Pine Falls Traditional Healing Centre officially opened to patients this spring
Pine Falls floor plan
Pine Falls Traditional Healing Centre opened to the public this past Spring. The new addition to our existing facility has been designed to provide better, more culturally appropriate health care services to families in Powerview-Pine Falls and the surrounding First Nations and Métis communities that we serve. The redevelopment provided space for traditional healers and elders, an additional nurse practitioner, a First Nation and Métis outreach liaison, a medical lab assistant and spaces for support services. The hospital remains the same. Click here for hospital information.
The first nation communities of Sagkeeng, Black River and Hollow Water came together to create the Giigewigamig (Kee-gay-ga-mik) First Nation Health Authority working group to manage program development of the new traditional healing centre at Pine Falls. “Giigewigamig” means “A place of healing,” in Ojibway.
At this time, Giigewigamig traditional programming is still under development but once it is finalized we will share more information.
Traditional healing Centre programming
The mission is to create a place in the hospital for loved ones to support family members who may be ill and seeking care in the hospital and:
- Offer a place where family can prepare traditional meals and medicine for loved ones in the hospital
- Provide access to First Nations traditions, culture, language, healing ceremonies, medicines, and teachings to provide holistic and natural care for all people
- Assist community members to coordinate spiritual, emotional, mental, and physical care that meets their needs
- Inspire a new standard of quality health care, and advocate for greater accountability to honour the Treaty Right to health through the jointly coordinated services of Giigewigamig, the Interlake-Eastern Regional Health Authority, the Province of Manitoba and Health Canada.
Grand Opening Community Celebration
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On May 8, leaders from surrounding communities gathered for a ceremony at the Giigewigamig Traditional Healing Centre with a smudge, water and pipe ceremony. The ceremony was followed by presentations from participants, closing prayers and a ribbon cutting ceremony. In the afternoon, a community feast was held at the Sagkeeng Arena Multiplex with entertainment from local musicians and catered food. the public also toured the facility.
Construction
Target completion: March 2017
Construction cost: $11 million
Key construction partners: Construction – Parkwest
Previous construction update: December 2015
Design & programming: Giigewigamig First Nation Health Authority, Interlake-Eastern RHA and other community partners
July 2016 construction update
Celebrating the beginning of redevelopment of the Powerview-Pine Falls Health Centre - June 22, 2015
Left to right: Hollow Water councillor Furlon Barker, Black River councillor Rhonda Abraham, Black River Chief Frank Abraham, Pine Falls Mayor Bev Dube, Black River Elder Ernest McPherson, Interlake-Eastern RHA CEO Ron Van Denakker, former minister of health Sharon Blady, Sagkeeng Chief Derrick Henderson, Kookum Aldeen Mason, Sagkeeng Elder Dave Courchene