This is an opinion column by Niagara Health Communications Specialist Michelle Pressé, originally published in the St. Catharines Standard, Niagara Falls Review and Welland Tribune.
“Not only did you help me during one of the worst times of my life, you aided me on my learning journey.”
“The Indigenous support team were wise, kind and always spoke with empathy for our family.”
“I’m extremely grateful for the smudging and the medicines I had no other access to.”
“They listened to our needs as we expressed our wishes and discussed what would be possible.”
“I’m so glad I met you.”
These are just a few of the kind words that Indigenous patients and their families have shared with Niagara Health’s Indigenous Health Services and Reconciliation (IHSR) team.
These heartfelt messages speak volumes to members of the six-member team who work to provide culturally safe and sensitive care to Indigenous patients and their families.
“It’s an honour to help support Indigenous patients and their loved ones, but when they take the time to tell you afterwards the impact you had on them, that’s extremely gratifying,” says Kate Bellon, Indigenous Relations Specialist
As a member of the IHSR team, Bellon provides support in a variety of ways. Care plan advocacy and cultural support. Liaising between patients and their loved ones, staff and physicians. Guiding healing and learning journeys. Providing access to ceremonies, traditional medicine and teachings.
Bellon says not knowing what each day will bring is part of “the beauty of this job.”
“I remember the first time I walked into this building – it felt right, like this was the place where I was meant to be,” she says. “I feel very honoured to be here and be given the opportunity to help, support and advocate for our Indigenous community. It is a privilege to be invited into the patients’ circle of support.”
Jackie Labonte, Traditional Healing Coordinator with De Dwa Da Dehs Nye>s Aboriginal Health Centre, works closely with members of the IHSR team in her work supporting the mental and spiritual health of patients in Niagara.
“The team has greatly impacted the process individuals have to navigate through the health system,” she says. “I’m witness to this even this morning, with the assistance they provided an individual currently in hospital – along with their caregiver.”
She says the team has organized positive community events and activities to share traditional healing practices and knowledge and has included the Indigenous community to participate and provide feedback on their work.
She notes that communication with patients has been one of the biggest impacts she’s noticed, adding they offer a “more personal approach” to patients and their families.
“Community is becoming aware of the team and feeling ‘it’s about time,’” Labonte says.
The IHSR team’s work is one of the ways the hospital is showing its commitment toward reconciliation, in addition to:
- Supporting the San’yas Indigenous Cultural Sensitivity Training for staff and physicians.
- Establishing a committee of staff and physicians to support a more diverse, equitable and inclusive environment.
- Providing cultural humility and unconscious bias training to our Human Resources Team, DEI Committee, Executive Team and Medical Advisory Committee.
- Prioritizing meaningful engagement with Indigenous Peoples.
The IHSR team plans and implements practices and services that promote a culturally safe environment and delivery of care for Indigenous patients and their families. One of those practices includes smudging and the burning of traditional medicines. While not practiced by all Indigenous people, it is something that Charity Beland, Manager, Indigenous Programming, says is “grounding, cleansing and healing” for many.
“Smudging and burning traditional medicines is a step in the right direction – respecting traditional medicines alongside Western medicines,” says Beland. “It’s also an opportunity for our team to share information around traditional practices with staff and physicians when patients request it.”
The new South Niagara Hospital was planned with consideration to the Indigenous community and in consultation with Indigenous communities at every stage of the project, with one of the main design architects being Two Row Architect from Six Nations.
The hospital will include an Indigenous Healing Centre, which was co-designed with Indigenous community members. This space will also provide a culture-informed space to use for traditional health practices, ceremonies and conversations with patients and families, as well as an Indigenous Healing Garden.
The IHSR team recently completed a callout for Indigenous artists to apply for three commissions to design art pieces for the Outpatient Mental Health Units in Niagara Falls, St. Catharines and Welland. The successful submissions will be announced later in September.
Better understanding and working towards improving the healthcare experiences of Indigenous Peoples are integral components to Niagara Health’s commitment to the community to take meaningful action toward reconciliation.
It’s a goal that the staff and physicians at Niagara Health have embraced, working hand-in-hand with the IHSR team.
“The IHSR’s work is guided by the needs, beliefs and experiences of those in the Indigenous community,” Beland says. “We are relationship builders and want to ensure that there are safe and effective pathways to care and healing for everyone. It’s crucial for us to spend meaningful time getting to know patients who are Indigenous as well as their support systems, any challenges and what specifically brought them in to seek care.”
Earlier this year, Niagara Health released its first Indigenous Health Services Plan: Journey to Reconciliation. The plan was led and guided by the Indigenous community and focuses on the development and maintenance of services that align with a holistic approach to care.
Traditional smudging is performed by many Indigenous people and is an important cultural and spiritual practice that can be performed at Niagara Health with the help of the Indigenous Health Services and Reconciliation team.
“We are very proud to have our Indigenous Health Services Plan guide our work for the next four years,” says Beland. “This work will support patients and their loved ones, staff, physicians and volunteers. The changes that are being made will improve care for everyone, not only the Indigenous community.
To contact the Indigenous Health Services Line at Niagara Health, please email IndigenousHealthServices@niagarahealth.on.ca or call 905-378-4647 x43211. To contact an Aboriginal Patient Navigator, please visit aboriginalhealthcentre.com or call 905-358-4320.
