Working together in ReconciliACTION

The Children’s Hospital Foundation of Manitoba began its journey of reconciliation, working towards ReconciliACTION, in 2019 when we reached out to Indigenous community members to listen and learn how we can best support them, their kids and their families in hospital. Since then, we have made significant progress, and also recognize there is more we can learn and do.

In 2024 Children’s Hospital Foundation announced the first Champion Child from a northern remote First Nations community. Janessa, from Pukatawagan, highlighted the challenges children in Manitoba’s remote and isolated communities face to get specialized pediatric care. As the 2024 Champion she represented 140,000 kids who rely on HSC Children’s every year – of which around 60 per cent are Indigenous.

Janessa’s advocacy had a tangible, far-reaching impact on health care awareness and fundraising in Manitoba. Her presence highlighted the healthcare disparities faced by Indigenous youth, many of whom must travel hundreds of kilometers to access life-saving care. Her role also contributed to the Children’s Hospital Foundation of Manitoba’s reconciliation efforts by actively involving a young Indigenous leader in its highest-profile advocacy platform. The awareness she raised and the bridges she built between communities will continue to guide systemic improvement in health care access for Indigenous youth for years to come.

We continued supporting plans for the Indigenous Community Healing Space at HSC Children’s Hospital through community consultation and with guidance from First Nations, Métis, and Inuit leaders. With 60 per cent of children who need care at Children’s being Indigenous, it’s vital that a space like this be made available to them and their families. Elders, Knowledge Keepers, other Indigenous community members as well as leaders in our medical community held meaningful meetings in 2024 to build a framework and inform design options for the development of the Indigenous Healing Space. With many children coming from northern and remote communities, it will provide Indigenous patients and their families with a safe space while they’re away from their home community, giving them crucial cultural supports they need for their healing journey to nurture their whole self – physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual.

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Your support of the Indigenous Community Healing Space will help create a more welcoming, culturally safe environment at HSC Children’s Hospital for First Nations, Métis, and Inuit kids and their families while they’re away from their home communities and cultural supports. Please give today.

*In the “Designation” section, please select “Designation of your choice”and type (or copy + paste) your gift intent as: Indigenous Community Healing Space*

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The Foundation launched another important piece of reconciliation actions emphasizing community engagement and culturally sensitive care. Children’s Hospital Foundation added brand graphic elements created by an Indigenous designer with input from First Nations, Métis and Inuit peoples to represent their cultures. These graphic elements include things like beading style florals (buttercup, wild rose, fireweed blossom, arctic cotton), traditional medicines (sage, tobacco, cedar and sweetgrass) and winding vines with mouse tracks and seeds. Leticia Spence’s designs were further guided by the Foundation’s Indigenous Advisory Circle to develop meaningful elements that fit the light, fun and supportive tone for all kids who need care at Children’s Hospital.

Our Better Futures campaign surpassed its five-year goal of $75 million, reaching an extraordinary $112 million. These funds are all in use, helping to provide critical infrastructure, life-saving medical equipment and technology, innovative programming to bring comfort to families in hospital, and leading-edge pediatric research at Children’s Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba (CHRIM) for all kids from Manitoba, Northwestern Ontario and Nunavut who receive care at Manitoba’s only Children’s Hospital

The 35th annual Teddy Bears’ Picnic by Children’s Hospital Foundation started the day with Indigenous drummers and special messages from Indigenous leaders in the province. Throughout the day, children and families were entertained by First Nations dancers, Inuit throat singers, and Metis fiddlers. There was also a Teepee with Indigenous Elders providing teachings.