School of Health Sciences Afternoon of Tea & Bannock Conversation - National Day of Truth and Reconciliation

In recognition of the third annual National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, BCIT’s School of Health Sciences (SoHS) acknowledges the history of Indian Residential School and honours the many survivors, families, and communities and undertakes its part of the work to decolonize health care and education in BC. The SoHS community, including alumni and patient partners, are invited to attend an Afternoon of Tea and Bannock Conversation on Wednesday, October 4 from 1:30 – 3:30 pm. This free event is proudly supported by the BCIT Alumni Association.

BCIT SoHS faculty and staff and patient partners are invited to join Elders and Indigenous SoHS alumni who will share their stories of health experiences focusing on traditions and ceremonies, as well as personal/ witnessed experiences in the healthcare setting. We will reflect on strengths and struggles including resiliencies and redressing discrimination and racism. This is an opportunity to engage with the Elders to learn more about diverse healthcare realities and to consider how we all might engage intentionally in our work to bring about safer experiences for clients, colleagues and families in our work. Indigenous alumni and patient partners will also contribute insights that align and diverge from stories shared by Elders, bringing about a broader awareness of opportunities and barriers to culturally safe and anti-racist care. We all have a role to play.

Role of Alumni:

As part of the healthcare team, your stories and experiences are important to quality improvement and better health outcomes. We value the courage required to share your stories and want to offer a brave and courageous space for your stories to be brought to life for the purpose of advancing the calls to action aimed to improve the health and wellness of Indigenous peoples in Canada, as well as to honour the recommendations of the In Plain Sight report specific to healthcare professionals who identify as Indigenous. Stories of lived experiences of Indigenous people providing care in BC health care is an important step to cultivating self-reflection and humility by non-Indigenous healthcare providers.

We are inviting you to share stories of your healthcare experiences (personal or witnessed). Your insights into aspects of care that were helpful and hurtful will shed light on how healthcare professionals can approach care with greater humility, in the interest of creating a space that is safe and accessible to you when needed.

HOW TO REGISTER / LEARN MORE

Please email  Leanna Wong (leanna_wong@bcit.ca) if you are an Indigenous graduate of a School of Health Sciences program and are interested in attending or want to learn more about the event by September 25.  The School of Health Sciences will host a short virtual Q+A about the workshop the evening of September 27.

By registering for this event, your personal information will be used to track event registration and send you event reminders. This information will also be shared with the Alumni office to track engagement. If you are alumni, this information may be used to inform you about the benefits of BCIT and BCIT Alumni Association career, educational, volunteer, networking, award, and social programs; provide you with information about alumni benefits and services; facilitate alumni participation in research projects, surveys, and fundraising and development activities; and administer elections for Institute and Alumni Association governing bodies. Your contact information may also be disclosed, under strict confidentiality agreements, to third party service providers solely for the provision of mailing or telephone services on behalf of BCIT or the BCIT Alumni Association.