St. Michael’s Hospital unveiled its new Indigenous Wellness Centre on Thursday, aimed at providing safe, cultural, and comfortable health care to First Nations, Inuit and Métis (FNIM) patients and caregivers in Toronto and beyond.
The new 650-square-foot wellness centre, funded by an $11-million donation from the Krawczyk Family Foundation to the St. Michael and Providence Foundation, is expected to act as a key operational space for Unity Health Toronto’s Indigenous Team.
The centre, which opened during Indigenous Peoples Month, will combine traditional healing practices with modern medical care, with the aim to improve the experiences of FNIM people seeking health care and address the unique health needs of the community.
“Today’s symbolic announcement, during National Indigenous History Month, further reinforces the shared commitment of St. Michael’s, Providence Healthcare, and the Krawczyk Family Foundation, to remove barriers rooted in racism, discrimination and systemic inequities,” St. Michael’s Providence Foundation said in a news release.
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A ceremonial circle and special ventilation to allow for smudging, along with a “comfortable atmosphere to access regularly scheduled programming” that allows clients and workers to “drop in to have some tea” will also be included, according to a Unity Health news release.
Additionally, patients can expect to have access to Indigenous foods, support through cultural and language interpretation, and access to health education and health literacy, among others.
Meanwhile, the creation of the Indigenous Wellness Centre is part of St. Michael’s commitment to addressing the gap in health care for FNIM and supporting the ongoing work of reconciliation through barrier removal.
“The process of truth and reconciliation is a lifelong journey that must be rooted in healthy, respectful relationship-building with Indigenous people and Indigenous-led organizations,” Alex Krawczyk, founder of the Krawczyk Family Foundation, said in the Unity Health Care news release.
While patient care begins at the Indigenous Wellness Centre, several new and expanded initiatives will also be funded by the Krawczyk family, including a range of services such as land-based healing spaces, access to Elders and Traditional Care Providers, and the creation of additional Indigenous wellness worker positions.
“True healing and reconciliation begin with listening, by being brave enough to acknowledge the harm that’s been done, making a commitment to change, and actively supporting the creation of spaces, programs and services where Indigenous voices lead the way,” Roberta Pike, director of Indigenous Wellness, Reconciliation and Partnerships at Unity Health Toronto, said in the news release.
“This extraordinary gift from the Krawczyk Family Foundation not only strengthens that commitment—it creates a trailblazing path for others to follow,” Pike added.
