For the past 30 years, National Indigenous Peoples Day has been held on the summer solstice, as a time that holds deep spiritual and cultural significance for many Indigenous Peoples, symbolizing renewal, connection, and celebration. Many community events will be taking place across Canada this weekend to explore and celebrate diverse Indigenous cultures.

However, it is equally important that we take this time as an opportunity for learning about the difficult history of the residential school system in Canada and the ongoing legacy of colonization. It is a time to revisit the final report from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, which outlines 94 “calls to action” to advance the process of reconciliation.

Call to Action 92 calls on the corporate sector in Canada to ensure that the principles, norms and standards of the United Nationals Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples are applied to corporate policy and core operational activities.

As the proud benefits provider to 1 in 3 people across British Columbia, and the benefits administrator for the First Nations Health Authority (FNHA), Pacific Blue Cross is strongly committed to upholding these standards and advancing equity and inclusion for Indigenous communities, both in health care and in the workplace. We are also proud to promote the Declaration of Commitment on Cultural Safety and Humility in Health Services, working to build mutual trust and respect that enables cultural safety among our staff and members.

Working closely with the FNHA, we’ve developed a free and easily accessible e-learning module, Indigenous Awareness, which aims to promote better understanding of the history of Indigenous Peoples in Canada and how this history impacts our world today. While this module is available to the wider public, we particularly encourage our plan sponsors to use this resource for learning and engagement amongst their teams. This module is also a core component of all Pacific Blue Cross employee onboarding.

We are honoured to be recognized as an Indigenous Works Employer of Choice. This program audits and certifies employers who are taking proactive steps to improve recruitment, retention and advancement of First Nations, Inuit and Métis talent. We would encourage other employers to explore this program and review their own internal DEI initiatives.

You can observe National Indigenous Peoples Day by learning more about the experiences and histories of Indigenous Peoples in Canada and participating in local events near you.