06/02/2026
June is National Indigenous History Month, a time to recognize Indigenous peoples who have lived on this land since time immemorial and whose presence continues to contribute to our evolving society. This is also a time to honour and uphold the rich achievements, heritage, cultures, traditions, resilience, diversity, and rights of First Nations, Inuit and Métis Peoples across Canada.
It's also a time to reconfirm our commitment to truth, reconciliation and the 94 calls to action from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission along with the 231 calls to justice outlined in the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls.
As outlined in our strategic plan, we are committed to continuing with the necessary work towards truth and reconciliation within our union and our communities.
HEU acknowledges with gratitude that our members work on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territory of First Nations who have cared for and nurtured these lands from time immemorial.
HEU acknowledges the inherent rights of First Nations. We also acknowledge the pervasive and ongoing harms of colonialism faced by Indigenous Peoples, including forced removal and dispossession of the land. These harms also include the widespread systemic racism against Indigenous peoples as users, patients, and staff in B.C.’s healthcare system. We are committed to confronting and healing the systemic racism underlying this system in our provision of healthcare services.