Land Acknowledgment

As many of us here at Planned Parenthood NL  are newcomer settlers and guests on this land, we would like to acknowledge that we are living and working on current and traditional Mi’kmaq and Beothuk land in Newfoundland, and Inuit of Nunatsiavut and NunatuKavut, and the Innu of Labrador. Indigenous peoples have lived and cared for this land for more than 15,000 years. Today, Newfoundland and Labrador is still the home to many Indigenous people from across Turtle Island. We acknowledge that, as settlers on this land, we directly benefit from the on-going process of colonization.
As an agency, we are committed to an ongoing process of increasing our capacity to provide culturally safe health care that meets the diverse needs of Indigenous peoples.
Remember that these acknowledgements must be followed with ongoing commitments to these same communities. Land Acknowledgements are a recognition of our responsibility to Indigenous land and peoples.
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Statement of Support for the Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour (BIPOC) In Our Community ​

November 1, 2020
To all community members:
     Recent events have once again brought to light the prevalence of anti-Black racism in North America. Canada is not immune to these issues - we live in a country that was built on colonial violence and white supremacy, which has had persistent impacts on the social, economic, political and cultural well-being of Black and Indigenous people, as well as other people of colour. The impacts of systemic racism are most apparent in racial and state-sanctioned violence, including the recent murders of Jason Collins, Eishia Hudson, D’Andre Campbell, Rodney Levi, and Chantel Moore. Systemic racism is the cause of the stark disparities in health outcomes faced by BIPOC communities.
     As an organization, Planned Parenthood - Newfoundland and Labrador Sexual Health Centre (NLSHC) continues to deliver on our commitment to promoting positive sexual health and 2SLGBTQIA+ inclusion to all, regardless of race. We strive to maintain a safe space for all folks who wish to access our services and information on sexual health. We believe that everyone has the right to receive accurate and unbiased sexual health information and services, and our goal is to treat all individuals availing of our services with respect and dignity. 
     While we recognize that there is always room for improvement as an organization to support our community, here are some programs and partnerships we already have in place that support BIPOC individuals: 

• Sexual health and 2SLGBTQIA+ resource library, which includes books that are available for borrowing, including BIPOC-specific resources;
• Partnerships with Indigenous governments and organizations to advance culturally appropriate education surrounding sexual health, healthy relationships, and 2SLGBTQIA+ inclusion; 
• Partnerships with community organizations to ensure new Canadians and refugees have access to sexual health care; 
• Stakeholder in the YWCA St. John’s Fostering Collaboration of Services for 2SLGBTQIA+ Newcomers in Newfoundland and Labrador project;
• Anti-racism training for staff and volunteers;
• Anti-oppression and anti-bias training workshops for the public; and
• Workshops specific to Two-Spirit and anti-oppression included in Camp Eclipse programming. 

     We want to do our part in turning words into tangible action to better support our community. In this regard, here are some actions we are committed to taking: 

• Sharing resources and providing access to information on anti-racism as it relates to sexual health and 2SLGBTQIA+ inclusion. 
• Continuing to provide education to our volunteers and staff on anti-racism. 
• Completing a community needs assessment to determine how Planned Parenthood - NLSHC can better support the BIPOC community. 
• Expanding our resource library to include more resources tailored to the BIPOC community.
• Expanding and establishing new community partnerships. 
• Prioritizing BIPOC programming and supportive policies in the development of our strategic plan, and reporting annually on these programs and policies. 

     We envision a world where all folks experience positive sexual health. Only by dismantling racist and colonial patterns of behaviour, policies and practices can this truly be achieved. We call on all community members to educate themselves about systemic racism and oppression against BIPOC individuals and communities, acknowledge any privileges that may have been afforded to them because of this oppression, challenge racist comments at home and in schools and workplaces, and demand action from political leaders through participation in rallies, peaceful protests and petitions.  Once operationalized widely throughout our community, these actions will lead to more equitable access to health information and services, and in turn, equitable health outcomes. 
     We expect to be held accountable for deconstructing systemic racism in our organization. If you have a concern with the way that you, someone you know, or someone you saw at our Centre were treated while accessing services at Planned Parenthood - NLSHC, please get in touch with us at directors@ppnlshc.com. As a Board, we are committed to maintaining a culture of care, respect, inclusivity and accountability in our organization. Any such reports of racist behaviours or practices at Planned Parenthood - NLSHC will be investigated and solutions will be identified and immediately acted upon.   
Sincerely,
Planned Parenthood - NLSHC Board of Directors and Staff​

Sex Worker Rights Solidarity Statement

 
​     Planned Parenthood NLSHC is an organization that is deeply rooted in feminism and the fight for sexual and reproductive health rights. Sex workers, especially those who are BIPOC and/or 2SLGBTQIA+, are unduly impacted by fear and stigma that can keep them from accessing necessary services. There is no feminism or reproductive justice that leaves out sex workers from its demands for equal human rights.