This is the breadcrumbs block. Breadcrumb will populate on actual page.

September 30 marks the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation in Canada.

Indigenous perspectives are critical to Praxis’ mission of improving the quality of life and health outcomes of all individuals living with spinal cord injury (SCI). Praxis leadership and staff will continue to listen, learn, and be engaged in dialogue about how we can address the past and create a more equitable future.

Praxis supports the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action and is committed to Indigenous engagement throughout our work to advance SCI health outcomes.

Currently, led and in development with our Indigenous Peoples’ Liaison, Richard Peter, Praxis is actively listening to Indigenous experiences with SCI and collaborating with Indigenous health organizations to understand the priorities related to SCI from within communities. Praxis continues to grow its national Indigenous Network with individuals with lived experience of SCI, researchers, clinicians and community organizations.

Praxis has previously funded two Fellowships to increase the capacity of SCI research in Indigenous communities and a Professorship in Indigenous Spinal Cord and Traumatic Brain Injury through the Waakebiness Centre for Indigenous Health at the University of Toronto.

To learn more about recent work from Praxis and our network of SCI researchers on Indigenous perspectives in spinal cord injury research, see links below:

To learn more about National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, visit the Government of Canada’s website.

September 30 is also Orange Shirt Day, a day commemorating those who survived Indian Residential Schools and remembering those who didn’t. Learn more at www.orangeshirtday.org.



Indigenous Initiatives

Indigenous Canadians experience greater challenges living with spinal cord injury than the rest of the population. Praxis works with Indigenous and research communities to better understand these challenges and collaborate to find solutions.

Indigenous Engagement Statement

Praxis acknowledges that Indigenous people with SCI experience many unique issues and barriers, from diagnosis and medical care to support within the community. These issues are frequently unseen, unrecognized and unsupported by consultation, affirmative action, inclusion or respect for cultural and traditional ways of being.

Meet Richard Peter

Richard Peter is a proud member of the Cowichan Tribes on Vancouver Island. As the Indigenous Peoples’ Liaison, Richard works to enhance collaboration between researchers, healthcare systems, and Indigenous peoples living with SCI to improve the quality of life of people in every community provincially, nationally and globally.