Culture and Diversity

Truth and Reconciliation: It's about Respect

        
        A truth commission or Truth and Reconciliation Commission is a commission tasked with discovering past wrong doing by a government in the hope of resolving conflict left over from the past.  This commission has a mandate to learn the truth about what happened in the residential schools and to inform all Canadians about what happened in the schools.  The Commission will document the truth of what happened by relying on records held by those who operates and funded the schools, testimony from officials of the institutions that operated the schools and experiences reported by survivors, their families, communities and personally affected by the residential school experience and its subsequent impacts.

     Truth and  Reconciliation Commission was developed to improve the relationship  between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Canadians by signing onto the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), according to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada (TRC).  TRC addresses issues such as culture, identity, language, health and education and provides guidance to States, the United Nations, and other international organizations on harmonious, cooperative relationships with Indigenous peoples.  It is based on principles of equality, partnership, good faith and mutual respect.

    `The TRC was formed as a result of the Indian Residential School Settlement Agreement.  The Commission is gathering statements and documents relevant to the Residential School system, while raising awareness of this shared history through a series of national events, community events, research and commemoration initiatives.

                          
NIMFA ROSARIO

Phil Fontaine

                  He is a noble man who has strong affections with the race he belong. He is from descended Métis as his native status. Fontaine attended a residential school at Sagkeeng, Assiniboia Residential School in Winnipeg and graduated from Powerview Collegiate in 1961. He started handling political position as chief of Sagkeeng community twice. Then followed by as vice chief for Manitoba Assembly of First Nation after he graduated a Bachelor of Arts in degree in political studies. Become chief of Assembly of Manitoba for three terms. By 1997 he elected as National Chief of the Assembly of First Nation, and second term in 2003. Re-elected for the third term in 2006. Phil Fontaine is also the negotiator of the Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement, including the notification of Truth and Reconciliation Commission by the Federal government in May 2006. Which presently specific demand by Aboriginal people. At present acts as “Special Advisor” to the Royal Bank of Canada. His mandate is to provide advice and counsel RBC's Canadian businesses to help company, relationship with Aboriginal government and communities. Fontaine goals are purely for the welfare of the Aboriginal people to be a valued member of the Canadian society.

                     Phil Fontaine is public defender of Aboriginal people of Canada. He is the representative of the First Nation in the highest position as National Chief of the Assembly. Leader who lead the opposition of the Meech Lake Accord. Lead to resolve land claim of the Kahkewistahaw First Nation resulting to a Million agreements for the Saskatchewan band. He is also the negotiator to bring the five billion Kelowna Accord with the Liberal government, aimed at improving living conditions and education for aboriginal people. Negotiator of the Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement means a financial contribution of more than five billion dollars to survivors and program for the aboriginal. Promote the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and ratified by the Federal Conservative government. He is also presently “Special Advisor” to Royal Bank of Canada Mandate to provide advice and counsel to RBCs Canadian business to help the company deepen its relationships with Aboriginal government. Beyond that achievement how can Aboriginal people can forget this man whose intend was purely for the welfare of Aboriginal people called First Nation.

                        Fontaine deal aimed to improve the living conditions and education of aboriginal people. He successfully negotiated the Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement (IRSSA) which means a financial contribution to survivors who will be benefited. The Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement also includes a Truth and Reconciliation Commission was also ratified by the Federal Conservative Agreement and will establish and independent tribunal to adjudicate Specific Land Claims. Through the effort of Fontaine as a Chief of National Assembly of the First Nation brought out their suffering, injustices, discrimination,

Abuses violation of human rights, religious persecution, cultural destruction and mass abduction of children. He claims this expose be an assertion open to challenge. This conduct is exposed and addressed begin to build a fence around it and move confidently and purposefully toward the full achievement of equality, dignity and respect as Aboriginal people.

