Every Child Matters to Nipissing District Paramedics with orange epaulettes

Trigger warning: readers may be triggered by the recount of Indian Residential Schools. To access a 24-hour National Crisis Line, call: 1-866-925-4419. Community Assistance Program (CAP) can be accessed for citizens of the Anishinabek Nation: 1-800-663-1142.

By Kelly Anne Smith

NORTH BAY – District of Nipissing paramedics are embracing orange epaulettes on their uniforms this September to support Truth and Reconciliation.

Andrew Pugliese, an Advanced Care Paramedic with Nipissing District Paramedic Services, organizes fundraising for the purchase of awareness epaulettes.

“With the discoveries uncovered since May, I felt that Truth and Reconciliation Day was an excellent opportunity for medical professionals to show our support. Wearing the orange epaulettes, I believe, provides a chance to spark conversation and reflection about the historical significance and current matters regarding the Indigenous community.”

Wearing the orange epaulettes has great meaning for paramedic and Mattawa/North Bay Algonquin First Nation member Evan Jeannault.

“Last year, I asked my professor, Dr. Nancy Stevens, who teaches Indigenous Studies at Nipissing University, if there was something that I could tell my Indigenous patients who were struggling to find meaning in their lives. As an Indigenous person, I think we are often told, the youth especially, that the odds and statistics are stacked against us, societal issues are stacked against us, the oppressive government policies are stacked against us, and we are told about all these things all in the hopes that it will bring change,” he explains. “Unfortunately, I have found that some of my patients are pushed further into despair because they think that they are not capable of actually changing things for themselves because there are serious, difficult and factual challenges up against them. So, I asked my professor, ‘What Indigenous knowledge could I tell them quickly while they are in my care. What knowledge could help them rise in the morning and be filled with a sense of meaning?’ She said, ‘All life matters, and every child matters.’ I have continued to tell my patients that, all of my patients, anyone who is struggling… I think that when we wear the orange epaulettes, it is a way for all of us to say to our community that we support you, because every single child truly does matter and you cannot forget that, no matter how hard and challenging life may be right now. Winter will always come, but spring will surely follow.”

Pugliese thinks Nipissing paramedics might be the only Ontario paramedics wearing them.

“As far as I am aware, we are the only group of paramedics wearing the orange epaulettes. I am very fortunate to have some great people at Stokes International (a uniform company) help bring the idea of these epaulettes to fruition.”

Five ambulance bases operate in Nipissing District: North Bay, Mattawa, West Nipissing, Temagami, and South Algonquin. Pugliese says any paramedic in the district who ordered a set of epaulettes has the opportunity to wear them. He says over 60 sets were sold this summer, accounting for about half of the staff.

The District of Nipissing Paramedic Services has been very supportive, he adds.

“As of right now, staff are encouraged to continue showing their support and wearing their orange epaulettes. However, as the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day are still developing and dynamic topics, I anticipate management will allow anyone who wishes to continue showing their support, to do so.”

Pugliese explains the markings on the epaulettes.

“The embellishments on our epaulettes indicate our designation/level of care. It is the provincial standard adopted by most services. One bar represents Primary Care Paramedic and two bars for an Advanced Care Paramedic. There are also epaulettes with leaves and crowns explicitly used to distinguish supervisory and managerial roles.”

Showing support to the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day by wearing orange epaulettes has had great feedback, says Pugliese.

“So many of my patients and colleagues working in other agencies such as fire and police and even paramedics from out of town have asked me about the epaulettes. Asking questions, I think, is one of the best responses we could ask for as it promotes awareness and education.”