Honouring Reconciliation in child health care

On September 30 each year, we mark the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, an important day to reflect and continue learning from the experiences and voices of Indigenous Peoples.

At Children’s Hospital Foundation of Manitoba, we’re committed to listening to Indigenous children, families, and communities and supporting care that respects their cultures and ways of healing.

At any given time, up to 70 per cent of families at HSC Children’s Hospital are from Métis, Inuit, and First Nations communities, so it’s critical that children who need treatment and care feel represented in health care spaces.

Thanks to donor generosity, one way this work is moving forward is through Indigenous Community Healing Space at HSC Children’s Hospital. This is a $2.5 million project led and shaped by Indigenous voices. The space will bring traditional ceremony and cultural supports into the hospital for children and families.

The space is now fully under construction, with work expected to finish in 2027. Demolition is complete and framing has begun to shape the space, while design work and planning for programming are underway.

The Indigenous Community Healing Space has been designed by Stantec in collaboration with Indigenous designer Destiny Seymour of Indigo Arrows. The space will feature art and elements representing First Nations, Métis, and Inuit communities, as HSC Children’s serves kids from all over Manitoba, Nunavut, and Northwestern Ontario.

The Healing Space will include design elements to honour: 

• The Seven Sacred Teachings, traditional values shared by many First Nations in Manitoba
• The iconic Métis sash, with a design selected by the Manitoba Métis Federation,
  which serves as a recognizable and powerful symbol of Métis pride, identity and cultural heritage
• The Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit (IQ) Principles that provide a culturally grounded sense of purpose
• Many more elements that are meaningful to Indigenous communities who rely on Manitoba’s only children’s hospital

The vision for this innovative initiative began in 2015 with project lead Dr. Melanie Morris and has been guided and supported by Elders, Knowledge Keepers and health care experts as well as children and families from Métis, Inuit and First Nations communities. As the project progresses, this group of Indigenous leaders will once again gather on October 9, 2026, to honour the meaningful way the Healing Space is creating opportunities for Reconciliation in child health care.

The Healing Space will also feature:

• Space for traditional Indigenous ceremonies, including Smudging
• Place for Indigenous Elders, Healers, and Knowledge Keepers
• Library space for Indigenous language books
• Private space for important conversations
• Technology that allows kids unable to physically leave a hospital ward to see ceremonies or programming happening in the Healing Space, and connect with their remote communities, family, and Elders

Donors are helping Manitoba lead the way, as this entirely Indigenous-led project will be Canada’s first Indigenous Healing Space designed specifically for kids and their families inside a children’s hospital. Thank you for supporting #ReconciliACTION and kids in our community!