                     They didn't satisfy with apology rendered by higher officials alone. Their demands is truth and reconciliation and have offer forgiveness and accompanying healing emotional release of pain and suffering and embrace one's perpetrators.

           

                                                                                      DAISY ALBERTO

Elijah Harper

Elijah Harper, politician (b at Red Sucker Lake, Man). Harper is most well known for the role he played in scuttling the Meek Lake Accord. In 1990 Harper rose to national prominence for his opposition to the Meech Lake Accord. Harper initiated procedural delays in the Manitoba legislature that threatened to extend the vote beyond the deadline established for the accord.

Meech Lake Accord, Québec's failure to accept the patriation package in 1981 made it feel severed from the Canadian "constitutional family." This led to renewed constitutional discussions, beginning around 1985, in which the government of Québec made a series of proposals that, if accepted by all, would have led to Québec's return to the "constitutional family." In the interim, Québec was as legally bound as all of the provinces by the provisions of the Canada Act of 1982 and of its Schedule B, the Constitution Act of 1982. Hence, the Québec proposals, although full of substance, also assumed a great symbolic significance. The Québec proposals could be divided into 2 components. The first dealt with the distinctiveness of Québec in the Canadian federation, and the second with a potpourri of other matters. These other matters arguably tended to enhance the role of the provinces in their relationship with the federal government. Not surprisingly, then, when Québec proposed this package, including the latter portion, which enhanced the role of the provinces, all of the provinces initially agreed to the package under a principle of "juridical equality." This package became known as the Meech Lake Constitutional Accord of 1987.

The Accord recognized the province of Québec as constituting a distinct society within Canada. At the same time, it recognized as a fundamental characteristic of Canada the Anglophone minority in Québec, and elsewhere in Canada the francophone minority. The provinces were, for the first time, given a formal role in nominating persons to sit on certain federal institutions (namely, the Senate and the Supreme Court of Canada). For some time, social programs falling within provincial legislative jurisdiction (health care, for example) had largely been financed by the federal government: the federal government held greater taxing power, and hence possessed greater spending ability than the provinces. Provincial concerns with this related to federal attachments of conditions to this financing. Under the Accord, a province could opt out of one of these programs provided it established its own, and provided its own program had objectives compatible with the national objectives of the program. In such a case, the federal government would continue to finance the new provincial program with reasonable compensation. Under the Constitution Act of 1867, the provinces and the federal government were given joint or parallel jurisdiction over immigration, leading to a series of agreements on the settlement of new immigrants in Canada.

                                                                                                              BERNICE CRYSTEL BARE PORLET

The Importance of Maintaining Language in a Society

Every individual expresses thought and carries its affair through the medium of communication .It is an art and techniques of using words effectively to impart informations.

            Communication can affect the relationship of families and friends. There must be a good communication between parents and children .Conflicts between them starts if there is a poor communication. I am one of the typical Filipino now living in Canada .based on my observation there is already a difference in culture between the generation that were born here and the typical born Filipino. The relationship between the parents and children were affected by a communication gap. A child born here can easily adopt with the culture and the language spoken while the parents need some times to adopt or used it.

            Communication had a great impact on the culture. Understanding of it will help us more to easily communicate with others. Now that I am living here in Canada knowing the culture such as understanding the way of life and traditions here will be a great move of communicating.

            When it comes to food preference, there is a big deal since the Filipino born Canadians loves the Canadian foods parents and adults tried hard to trained them to eat Filipino dishes, but yet craving for Canadian dishes is always there. In this regard, parents should remember that no matter how busy they are they should still try very hard so that every family can still keep our tradition and culture.

                                                                                                          Alexander Tan Sison

 

Brian Sinclair's Case

Brian Sinclair was found dead in his wheelchair
after waiting 34 hours for care at Winnipeg's Health Sciences Centre
in September 2008.

Do you feel this is an accurate portrayal of our Canadian Healthcare System? Why?
 
