A Place of Peace

June 16, 2022

The scents of sweetgrass and fresh paint mingle in the brand-new Indigenous Health (IH) rooms at St. Boniface Hospital.

The Winnipeg Regional Health Authority’s IH program opened a new space at the Hospital in January 2022, made possible by Foundation donor support.

“Our new space enhances our ability to facilitate the practice of smudging to cleanse one’s body, mind and spirit,” said Bonnie Murray, former Site Coordinator, WRHA Indigenous Health – Patient Services. “A new high-tech ventilation system was added that enables us to conduct smudging ceremonies indoors,” she added.

The IH team was relocated to rooms in A-Block on the main floor as part of the Hospital’s Emergency Department redevelopment and expansion project. They are now down the hall from Volunteer Services and across the hall from the newly relocated Patient Registration Department.

As of last January, the team was putting the final touches on the new space to make it inviting, warm, and peaceful, said Michael Thibert, Spiritual Cultural Care Provider, WRHA Indigenous Health – Patient Services.

Advocacy, translation services offered

The main role of WRHA IH is to support culturally safe and responsive care throughout the health region. The IH team at SBH provides language interpretation in Cree, Ojibwe and Oji-Cree for patients and families.

“We connect hospital care teams to discharge planning resources for patients returning to home to First Nations communities and connect patients and families, when needed to advocacy support. Our Spiritual Cultural Care Provider serves patients and families on their health-care journey, providing Spiritual Care and connection to ceremony and cultural practices,” explained Murray.

“The Family Room and Smudging Room are accessed by patients or their families for visiting or family meetings, or just to take break off the unit. We have a seating area with a TV, books, games, and some reading materials. There are two pull-out cots for family members that need to stay overnight.”

Local Métis artist painted mural
The new WRHA Indigenous Health Smudging Room has a full-length mural by Métis artist Justine Proulx.

After an extensive search of local talent, the IH team selected Justine Proulx, a Winnipeg artist of Métis heritage, to do a full-length mural on two walls in the Smudging Room.

“We commissioned Justine to paint a mural that incorporates Indigenous spirituality and represents the three main Indigenous cultural groups (First Nation, Métis and Inuit) and have added Indigenous themed décor and natural elements to contribute to the healing atmosphere of the space,” said Murray.

“We selected Justine based on how she captured all of the elements we wanted in the mural – such as the Medicine Wheel, Seven Sacred Teachings, Indigenous Healing Ceremonies and that the three cultural groups were represented.”


Be a lifeline for Indigenous patients and their families. Donate today.