Leona Starr believes the incorporation of traditional medicines and healing practices is essential to the holistic wellness of Indigenous peoples.
With that in mind, Interior Health (IH) staff in B.C.’s East Kootenay region were recently invited to discuss and learn about the incorporation of traditional Indigenous medicines while receiving care within IH facilities.
“The knowledge of our traditional medicines goes back thousands of years and was passed down through our oral history,” said Starr the Indigenous Cultural Safety Practice Lead with Indigenous Partnerships. “This is why we have unwavering belief in our medicines. Nothing should sway us or stop us from relying on our medicine.”
These information sessions are called Medicine for the People and were developed by Starr. They are currently taking place throughout the IH region.
One of their key purposes is to prepare health care staff for the implementation of the new IH Access to Traditional Indigenous Healing Practices (ATIHP) policy.
IH said this new policy will “support Indigenous clients with an increased access to their traditional Indigenous healing practices, particularly at bedside, as part of their health care journey with IH.”
These sessions support collaboration between healthcare practitioners and members of host First Nations. They are intended to provide a safe space for asking questions, to get a hands-on and experimental introduction to traditional medicines and to ensure IH staff feel comfortable helping Indigenous clients access traditional medicines while receiving care from IH.
Sessions have been held in Creston and Cranbrook in late November in collaboration with the Ktunaxa Nation. Other areas hosting sessions include Williams Lake, Kelowna, and Merritt with plans for others in Salmon Arm, Grand Forks, Invermere, and Lillooet.
“Integrating Indigenous medicine into modern healthcare strengthens systems of care by honoring ancestral knowledge while advancing scientific practice,” Whitehead said.
The sessions grew out of a need for staff to gain experiential learning before the new policy is introduced. Staff are not expected to lead ceremonies themselves, but to understand their significance and help ensure that space and support are available for Indigenous patients who choose to use them.
Basil said the sessions represented “another meaningful step in cultivating safe spaces for individuals who choose to incorporate traditional medicines and practices in their health and wellness journey.”