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EKRH unveils Aboriginal Space
The opening of a new Aboriginal Space at the East Kootenay Regional Hospital took place last week with delegates from Interior Health (IH) and Ktunaxa Nation in attendance. The creation of the Aboriginal space was the most recent initiative since the Letter of Understanding (LOU) that the two parties signed in January 2009. The LOU was the first of its kind for IH and furthered the goal of meeting the needs of the Aboriginal population by involving them in health planning and providing culturally sensitive services and programs.
“Interior Health has been working collaboratively with the Ktunaxa Nation to improve health services to Aboriginal peoples,” said Norman Embree, Interior Health board chair. “The establishment of an Aboriginal space within East Kootenay Regional Hospital exemplifies the Ktunaxa Nation’s desire to improve the quality of life for all Aboriginal peoples within their traditional territory.”
“IH has shown very forward thinking, and have reached out to make Aboriginal peoples know that they are welcomed at the hospital, said Debbie Whitehead,” Ktunaxa Nation Council Director of Health Services. “Creating a level of comfort for Aboriginal peoples receiving health services is a key factor in bridging the health care gap that currently exists.”
The space located between the coffee shop and elevators provides health literature for Aboriginal peoples, and features a mural by Ktunaxa artist, Marisa Phillips.
“I felt that the Ktunaxa Creation Story should be the focus in the Aboriginal space of the hospital,” said Phillips. “It will not only welcome visitors to Ktunaxa Territory, but also provide a sense of who the Ktunaxa are as a people.”
“The mural features two of the main characters from the Ktunaxa Creation Story, Nalmuqcin and Yawu?nik,” continued Phillips. “They are placed within the top two corners, while the images along the bottom depict the different peoples and where they came from. Each colour leads to the center image of the earth where all of humanity is represented as being equal and where we were given the role as caregivers and stewards of Mother Earth. From the Earth, rise the spirits of the animals that offered themselves to serve as our guides. The images on the ground show the different animal territories that the War party traveled through.”
Pictured above: Marisa Phillips at the IHA Aboriginal Space opening.
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