Indigenous Health

We support and advocate for Indigenous patients and families during their hospital visits.

​​​​We work to provide excellent care for patients and their families who identify as Indigenous, First Nations, Inuit or Métis and who use services at BC Children's Hospital, Sunny Hill, Healthy Minds, and BC Women's Hospital + Health Centre.

Our mission is to build strong connections in health care for Indigenous women, children, families and communities. We follow the six Coast Salish Teachings gifted to PHSA by Musqueam Knowledge Keeper Siem Te Ta-in (Shane Pointe), to guide our work.

Support during your hospital visit

Our Indigenous Health team can support you and your family in many ways:

  • Help you understand and move through hospital procedures and systems
  • Go with you and your family to clinic appointments, when requested
  • Make sure your care team hears and understands your needs
  • Explain medical information in clear, everyday language
  • Connect you with resources and hospital staff who can help with travel, meals, housing, counselling and respite care
  • Join care-planning and discharge meetings to offer cultural, spiritual, mental, and emotional support
  • Help you submit a complaint if needed
  • Connect you to culture, traditional medicines and Elder support

Art, healing and connection

The Indigenous Health team has unveiled two murals on the BC Children's and BC Women's hospital campus. These murals reflect healing, identity and connection. Learn more and watch a time-lapse video of the mural installation​.​

Our team roles

Indigenous patient navigators

Indigenous patient navigators act as welcoming hosts within the hospital. When requested, they:

  • Welcome you and your family
  • Walk alongside you on your hospital journey
  • Share traditional medicines
  • Provide access to a sacred space for burning traditional medicines.

Elders and Knowledge Keepers

Elders and Knowledge Keepers are available upon request and based on availability. They can provide emotional and cultural support to you and your family during your hospital stay.

Their work reflects these values:

  • Everything is connected
  • Respect for the diversity of Indigenous cultures, beliefs and values
  • Compassion and empathy
  • Shared responsibility for reconciliation
  • Strong connections to cultural and traditional teachings
  • Pride in identity and culture
  • Support for traditional healing and wellness practices

Connection to cultural resources

When available and upon request, we may offer:

  • Traditional medicines for ceremonial use
  • Access to a sacred space for ceremonies
  • Help arranging ceremonies for important life stages, such as birth, rites of passage and end of life
  • Referrals to an Elder or Knowledge Keeper for cultural and emotional support​