The College is committed to continuing its work on issues of diversity, equity and inclusion as they relate to the materials that we develop and our organizational practices and processes. As part of this commitment, the College will seek to develop partnerships with Indigenous communities to begin to implement the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s calls to action within the regulatory context.
This webpage includes College information and updates related to our commitment to Truth and Reconciliation as well as practice resources that may be useful for social workers and social service workers serving Indigenous clients and communities in Ontario. Note: We will continue adding resources and updates as they are developed and become available.
Land acknowledgement
The Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers is situated on the traditional land of many nations, including the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee, and the Wendat peoples. The College’s office, where we are hosting our meeting today, is in the “Dish With One Spoon Territory”, which is a treaty between the Anishinaabe, Mississaugas and Haudenosaunee that bound them to share the area and protect the land in the spirit of community. We acknowledge the history of the meeting place on which we are gathered, and are grateful to have the opportunity to live and work on this land.
Today, the province of Ontario is home to many diverse First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples. Each nation is unique in their world views, language and histories, and we gather here in the spirit of openness, with a commitment to continue to recognize and reflect upon the important work ahead. We ask you to join us in honouring this history and in moving forward in partnership and collaboration as we learn and unlearn together.
Through its new Strategic Plan, College Council has indicated its commitment to moving forward on the challenging and very important issues of diversity, equity and inclusion as they relate to the College’s regulatory role. This overarching priority encompasses anti-Black and anti-Indigenous racism, and other forms of systemic oppression which disproportionately affect racialized communities.
Within this priority, the College has made a commitment to developing partnerships with Indigenous communities in order to begin to implement the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s calls to action within the regulatory context. In doing so, we recognize that Truth and Reconciliation is an ongoing individual and collective process.
College updates
Practice Resources
- The Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice Handbook
- Practice Notes, “Cultural Humility: A Commitment to Lifelong Learning”
- Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada: Calls to Action
- United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
- Reclaiming Power and Place: The Final Report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls
- Why Action Matters When It Comes to Reconciliation: An Interview with Indigenous Rights Scholar Dr. Jeffrey Ansloos
- “We Are Still Here” – A Woman’s Journey to Healing and Rediscovery
We will continue to add updates and resources as they become available.