Land Acknowledgment
YWCA Canada’s National Office is located in Tkaronto, or Toronto. Long before European colonizers arrived, the Anishinaabe, Haudenosaunee, and Huron-Wendat formed sustained, and sustaining, relationships with these lands and waters and continue to assert their sovereignty through acts of resurgence. These acts of resurgence reflect the principles of the Dish with One Spoon Wampum, an ongoing agreement between the Anishinaabe and Haudenosaunee, as well as our obligations under Treaty 13.
As an organization and as individuals, we continue to learn from the wampum, from treaty relations, and from the diverse First Nations, Métis, and Inuit people who now call Tkaronto home. YWCA Canada will continue to work towards reconciliation through solidarity with Indigenous peoples across these lands and beyond.
YWCA Canada’s Truth & Reconciliation Statement
At YWCA Canada, we acknowledge that truth-telling is a crucial step on the path to reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples. Our organization’s history, including our involvement in the operation of Residential Schools and ‘Indian Hospitals’, is a painful chapter that we must confront with openness and honesty. Reconciliation cannot begin without first acknowledging the harm done.
Canada’s legacy of colonization, systemic racism, and the forced assimilation of Indigenous Peoples has caused profound suffering. The Residential Schools and ‘Indian’ Hospitals are stark reminders of a history where countless Indigenous children were removed from their families, stripped of their culture, and subjected to abuse and neglect. The impacts of these actions continue to resonate today, contributing to ongoing disparities in health, education, and economic opportunities for Indigenous peoples.
YWCA Canada understands that as an organization, we must own our part in this legacy. Only by facing the truths about our role can we contribute meaningfully to the healing process. This process is about recognizing the facts of our shared history, understanding the lasting effects of these injustices, and taking responsibility for the role we played.
We are committed to integrating truth-telling into every aspect of our work moving forward. This means listening to the stories of Survivors and their families, learning from the past, and educating our members and the broader public about the realities of YWCA’s history with Indigenous communities. It also means taking actionable steps towards reconciliation, guided by the principles laid out in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) of Canada’s Calls to Action, the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girl’s (MMIWG) report Calls for Justice, and by adopting the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) as a framework.
Apology to Indigenous Peoples Harmed by YWCA Work
As part of our commitment to reconciliation, we offer a sincere and unreserved apology to the Indigenous communities, families, and individuals who were harmed by YWCA Canada’s involvement in these institutions. We deeply regret the suffering and trauma that were inflicted because of our organization’s actions and acknowledge the enduring pain that continues to affect Survivors and their descendants. We are profoundly sorry for the role YWCA Canada played in perpetuating these injustices.
Our commitment to truth-telling is our promise to actively participate in the reconciliation process, to hold ourselves accountable, and to ensure that the lessons of the past inform a better, more inclusive future for generations to come.
Click here to access the Summary Report, “The Role of YWCA Canada in Canada’s Residential Schools and ‘Indian Hospitals’”
Learn More About:
YWCA Canada’s Role in Canada’s Residential Schools and the ‘Indian Hospital’ System
Reflecting on Our Past, Committing to Reconciliation: YWCA Canada’s Apology to Indigenous Communities
Timeline of YWCA Canada’s Commitments to Truth and Reconciliation
YWCA Canada’s Indigenous Circle & Truth and Reconciliation Action Committee