VCH honours National Aboriginal Day with open house at HOpe Centre’s Sacred Space
In honour of National Aboriginal Day next Tuesday, VCH is celebrating a day early with an open house at the HOpe Centre Sacred Space from 1-2:30 pm on June 20. This year marks the 20th anniversary of National Aboriginal Day on June 21.
The Open House is an opportunity for staff to see the Sacred Space, meet members of VCH Aboriginal Team and learn about Indigenous cultural practice. The event is an initiative of a joint working group with members of the Squamish Nation, Tsleil-Waututh Nation and VCH to develop and support the Sacred Space and other cultural safety initiatives at the HOpe Centre.
An official welcome to the traditional territory by the Squamish Nation will begin at 1.
Aboriginal Health
VCH’s Aboriginal Health team was established to improve the health status and wellness of Aboriginal people in the region in collaboration with local First Nations communities, the First Nations Health Authority, and urban Aboriginal organizations.
The team includes two client service programs: the Aboriginal Patient Navigator Program helps Aboriginal people access health services and navigate the health care system. The Aboriginal Wellness Program provides culturally safe mental wellness and addiction programs for Aboriginal people residing within the Lower Mainland.
About the Sacred Space
The Sacred Space in the HOpe Centre was officially unveiled and blessed in July 2015. It is available to HOpe Centre and LGH patients, their families, friends and Elders in need of refuge or solace during an emotional time. Following the Coast Salish teachings, the Sacred Space welcomes all faiths and cultures for prayer, meditation and spiritual ceremonies, including drumming, smudging and ceremonial use of traditional medicines.
Cultural Safety Training
To increase knowledge of Aboriginal culture and improve care, VCH staff are encouraged to undertake the San’yas Indigenous Cultural Safety (ICS) training. It is a provincial on-line training program designed to increase knowledge, enhance self‐awareness, and strengthen the skills of health care providers who work both directly and indirectly with Aboriginal people.
Through interactive learning activities participants examine culture, stereotyping, and the consequences and legacies of colonization. For more information on ICS please visit http://www.sanyas.ca/.
For more information on the Sacred Space, other supports and services for Aboriginal clients, or ways to incorporate cultural safety and responsiveness into your workplace, please contact: Aboriginal Health Services at AboriginalHealthServices@vch.ca
To find out more about National Aboriginal Day events locally, go to bcnationalaboriginalday.com or click here. Or visit the FHNA homepage at fhna.ca and click on events.
A quiet corner in the Sacred Space at the HOpe Centre on the LGH campus.