To commemorate National Day for Truth and Reconciliation/Orange Shirt Day (September 30) the Indigenous Health department decided it was important to showcase and honour an Indigenous artist from the Northern region.
September 30 provides an opportunity for us all to recognize our shared colonial history, to commemorate the children who were lost, and Survivors. It is also a time to reflect on the ongoing legacy of residential schools. There must be awareness of the past, and acknowledgement of the harm that has been inflicted, atonement for the causes, and action to change behaviour.1
The artist chosen to design a graphic this year to recognize NDTR/OSD is Cori Johnson.
Cori is a Gitxsan artist who grew up with her traditional practices in plant-use and medicine, and she has been a practicing artist for most of her life. She was mentored by traditional artists including Art Wilson, a hereditary chief from Kispiox, BC, and Clayton Gauthier, a well-known artist in the Lheidli T’enneh territory. She has dedicated herself to healing through art and culture.
Cori has created many logos and designs for First Nation’s organizations including First Nations Health Authority, PGNAETA, Aboriginal Housing Society, and Tsow-Tun Le Lum.
We encourage all NH Staff to use the background leading up to and beyond NDTR/OSD in all your virtual meetings. Download the background today!
Remember to wear orange!
Wearing orange on September 30th honours Survivors and shows a personal commitment to reconciliation.
Looking to purchase an Orange Shirt Day shirt? Here are some options:
- Orange Shirt Day (online)
- Wolf Pack Apparel (online)
- Native Northwest (online)
- Métis Nation BC (online)
- The Pepper Tree Studio (Prince George)
- Angelique’s Native Arts (Prince George)
- Books & Company (Prince George and Quesnel)
- Nawican Friendship Centre (Dawson Creek)
- SJA Promo (Fort St. John)
- NE Aboriginal Business Centre: Indigenous Artists Market (Fort St. John)
- Jada’s creations (Terrace)
- Sandpiper’s Boutique (Terrace)
Staff resources
Learn more about NTDR and OSD
Indigenous Health videos
- Building respectful relationships in COVID times
- Compassion-informed care
- Cultural Safety: Respect and Dignity in Relationships
- Preparing for Respectful Conversations
Indigenous Health publications
- Cultural safety and system change: An assessment tool (PDF)
- Cultural safety: Respect and dignity in relationships (PDF)
- Culturally respectful relationships: Some terms and issues (PDF)
- Five facts about Indigenous People in Northern BC (PDF)
- Local cultural resources (PDF)
Partner resources
- An Introduction to the Health of Two-Spirit People (Sarah Hunt) - National Collaborating Centre for Indigenous Health (NCCIH)
- Indigenous gender diversity: creating culturally relevant and gender-affirming services - Provincial Health Services Authority (PHSA)
- Métis Nation BC health video - Métis Nation BC (MNBC)
- What does National Truth and Reconciliation Day mean to you? - First Nations Health Authority (FNHA)
Support available
Support is available for anyone affected by the residential school experience.
- A national Indian Residential School Crisis Line has been set up to provide support for former students and those affected. People can access emotional and crisis referral services by calling the 24-hour national crisis line: 1-866-925-4419.
- The KUU-US Crisis Line Society provides a First Nations and Indigenous specific crisis line available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, toll-free from anywhere in British Columbia. The KUU-US Crisis Line can be reached toll-free at 1-800-588-8717 or online.
- The Northern BC Crisis Line offers 24/7 support across the NH region and can be reached at 1-888-562-1214.
1Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada. (2015). Honouring the Truth, Reconciling for the Future Summary of the Final Report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada. Retrieved from: https://ehprnh2mwo3.exactdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Executive_Summary_English_Web.pdf