Saskatoon hospital unveils reconciliation mural
- NC Raine | June 19, 2018
St. Paul’s Hospital is proudly displaying their commitment to reconciliation and survivors with a new mural focusing on the goals of truth and reconciliation.
Unveiled at St. Paul’s on June 18th, the mural features images representing important symbolic moments in the past, present, and future of Saskatchewan.
Images of the past depict First Nations and Metis people living in harmony with nature. Present images show a flag raising ceremony at the hospital from 2016, where St. Paul’s signed a commitment to reconciliation. And images of the future reveal children from a local elementary school and community centre holding a Truth and Reconciliation flag.
“This unveiling is going to acknowledge our commitment to the survivors and how important they are to this process of reconciliation,” Gabe Lafond, Executive Director of First Nations and Metis Health told Eagle Feather News.
“It is important to acknowledge the harms that were committed and to work towards reconciliation within these systems by providing more cultural supports,” he said.
The mural is a product of St. Paul’s looking for a way to show their support for truth and reconciliation, following an honorary flag in 2016 to show their commitment to the TRC’s federal report.
“The mural itself gives an illustration to the commitment – there are a number of folks who contributed to the truth and reconciliation flag raising (in 2016) – so we are acknowledging the survivors that were part of that and the survivors who continue to utilize the Saskatchewan Health Authority and St. Paul’s Hospital,” said Lafond.
As a part of the unveiling ceremony, St. Paul’s invited several speakers to share their knowledge and stories, including residential school survivor Leona Tootoosis, and traditional knowledge keeper Andre Letendre, who spoke on the importance of recognizing all those, both survivors and victims, who were once forgotten.
“At one time, we were called the forgotten people,” said Letendre. “We had nothing. But I am amazed how far we’ve come in this short time. Here we, talking about healing, reconciliation, and truth.”
The Saskatoon Health Region is not even a year away from apologizing to Indigenous women who were pressured by some medical staff and social workers to be sterilized. While the message during the mural unveiling was one of growth and solidarity, health care leaders in Saskatchewan acknowledge they still have a long way to go.
“There is much more work to be done,” said Jean Morrison, CEO and President of St. Paul's Hospital. “As physicians and staff walk these halls, this mural will be a daily reminder of how we might be able to realize our goals.”