Pender Community Health Centre celebrates National Aboriginal Day

National Aboriginal Day is a special day to celebrate the unique heritage, diverse cultures and outstanding achievements of First Nations, Inuit and Metis peoples in Canada.

On June 22, Pender Community Health Centre celebrated National Aboriginal Day with Elder Maureen Kennedy, Artist John Sam and two local First Nations Staff, Beverly Lightfoot and Lou DeMaeyer.

Pender is part of an initiative to create cultural safety in the Downtown Eastside, which includes creating welcoming spaces.

Written in traditional colours over the reception desk are the Seven Sacred Teachings: Humility, Honesty, Truth, Respect, Wisdom, Courage and Love. Elder Maureen Kennedy shared these sacred teachings in relation to health and recovery. Mr Sam, Lou, Bev and her brother and daughter, then performed traditional drumming and singing. In addition, Mr Sam also conducted a smudging ceremony – a practice used to purify or cleanse negative energy, feelings or thoughts from a place or person.

The conclusion of the ceremony was a special unveiling of a commissioned Aboriginal painting by local artist Murphy George. Mr George has named his painting, Warriors’ Helpers and the Sun’s Energy Welcomes You, to reflect upon our clients as warriors and the staff and physicians at Pender as helpers.

We are honoured to have the painting hanging in our waiting room and enjoyed celebrating National Aboriginal Day in such a meaningful way at Pender.