Statement on behalf of Sarah Downey, President and CEO, Michael Garron Hospital

This is a statement in response to a CBC article published on June 6, 2022 in regards to Ernest Matton’s Indigenous identity.

Ernest Matton began their career journey at Michael Garron Hospital (MGH) in 2012 as a Certified Addictions Counsellor for The Aboriginal Healing Program.

During their decade of service at MGH, the individual took on progressive responsibility, including as Manager of Aboriginal Education, Programs and Culture in 2018 and Director in 2020. In April 2022, the individual announced their plans to retire on May 1, 2022 due to family health reasons.

MGH cares deeply about the trust of all of our communities, so when we first learned about the concerns of a few community members regarding the individual's Indigenous identity, we took the matter very seriously. We immediately pursued a path with them to investigate the situation and take the necessary steps to verify their ancestry.

The individual presented their Métis citizenship card and confirmation from the Barrie South Simcoe Métis Council that they are on the Barrie Métis Council Registry list and acts as their Elder and advises Council.

In October 2017, the Provisional Council of the Métis Nation of Ontario passed a resolution that initiated a review of all MNO Registry citizenship files called the MNO Registry and Self-Government Readiness Process (the “RSRP”). The individual was and continues to actively work with the Métis Nation of Ontario (MNO) to update their citizenship file. The MNO confirmed in April that the individual remains an MNO citizen during this review process to update their file.

We recognize that shared culture, heritage and history is a major part of reconciliation; therefore private and public sector colonial institutions could greatly benefit from Indigenous governing bodies that set out clear standards and due process to determine proof of Indigeneity. We would welcome these policies and processes to support the vetting of Indigeneity in our recruitment and hiring practices.

In April 2022, MGH announced the closure of The Aboriginal Healing Program space on 2 College St. effective May 1, 2022. During the COVID-19 pandemic, like many other healthcare services, The Aboriginal Healing Program transitioned to virtual care. Ahead of reopening to in-person visits, MGH conducted an extensive infection prevention and control assessment of the space on 2 College St. and determined that it no longer meets today’s COVID-19 standards for infrastructure and safe ventilation for sacred ceremonies. In the interim, MGH is working closely with current community members of The Aboriginal Healing Program on a seamless transition plan for continued care and supports in the community.

The CBC article also made reference to the closure of MGH’s Bear's Den All Nations Traditional Medicine Sweat Lodge in April. It is important to note that the location of the Sweat Lodge was always temporary as we require the land for the next phase of the hospital’s redevelopment project. Before their retirement, the individual who was responsible for leading MGH's Indigenous services and programming, as well as community members from The Aboriginal Healing Program, gathered to perform a sacred ceremony before removing it. We look forward to re-locating the Sweat Lodge and healing space for sacred ceremonies in the next phase of the hospital’s redevelopment project.

We remain deeply committed to Truth and Reconciliation and creating culturally safe experiences for people who identify as Indigenous or Aboriginal, including First Nations, Inuit and Métis. We are actively seeking the advice, guidance and consultation of trusted Toronto Indigenous community leaders and organizations to engage in respectful, open and honest conversations to pave our path forward together.

Sarah Downey
President and CEO
Michael Garron Hospital