TRUTH & RECONCILIATION POLICY

 

Purpose

SMILE Canada - Support Services (SMILE) is committed to upholding principles, values, and frameworks that actively dismantle forms of oppression and discrimination, including systemic racism and contemporary forms of colonialism and settler-colonialism. The organization recognizes that Black and Indigenous populations, including other socially-advantaged and marginalized populations, are subjected to disproportionate barriers within the social, health, and education sectors. 

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While SMILE serves families of all races, ethnicities, and backgrounds with children and youth with disabilities, the organization recognizes that there are groups subjected to higher amounts of challenges than others. By recognizing these impacts on equity-deserving and equity-seeking groups, we are actively working to intentionally combat the systems, attitudes, and actions that perpetuate inequitable opportunities to marginalized populations.

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Policy

We at SMILE Canada - Support Services are honored to be guests on the traditional lands of the Mississaugas of The Credit First Nations, Haudenosaunee, Anishinaabe, and Huron-Wendat Peoples. It is important to note that the land we are on is unceded. This means that colonists' treaties with Indigenous Peoples have not been respected or upheld. 

 

As a result, we must all work together to make reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples a reality as it will result in a better nation for all Canadians (Indigenous and non-Indigenous).

Through the principles of reconciliation and equity, SMILE is committed to upholding the following practices, policies, and frameworks in the organization’s day-to-day operations:

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1. Demonstrate a commitment to learning and including Indigenous perspectives within SMILE training, programs and events planning, and hiring practices

2. Facilitate cultural knowledge and sensitivity training for SMILE staff and volunteers, incorporating Indigenous history and education, and impacts of settler colonial institutional practices that result in ongoing harm, exclusions, and marginalization for all identities that do not conform to the settler colonial normative body, abilities, cultures, or languages

3. Continue to include land and territory acknowledgement within our education workshops and presentations as part of our respect and responsibility to the people of the land

4. Establish and enforce the SMILE Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Anti-Racism Policy

   1. All SMILE employees, including administrative and support staff, board members, students, and volunteers, are required to conduct organizational practices through this framework when carrying out their employment responsibilities

5. Equitable allocation of funding to programs and services that directly support equity-deserving groups

6. Conduct equity-based research on the impacts of systemic racism and forms of oppression on socially-disadvantaged populations

7. Commit to making clear and measurable changes to eliminate systemic racism and discrimination within our programming and services

8. Research, convening, policy, advocacy, and programs designed with people with lived experience to drive equitable outcomes for the people and communities most impacted