Dialogues for Promoting Indigenous Spirituality and Culture
Spiritual Support for All
The spirit, mind and soul are as essential to look after as the physical body. That is why many healthcare institutions offer quiet spaces for religious contemplation and do their best to accommodate personal beliefs.
However, Indigenous Peoples and their practices often get left behind in these conversations. Integrating Indigenous worldview into institutions at the foundational level is becoming an increasing priority. More hospitals and care places recognize the value of these practices and are seeking to ensure staff feel equipped to facilitate spiritual support.
Across the Hamilton region in Ontario, many St. Joseph institutions are looking to inclusive models of care. This includes St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton (SJHH), who are establishing an Indigenous Spiritual Care Provider position within their existing Spiritual Care Team. Recognized and verified by their own Indigenous community, this Indigenous professional will have expertise in spiritual care and counselling. They will offer culturally grounded, compassionate, and holistic support to patients, families, staff and volunteers, by embedding Indigenous spiritual practices and ways of knowing into the delivery of care. They will further guide, mentor, and provide collaborative support to non-Indigenous teams to reduce fear of missteps and improve culturally competent care.
The presence of a verified Indigenous Spiritual Care Provider is a critical role that will create space for Indigenous people to receive care in a method that affirms identities in environments where there has historically been exclusion or harm. The Indigenous Reconciliation Fund (IRF) is providing funding to help SJHH create this position.
Diocese of Hamilton
