Indigenous Care

Riverside Health Care respectfully acknowledges that we are operating on the traditional lands of the Anishinaabeg, within Treaty Three Territory, and on the land that the Métis call home. In recognition of this, we commit to building relationships that respect Indigenous knowledge, cultures and ways of being, and to fostering an inclusive environment that supports well-being for all community members we serve across the Rainy River District.

Safe and culturally sensitive care for our First Nation and Métis community members

Riverside Health Care is continuously seeking to improve the health care experience for First Nation and Métis community members across our facilities. In addition to the collaborative Gizhewaadiziwin Health Access Centre partnership placing Indigenous Care Coordinators at La Verendrye General Hospital, Riverside has an Indigenous Liaison who serves as anadvocate to assist patients, residents, clients, and staff members at any of our sites address any gaps in service delivery through the provision of safe and culturally sensitive care.

Our Indigenous Liaison and Indigenous Care Coordinators are here for you

Indigenous Liaison and Indigenous Care Coordinator services include:

• Patient advocacy
• Helping to ensure understanding to enhance experiences
• Face-to-face on-location visits
  
• Coordination of language translator by request
  
• Enabling cultural requests for smudging, traditional medicines, and other ceremony needs
  
• Connecting Elders, Healers and Knowledge Keepers by request
  
• Communicating with CHN, CHR, and Health Directors at community band levels
  
• Assisting in transition and discharge planning from hospital to home
  
• Aiding with palliative encounters

Reach out to our Indigenous Liaison:

Christie Brown
Phone: (807)274-3261 Ext.4533
Email: c.brown@rhcf.on.ca

Dedicated spaces for safe practice of cultural beliefs and traditional healing

In addition to multi-faith rooms in our facilities across the Rainy River District, Riverside Health Care offers a dedicated ceremonial space for our Indigenous and Métis clients, patients and family members to use to safely practice their cultural beliefs at the La Verendrye General Hospital by connecting with our staff members, Indigenous Care Coordinators and Indigenous Liaison. This space was created with a special ventilation system intended to create a culturally safe environment for the practice of traditional ceremony and healing for our Indigenous community members. It’s part of an Indigenous Service Plan to help advance our ability to provide patient-centred care.

Uses include but are not limited to:

• Smudging
• Pipe ceremony
• Drum ceremony
• Traditional healing