 

No. I don't think that there's a portrayal on our Health Care System is a well established institution with a facilities, instruments and medical devices. Good administrators, doctors, nurses and aids. Only the department can't distribute hospital and clinics in remote areas maybe due to financial insufficiency. But when it comes to performance it is one of the best on the case of Brian Sinclair, it is only isolate negligence which is happened not only in our hospital but also in other country only different cases not death. The death of Brian Sinclair can considered the fault of the family who left him unattended for several hours whom they know that their patient is as a double amputee and speech defect. ER staff called his attention on his turn as common practice and no response, because he have no guardian to guide him. That’s so happened.                                                                                                                                                      by : Daisy

          Brian Sinclair's case is not an acurate portrayal of our Canadian Health Care System, but it is not also a total violation of it though because there's alot of things to considered. Is the Emergency Room too busy that time, or is there enough hospital staff to attend all the patients? And maybe, there's another patient that they thought needed more attention that time. So they unintentionally overlooked Brian Sinclair. For me, it is just another case of misjudgment. Though I've never been to any emergency rooms here in Winnipeg but as what I've experience in a walk-in clinic, I also waited for hours and hours just to see a doctor because of too many patients that keeps on coming and the lack of doctors available around.
                                                                                                by:  Roxan Cortez

 I feel that what happened to the case of Brian Sinclair will affect the portrayal of our Canadian Health Center in such a way. What happened on this care was not intentional but instead there was a serious systematic issues that contribute to this man’s death from what I have read about the articles, it seems that Brian’s death could have been prevented.  For  me it is the system that failed and it was’nt the negligence  of Health care  providers that caused this tragedy.  

                                                                                    by: Alex

I don’t feel that what exactly happens to Mr. Brian Sinclair was an accurate portrayal of the Health Care System.  It’s sad that this tragedy in the ER happened.  But we are aware that all Canadians receive a comprehensive health care service.  It was not a negligence of Health Provider as a whole but some of incompetent health care professionals.  It may be accounted for the many issues and challenges on Canada’s ability to provide quality health services.  It is a big frustration the WRHA that incompetence such as this happened.     
                                                                                        by : Nimfa                                                                                                                                        
        Brian Sinclair case is not an accurate portrayal of our Canadian Health Care System.  But what exactly happened is negligence, when a triage nurse fails to act in a careful and competent manner and thereby harm Brian Sinclair resulting to his own death. A big mistake of one person is not a mistake a Canadian Health Care System. Another thing is there might be a communication barrier for Sinclair has a speech problem. As they replay the video of the incident happened, he was talking to the triage nurse. Think of we’re not in the situation, time and place when it took place. What about those people who were devoted, accurate, efficient and effective worker that provide quality health care? 

                                                                                 by : Bernice

                

               

                 

          

Friend Joseph Severeight: '[ Sinclair ] cleaned up his life.'

Do you feel this is a " race " issue? Why?

I think no”race” discrimination issue beyond this matter, because most patient in our hospital are natives and they are treated free and fairly as of those other race that migrate here in Canada. It is a tragedy happened through the mistake of the family member who left their incapacitated patient.   
                                                                                 by : Daisy                                                                                                                                                        
          For me, there's no " race " issue on this case because as what always happen on the emergency room, some people just went there to get warm and be fed. Though it is shown on the video that Brian approach the triage nurse. It is not clear how the triage nurse and Brian's conversation has gone through. It is also clear that Brian always go there with the same issue about his catheter, so maybe the nurses misjudged his case and attend to the patient who have more serious health problem instead.
                                                                              by: Roxan Cortez 

Somehow there could be a race issue, which is not right. Everyone has a right to be treated well , especially with this situation. It is an issue between life and death. Whatever race we belong to, we should have get an equal treatment.   
                                                                               by : Alex                                                                                                                                                                                          

In my opinion, there was an element of racism in how Mr. Brian sinclair was trated. Though all haeath care professional are made to understand the right of the people receiving health care to equality before and under the law without discrimination based on race, ethnic origin, color, religion or mental and physical disability but unfortunately there are series of systemic factors.In my opinion, there was an element of racism in how Mr. Brian Sinclair was treated.  Though all health care professionals are made to understand.                                                                                                by  : Nimfa

There is a “race discrimination” issue about Sinclair case. Maybe they thought he was an aboriginal who was drunk; need a shelter to sleep and a food to eat. They looked into his physical appearance and not on his need of medical attention.

