing their
answers on paper and taking a picture.
Dr. Lorne
Scharf, Chief of Staff, says “to me, Orange Shirt Day is about a community
celebrating resilience and honouring their children. It’s about all Canadians
learning about the history of residential schools.”
People are
encouraged to visit CCH on Facebook to see more responses from staff and
physicians: www.facebook.com/CornwallCommunityHospital.
CCH proudly
provides a full range of acute inpatient, outpatient and community mental
health services to a catchment area of over 100,000 people in Eastern Ontario,
which includes the Mohawk Community of Akwesasne.
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