When an Indigenous woman from Gitxsan, in northwestern BC, needed acute care for a serious lung issue, she was flown to Vancouver General Hospital. Her husband, children, sister and mother also came down to the hospital. Receiving care far away from home, from people you don’t know and in a system that you don’t feel safe, is not easy for a family, but in this case the family was fortunate to have strong cultural support from her care team and Indigenous Elder Roberta Price.

The VGH care team included Maggie, the unit social worker and Caitlin, a student who was shadowing and learning on the unit that day. Without any friends or family in the area, the family needed a place to stay and support for meals so they could focus their energy at the hospital. As part of her role Maggie made those arrangements with the local First Nation communities.

Maggie also called the Aboriginal Patient Navigator (APN) program to ensure the family had access to traditional healing and cultural supports. The APN team member contacted Elder Roberta, so she could support the Indigenous patient and her family.

Traditional medicine bags, smudge kit and drum are important cultural supports.

The news was not good – the patient had terminal lung cancer. Elder Roberta worked with Maggie, the care team and the attending physician to gently prepare the family to hear the news.

Understanding that their mom was going to pass on, and not be able to return home, the family was grief stricken. To help the family Elder Roberta brought healing medicines; tobacco, sage, sweet grass and cedar. Caitlin was keen to help. Elder Roberta showed her how to prepare the medicines and place them in cloth bags. According to Indigenous teachings, the medicines calm, heal and push away negative energy.

“The willingness of Maggie and Caitlin to play a part in our traditional healing meant a great deal to the family in their sorrow and helped bring a calm energy into the hospital room. We are so grateful to have staff like them who understand the importance of our traditional medicines for our people in hospital and act in a quiet, patient, listening way.  I share my full appreciation for this,” said Elder Roberta.

With Maggie and Caitlin supporting the family members, Elder Roberta turned her energies to the patient. She quietly sang songs in her traditional language calling to the ancestors. Later that evening the patient passed away peacefully surrounded by her family.

Over the past year the Aboriginal Health team has been bringing in Elders to support staff and Indigenous patients and their families. There are currently three Elders who work in a variety of areas including: the Aboriginal Patient Navigator program, Indigenous Cultural Safety training, to provide openings and teachings at events and gatherings, in addition to working in the Elders in Residence (EIR) program.  The EIR program provides routine Elder support to VCH departments or organizations, depending on their needs.

Need an Elder?

If you need an Elder for your Indigenous patient and their family, please contact the APN program at aboriginalhealthservices@vch.ca. For all other Elder inquiries please contact Aboriginal Health Lead Shawna Duncan.