HEALING AND RECONCILIATION FOR COMMUNITIES AND FAMILIES
Care and Concern for Culture
Many healthcare facilities in Canada have prayer rooms or religious rooms, but the unique needs of Indigenous cultures are often overlooked.
In Alberta, few hospitals have space for Indigenous patients and their families to gather for prayer, smudging, and healing, particularly in areas protected from the weather.
This creates a gap in culturally safe spaces within healthcare settings where Indigenous Peoples, who already struggle with equal access to healthcare, may feel further disconnected during times of healing and recovery.
The Sacred Heart Community Health Center in McLennan, Alberta, believes Indigenous Peoples deserve to have dedicated, accessible spaces in public care settings. To create a welcoming environment for Indigenous patients and their families, they’re developing an Indigenous cultural site celebrating Cree Peoples in the region. The project includes the installation of an interpretive site that highlights the history and development of the Sacred Heart Health Center and its role in providing health services to Indigenous Peoples and settlers. Signage will be written in Cree, English, and French. There will also be a dedicated space for smudging, prayer, and gathering, allowing patients and families to engage in cultural practices as part of their healing process in a safe and comfortable environment.
The Indigenous Reconciliation Fund (IRF) is providing funding to support this tangible step toward reconciliation in healthcare. By creating a welcoming and inclusive space, the project will enhance cultural safety and promote healing, while fostering a greater sense of pride, understanding, and connection for Indigenous patients, families, and the broader community.
Archdiocese of Grouard-McLennan
