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Honouring Indigenous ways of healing for children

In June, we honour National Indigenous History Month by celebrating the history, heritage, and diversity of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples. At Children’s Hospital Foundation of Manitoba, we’re seeing that heritage show up to help kids and families heal in a very special way.

Thanks to donor generosity, construction is well underway on an innovative Indigenous-led initiative at HSC Children’s Hospital — Canada’s first Indigenous healing space designed specifically for kids and their families in a children’s hospital.

The vision for this landmark project began in 2015 with project lead Dr. Melanie Morris — Canada’s first Indigenous pediatric surgeon and Physician Lead, Indigenous Health at HSC Children’s — and has been guided and supported by Indigenous Elders, Knowledge Keepers, and health care experts as well as children and families from Métis, Inuit, and First Nations Communities.

At any given time an upwards of 60 per cent of the children in our hospital are Indigenous, many from remote and northern communities, but there are few visible signs of Indigenous lands, cultural beliefs, or worldviews inside the buildings. Many Indigenous kids at HSC Children’s have also travelled hundreds of kilometers from their homes, their families, and their cultural supports, as it’s the only children’s hospital serving Manitoba, Northwestern Ontario, and Nunavut.

When a child feels seen and supported, healing follows. That is why this space matters so much.

Every decision — design, function, and purpose — has been shaped by Indigenous voices. The new space was designed by Stantec in collaboration with Indigenous designer Destiny Seymour of Indigo Arrows. It will include areas for traditional ceremony, including smudging; a comfortable gathering space for families; places for Elders, Healers, and Knowledge Keepers; Indigenous books and language resources; a breastfeeding corner; private rooms for critical conversations; and technology that allows children unable to leave their wards to participate in ceremony and stay connected to their home Communities and Elders.

This project was done in a good way — following the lead of Métis, Inuit, and First Nations Communities — by listening first, learning deeply, and implementing what families told us their children truly need.

This initiative is not just a construction project. It is ReconciliACTION — a tangible commitment to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action, particularly Call to Action 22 which recognizes Indigenous healing practices as an essential part of health care. Access to Indigenous worldview and traditional medicine is also part of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

The Indigenous Community Healing Space is a $2.2 million project made possible through the generosity of donors to the Children’s Hospital Foundation of Manitoba, including a significant contribution from the Government of Manitoba.

We’re deeply grateful to all the partners who have helped bring this vision to life. While construction has begun, additional funds are still needed to complete the work, furnish the space, and develop culturally relevant programming that will sustain this healing environment for years to come.

We are also honoured to have the official endorsement of the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs, reinforcing that this Indigenous led initiative is meaningful, necessary, and supported by leadership across the province.

This project is important for Manitoba — but it is also momentous for Canada. It sets a precedent for what children’s health care can and should look like when reconciliation moves from words to action.

This space will help Indigenous children and families feel safe, respected, and supported during some of the most challenging moments of their lives. It will support healing not only of bodies, but of hearts, minds, and spirits — and it will stand as a lasting commitment to mutual respect, understanding, and partnership.

We invite all Manitobans and Canadians to join us in completing this groundbreaking project for kids.

To learn more about reconciliation in child health visit goodbear.ca/reconciliACTION