Indigenous Engagement

Public Health Ontario’s Commitments

• The Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s 94 Calls to Action are meant to help redress the legacy of residential schools and advance the process of Canadian reconciliation. PHO is committed to helping to address the 94 Calls to Action, with a specific focus on Calls to Action 22 and 23.
  
  Although PHO does not have a patient-facing role. The organization has undertaken actions to promote recognition and respectful integration of Indigenous knowledge systems within public health. These actions include:
  
  
  • Delivered Indigenous‑specific PHO Rounds and webinars
  • Offered learning sessions supporting culturally aware public health programming
  • Engaged Indigenous partners, Elders, Knowledge Keepers, and community experts as presenters and contributors in PHO learning activities and is in the process of creating an Indigenous Partnership group to support detailed co-creation of a PHO-wide Indigenous Strategy.
  • The creation of an Indigenous Internship to support better Indigenous representation in the health sector.
  • Aimed to centre a two-eyed seeing approach, rather than viewing public health solely through the traditional Western lens.
    
    
• PHO endorses Joyce’s Principle and continues to advance this commitment through organizational transformation, strengthened partnerships, and Indigenous‑led public health practice. PHO continues to advance its commitment to Joyce’s Principle through ongoing initiatives that deepen organizational capacity and strengthen relationships with Indigenous partners.
  
  
• PHO recognizes Indigenous health transformation as essential to reconciliation and health equity and is committed to transformation that supports First Nation communities’ right to self-determination through the full control, design, delivery, and management of their own health services.