Children’s Hospital to set up Indigenous healing space

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This article was published 16/06/2021 (1037 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Children’s Hospital is seeking donations to develop a healing space for Indigenous patients and their families.

The hospital has set aside 2,000 square feet for patients who may be away from their home communities or cultural traditions.

“We can, from that space, create safety for kids, where we could provide other things such as healing practices, access to elders, books, language, literacy,” said Dr. Melanie Morris, who is leading the project.

The space will include an area for traditional Indigenous ceremonies such as smudging, a library of children’s books about Indigenous culture, a breastfeeding corner and a gathering space for elders, healers and knowledge keepers to work with families.

The fundraising goal is $500,000. Three donors, including the Winnipeg Foundation, have pitched in $225,000. A donation portal has been set up on the website of the hospital foundation, its fundraising arm.

The idea was suggested in 2017 through collaboration between Morris and Winnipeg NDP MP Leah Gazan, who said the space was “going to make a big difference in health care.”

“I’m so pleased to know that this project has been realized. It’s a tremendous, tremendous contribution to reconciliation with Indigenous peoples,” Gazan said.

Rebecca Chartrand, chairwoman of the foundation’s Indigenous advisory council, said the space is necessary because 50 per cent of the youth treated at the children’s hospital are Indigenous, and many have travelled from remote communities.

“When I heard those numbers, it was quite overwhelming, and I knew we really needed to do as much as we could do bridge with our community,” she said.

Serious diseases that require long-term medical care, including diabetes and circulatory diseases, are more prevalent in Indigenous children than their peers.

The next phase of the project involves focus groups of children, families and caregivers, who will give the hospital their opinions of the space.

The Manitoba Indigenous Cultural Education Centre, artists and a council of elders will be consulted about programming and design.

malak.abas@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: malakabas_