Alberta Health Services has announced further support for the practice of Indigenous spiritual ceremonies inside all AHS facilities.
On National Indigenous Peoples Day, AHS announced the creation of the Patient Access to Indigenous Spiritual Ceremony Policy to ensure all patients are supported to hold ceremonies no matter where in the province they are receiving care.
Adriana LaGrange, minister of health says she is pleased to see Alberta Health Services take the meaningful step to ensure Indigenous peoples, wherever they access care from AHS, can access spiritual ceremonies that are crucial for their healing.
“This new policy, along with additional resources that have been put in place, will help make AHS facilities more welcoming and inclusive for First Nations, Métis and Inuit peoples.”
Dedicated AHS Indigenous Wellness Core staff, Indigenous hospital liaisons, and traditional wellness coordinators are available throughout the province to assist in facilitating ceremonies.
AHS President and CEO Mauro Chies says AHS understands the importance of ceremony in Indigenous culture and supports its patients and their families.
“With the adoption of the Patient Access to Indigenous Spiritual Ceremony policy, we ensure all patients are consistently supported and feel safe to incorporate spiritual ceremonies while they are in our care.”
In a press release, AHS says smudging and pipe ceremonies play an important role in Indigenous patients’ healing journey and are practiced by many Indigenous cultures as a way of cleansing the body, mind, spirit, and emotions. There are many different protocols associated with ceremonies based on different Indigenous cultural practices and beliefs.
The Truth and Reconciliation Calls to Action requires Canadian healthcare systems to incorporate traditional healing practices for Indigenous patients and families.
