WRHA Indigenous Health

17/10/2025

WRHA Indigenous Health is at the Manitoba Métis Federation's Annual General Assembly starting today!

Come down and visit our booth to learn about the WRHA and WRHA Indigenous Health. Today we have Yvonne Kipling and Brandi Sims at the booth.

30/09/2025

September 30- The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
The Story of Phyllis Webstad and Orange Shirt Day

Phyllis Webstad never expected to become a public speaker, author, or head of the Orange Shirt Society. In her early 50s, this journey began over coffee in April 2013, while preparing to speak at the launch of the St. Joseph’s Mission Residential School Commemoration Project. A residential school survivor herself, she recalled a painful memory: the orange shirt her grandmother bought her, taken away on her first day at school. Sharing that story publicly for the first time moved her deeply—and sparked a movement.

Her friend Joan Sorely, who first heard the story, proposed creating “Orange Shirt Day” to raise awareness about the harms of residential schools. The planning committee soon agreed to hold the event annually on September 30, aligning with the time children were taken from their homes. Webstad’s powerful slogan, “Every Child Matters,” captured the experience of so many survivors.

Orange Shirt Day was first shared publicly on April 26, 2013. Just months later, at a TRC event in Vancouver, Webstad was stunned to see flyers about the day being distributed widely. It had gone viral. From there, the message spread globally.

Now based in Williams Lake, B.C., Webstad leads the Orange Shirt Society, advocating for truth, healing, and education. Though she once hated the color orange, it now symbolizes remembrance, resilience, and change. Orange Shirt Day has grown into a national movement, prompting reflection across classrooms, workplaces, and communities. In 2025, the first high school students to have observed Orange Shirt Day every year since kindergarten will graduate—an early sign of lasting change sparked by one woman’s story.

Source: Canadian Geographic Website

25/09/2025

Who was the Honorable Murray Sinclair?

The Honourable Murray Sinclair, a member of Peguis First Nation, dedicated his life to justice, reconciliation, and amplifying Indigenous voices in Canada. As the first Indigenous judge in Manitoba, he led groundbreaking work, including the Aboriginal Justice Inquiry and later, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), which produced 94 Calls to Action addressing the legacy of residential schools.

Appointed to the Senate in 2016 and later Chancellor of Queen’s University, Sinclair’s impact spanned law, education, and national healing. His leadership, wisdom, and advocacy earned him numerous honours, including the Order of Canada and over 30 honorary doctorates. His legacy continues to guide Canada toward a more just and inclusive future.

Source: Government of Canada Website

18/09/2025

Reconciliation is about ACTION, not just words

Reconciliation has become part of the conversation, but many are asking: where’s the follow-through? While the pandemic has strained our health systems, Indigenous communities have long faced critical care shortages—what’s new for some is daily reality for many.
Health care is political. It’s about choices, priorities, and who gets what. Solutions to Indigenous health challenges aren't unknown—they're the same as those that work elsewhere: relationships, accountability, and proper funding.

Indigenous communities are already leading change, creating culturally safe, patient-centered care models. Real progress will come when systems shift resources and decision-making power to Indigenous communities. Reconciliation requires more than talk—it demands structural change, respect, and shared responsibility.

Source: University of Alberta website
Photo Source: https://www.glebestjames.ca/

Glebe-St. James is an Affirming Congregation in the United Church of Canada. Everyone AND their gender, race, ethnicity, abilities or sexual orientation is welcomed AND celebrated.

10/09/2025

WRHA Indigenous Health is setup at the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs Annual General Assembly for the next three days!

Come down and talk to our staff on site about our program and current employment opportunities within the program. Brooke Bunn (HR Consultant) and Tanya Blais (Workforce Development Coordinator) are both are at the RBC Convention Centre today!

01/09/2025

The Road to Reconciliation

Throughout September, WRHA Indigenous Health will highlight Truth and Reconciliation in honor of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on September 30. Join us as we reflect, learn, and take action toward a more just and equitable future.

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) was established in 2008 to document residential school Survivors’ experiences and promote healing. From 2009 to 2015, it collected nearly 7,000 statements and over five million documents, culminating in a seven-volume report and 94 Calls to Action addressing the legacy of residential schools and systemic inequalities faced by Indigenous Peoples.

The National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation (NCTR) was created in 2015 to preserve the TRC’s work. While some progress has been made, true reconciliation requires ongoing commitment, structural change, and respectful relationships to address past injustices and build a more equitable future.

Source: Indigenous Peoples Atlas of Canada Website

28/08/2025

*** CAREER OPPORUNITY FOR INDIGENOUS HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS ***

WRHA Indigenous Health is seeking an Indigenous healthcare professional to join our Patient Services Team as a Discharge Planning Coordinator! This position is integral in supporting the safe discharge plan of Indigenous patients accessing health services within the WRHA, and works alongside and supports a multi-disciplinary team.

This is a designated Indigenous position, and candidates are encouraged to self-identify in their cover letter and/or resume.

Anyone interested should apply via the link below.

Regional Indigenous Discharge Planning Coordinator

27/08/2025

Join WRHA Indigenous Health today at the RBC Convention Centre! where we have a booth setup to showcase the program, and highlight a number of roles that we are currently recruiting for.

Yvonne Kipling (Reconciliation Manager) and Brooke Bunn (Human Resource Consultant) are there until 5:00PM.

21/08/2025

Who are the Canadian Inuit?

The majority of Canadian Inuit live in 51 communities across Inuit Nunangat—the Inuit homeland that spans 40% of Canada’s landmass and 72% of its coastline. Inuit have lived on this land since time immemorial, and our communities remain some of the most culturally resilient in North America. Approximately 60% of Inuit report being able to converse in Inuktitut, the Inuit language, and many continue to harvest traditional country foods such as seal, narwhal, and caribou to nourish their families and sustain their communities.

Source: itk.ca
Photo Source: Insight Guides website