Indigenous people having babies at St. Paul’s Hospital have access to services from the Indigenous Wellness and Reconciliation (IWR) team before and after the birth of their baby. Specifically, they have access to:
- Indigenous Wellness Liaisons (IWL)
- All Nations Sacred Space
- Traditional wellness and medicines
- Elder supports
- Talking circles
- Cultural practices such as smudging, cedar brushing, prayer, song, blanketing
- Community supports
Who are the Indigenous Wellness Liaisons?
Indigenous Wellness Liaisons (IWLs) make up a specialized consultation team within Providence Health Care. Team members support self-identified Indigenous patients and families by facilitating access to cultural practices, traditional medicines, ceremony, and access to the All Nations Sacred Space. IWLs are able to make available connections to community supports, including Elders.
In addition, IWLs provide Indigenous patients and families with day-to-day health-care navigation and assistance with discharge planning, culturally safe support in the complaints process at Providence Health Care, and supporting health-care professionals in embedding principles of cultural safety and humility into patient care. Our goal is to help ensure culturally-safe experiences for Indigenous patients and families accessing services at Providence Health Care.
Contact us
Phone: (604) 682-2344 ext. 62937
Fax: (604) 806-9494
Email: IWL@providencehealth.bc.ca