Position Statements

The Health Sciences Association of Alberta (HSAA) upholds a set of values based in social democracy, social justice and environmental justice. These values guide HSAA in taking positions on issues that arise on an ongoing basis. Our position statements align with our mission, vision, values and strategic plan.

HSAA is affiliated with the National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE), the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) and its subordinate bodies – the Alberta Federation of Labour (AFL) and the various District Labour Councils across Alberta.

To learn more about the mission and strategic plan that guide HSAA, click here.

On this page you can review the web version of our position statements. A PDF file can also be downloaded.

Position Statement 47 - Time for a Real Reconciliation with First Nations

HSAA will insist that, as a first step, all levels of government fully implement the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s 94 Calls to Action with particular attention on monitoring, promoting, and supporting the immediate completion to those dealing with child welfare, education, health, and justice; and

HSAA will demand that federal, provincial, territorial, and municipal governments immediately begin working to ensure every Indigenous community has reliable access to safe drinking water; and

HSAA will continue to support the work of the Native Women’s Association of Canada on missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls (MMIWG) to facilitate healing and end violence against Indigenous women; and

HSAA will encourage governments to engage in meaningful dialogue and take purposeful action to revisit Treaty relationships, letting the spirit and intent of international relations that First Nations originally entered into these contracts become the foundation of restoring fairness and equitability through sharing land and resources between Indigenous and settler peoples.

Rationale:

Since the Truth and Reconciliation Commission released their findings in December 2015 and 94 Calls to Action regarding reconciliation between Canadians and Indigenous peoples of Canada; and

For Canadians of all walks of life, reconciliation offers a new way of living together and that there can be no truth without discussing Treaty and land; and

True reconciliation goes beyond recognizing the abuses inflicted by the residential school system and healing survivor trauma; it acknowledges the ongoing nature and impact of colonialism and actively works to remove it; and

Intergenerational trauma caused by colonialism, current policies, and the residential school system is continuing to affect Indigenous people; and

Canadians must commit to an ongoing process of reconciliation that include conversations about Treaty obligations and responsibilities; and

Only with all of us working together will we be able to restore, repair, and move forward in the healing process.

Board Approved June 2019
Amended May 2021