Motivated by a mindset of service, humility and reconciliation, the St. Joseph’s Health Centre (SJHC) Guelph team knew more could be done to provide Indigenous Canadians with accessible care.

A call for help and guidance was issued. Many interested stakeholders, particularly Indigenous elders and leaders, stepped forward to help devise a solution. The result is a dedicated indoor Indigenous sacred health and community space at the long-term care home in the city west of Toronto.

The space’s name, deriving from Anishinaabemowin and christened during a special ceremony led by Chippewas of the Thames First Nation Elder Myeengun Henry, is Manitou Wiigwaam, meaning “Spirit Lodge” in English.

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Henry said during the June ceremony that for both Indigenous and non-Indigenous Canadians “our time here together isn’t long, but we walk together for reconciliation.”

Spirit Lodge, an initiative the Indigenous Reconciliation Fund (IRF) helped bring to life with a bequest, will promote Indigenous spiritual and cultural practices such as smudging and is outfitted with movable furniture, a kitchen dedicated to preparing traditional food and medicine and garden access for growing sacred plants. A mural will eventually adorn the walls of this space.  

Spirit Lodge is one of 394 projects put into motion thus far thanks to the $25.9 million already raised for the IRF. Just under $4.1 million is required to achieve the $30-million goal by the five-year deadline of Dec. 31, 2027.

Mike “O’dah ziibing” Ashkewe, an Ojibwe Indigenous accessibility consultant and Indigenous relations specialist who served as emcee for the naming ceremony, touted the space’s potential to foster relational healing.

“Having a space where relationships can be mended is important,” said Ashkewe. “What is more important and inspirational is that this is a space where new relationships can be forged through conversation and grow into something more through cooperation.”

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John Woods, the integrated president of SJHC Guelph, emphasized to The Catholic Register that the Indigenous community took the lead in developing Manitou Wiigwaam, and that the Diocese of Hamilton’s IRF fund provided the resources to make it a vibrant space.

“The most important (aspect) is the Indigenous leadership piece,” said Woods, also the president of St. Joseph’s Villa Dundas and St. Joseph’s Lifecare Centre Brantford. “It is what all the (Truth and Reconciliation Commission) calls to action and different reports say — the best health care for Indigenous people ultimately is Indigenous-led.”

Woods characterized SJHC Guelph’s role in this journey as “walking with humility” and respectfully learning from its Indigenous partners.

It has been an illuminating experience.

“The way that they engage and talk to each other and us brings everything down to a very human level of relationship,” said Woods. “Everything is about building relationships first so that when we work together, we have a good understanding of each other to make decisions and collaborate. It's been a very healing process, not just for the Indigenous people who benefit from the space, but for us too, and a very positive human process. It actually fits very well with our values as a Catholic organization.”

The manifold respect Woods and his SJHC Guelph colleagues have for their Indigenous partners has already inspired them to develop further collaborative opportunities. They are exploring the feasibility of a 32-bed Indigenous long-term care space staffed by Indigenous practitioners and “reflects the fact that Indigenous elders and seniors remain part of their community.”

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If this endeavour is realized, Woods said it “will be just a marvellous moment for us in terms of having a purpose-built health-care space for Indigenous people in the region.”