Two childhood friends who grew up in different worlds will bring their journey of understanding, truth and reconciliation, and insight into how we can strengthen Indigenous health and wellness to the University of Victoria.
UVic’s Faculty of Health and Alumni Relations are hosting a special event on Wednesday with distinguished alumnus k’ʷunəmɛn Joe Gallagher and John Matterson to talk about their powerful new book, Now You Know Me: Seeing the Unhidden Truth in Settler Colonialism, and its connection to health.
“There is a long way to go in addressing systemic racism in healthcare. This conversation will spark inspiration on how everyone can contribute to achieving equitable healthcare for Indigenous Peoples,” says Tammy Hopper, UVic Faculty of Health dean who is hosting the event.
k’ʷunəmɛn Joe Gallagher is Coast Salish from the Tla’amin First Nation and has been a leader in Indigenous health and wellness for decades, serving as the first CEO of the First Nations Health Authority. He currently holds the role of vice-president of Indigenous Health and Cultural Safety at the Provincial Health Services Authority in BC. He proudly represented the ɬaʔəmen Nation in the highly competitive First Nations Soccer circuit and played at an elite level with UVic and with several teams in the Vancouver Island Premier league.
John Matterson is a white settler of English ancestry who held executive roles in the BC forest industry and global technology companies, living and working in Michigan, California and Singapore. He is retired and taking on the challenge of Parkinson’s disease which he was diagnosed with in 2015. He is looking to make a difference by opening his, and other people’s eyes, to his experiences with Parkinson’s and to the unearned privilege he has received as a white man growing up on traditional First Nations Land.
The book shares the journey of two friends who grew up in the same small town of Powell River, on the traditional territory of the Tla’amin Nation, but in very different worlds. Decades later, their reconnection sparks an honest dialogue about truth, reconciliation and the deep work of cross-cultural understanding. The book celebrates Gallagher’s distinguished career in Indigenous health and wellness, offering valuable insights for health professionals, educators and anyone seeking meaningful pathways toward reconciliation.
Part of the UVic Alumni Guest Speaker Series, the event will be held Nov. 19 from 7–8 p.m. at UVic’s David Lam Auditorium and will also be available to watch via livestream. Registration is free and available online.
The Now You Know Me conversation is part of UVic’s commitment to the teaching of Nəc̓ əmaat kʷəns čeʔi | ĆȺNEUEL OL | Work together, one of four Laws and Philosophies that guide the Indigenous Plan. Learn more.
