Warning — the content of this post may be distressing. Information regarding mental and emotional support services are provided below:
Where can I go for immediate support?
Your well-being is important to us. If you require immediate mental and emotional support, the following are resources that you can access:
- BACI’s employee and family services provider, Telus Health, offers counselling and wellness resources at www.baci.lifeworks.com. Telus Health can also be reached at 1-844-671-3327.
- For Indigenous mental health and wellness, the BC crisis line run by the KUU-US Crisis Line Society can be reached at 1-800-588-8717.
- BC Mental Health Support Line: For immediate mental health support or referral, call 310-6789 (no area code) 24 hours a day.
June is Indigenous History Month and June 21 is National Indigenous Peoples Day in Canada. As we celebrate Indigenous peoples, we are reminded of the listening, learning, work and commitment needed to move toward Truth and Reconciliation.
We invite you to join us in learning more about and honouring the history, strengths and contributions of Indigenous peoples in Canada. For more information on Indigenous History Month, check out this video: https://youtu.be/2tfpswUBezM
Some things people can do during this month of celebration, remembrance and reflection:
- Celebrate Indigenous excellence. For inspiration, take a look at the Honouring Nations Canada National Good Governance Awards celebrating Indigenous achievement, the Influential Indigenous Women Timeline at the Canada School of Public Service, the Indspire Foundation Awards or the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business Awards.
- Use the opportunity to learn more about Indigenous Peoples. There are many potential sources of information, such as:
- Learn more about Truth and Reconciliation. Take time to read and reflect upon the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Calls to Action and commit to taking action on at least one of the Calls.
- Learn more about the Independent Special Interlocutor for Missing Children and Unmarked Graves and Burial Sites Associated with Indian Residential Schools.
- Learn more about the National Enquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG) and the calls for justice.
- Share what you have learned with family and friends. Encourage others to learn more too.
- Support Indigenous businesses.
- Make a new or renewed pledge to do your part towards reconciliation. More than ever, we are reminded of the listening, learning, work and commitment needed to move toward Truth and Reconciliation.
BACI agrees with the words of Murray Sinclair, the former Chair of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, who said that “reconciliation is not an Aboriginal problem, it is a Canadian problem. It involves all of us.” He also stated: “reconciliation is yours to achieve. We owe it to each other to build a Canada based on our shared future, a future of healing and trust.”