                                                                    by : Bernice

 

A Social Worker told Bradley Sinclair (pictured)
that his Brother Brian had died.

 What is your opinion about this comment:

" being in an ER for 34hours is not unusual and necessarily a big problem. Patients are often in a room (in bed) in the ER waiting for placement in another ward.
Or they are long enough to be sobered up, fed, counselled and sent on their way.
 Many homeless come to the ER because there is no where else to go. I don't understand how he did not get the treatment required.
 Punitive damages to the hospital and financial awards to the family would not help in any way. It is not like the family will be destitute without his future financial support to them."

            If the hospital nor the government which was already involved in the lawsuit case will pay for a damage it could repeatedly happened from time to time, which will destroy the image of our health system and the government itself.        
                                                                                           by : Daisy
         I' am surprised the first time I've read Brian Sinclair's case but I don't feel that I have the right to judge the Health Sciences Centre's staff or Brian Sinclair. 34 hours waiting in an emergency room(ER) is really unusual though I have never been to any ER here in winnipeg, I also experienced to wait for hours and hour in a walk in clinic. Patients keeps on coming but there's only one or two doctors that are available. What makes me feel sorry is that why does someone needs to die first before health care official acknowledge their shortcomings. The funny thing is why does Brian Sinclair's family goes after the Health Sciences Centre but in the first place they're not there when Brian needs them most.
                                                                                                by: Roxan Cortez

                   There is a big issue on how a patient should be treated. A question on how can be a person like Brian need to wait for almost 34 hours to be treated. For me a financial award that they will give to the family would not help in anyway. No amount can be replaced for a man’s life. This tragedy was the result of ignorance and systematic failure. A lesson learned to all the persons involved.  

                                                                                              by : Alex

It’s not so unusual for me if a patient stays in an ER for 34 hours, but staying here for that long without receiving the much needed treatment or procedure that is distressing and a big failure to the ER staff.  Mr. Brian Sinclair’s death can be easily prevented if the required treatment was immediately served.  

                                                                     by : Nimfa

                     Being in an Emergency Room (ER) for 34 hours is not usual but happened accidentally and come up with a big problem like Sinclair case. Patients often waited too long for a vacant spot in a ward. Some of the homeless in our community go to ER primarily to have a room to sleep, a food to be feed, and sent on their way back to the street where they lived. Sinclair did not get the treatment required and put himself to death.  We cannot bring back his life. His family was seeking for justice and future financial support after abandoning him.

                                                                    by : Bernice

WRHA's Dr. Brock Wright: We're going
to haveto change our systems so it
never happens again.

The Health Sciences Centre

RC Manitoba leader Hugh McFadyen:
the worst emergency room failure in Manitoba history.

Alex's Angels

I' m Daisy Alberto the cutest in our group. Just kidding : p You can call me "Dae"...  I want to be a Health Care Aide (HCA) as a profession because I believe I can be a good one...

Bernice Crystel Bare Porlet is the name....a loving wife...a caring mother...a dear sister...a thoughtful daugther... and a F.R.I.E.N.D...

I'm Roxan Cortez you can call me "Annie" that's how my friends call me. I love my mom so much! And I'm looking forward on bringing them here.

I'm Nimfa Rosario.... I want to be a HCA till the last decade before I retire... I love Herzing College..

I'm Alexander "the great".. You can call me alex
... The only thorn among the roses in this group...