Providing health care and building relationships in Creston

March 10, 2023

This sturgeon-nosed canoe, constructed by four Ktunaxa Nation youth in 2012, was presented as a gift to the Creston Valley Hospital during National Addictions Awareness Week.

The toxic drug crisis disproportionately affects Aboriginal Peoples. But accessing much needed health care continues to pose challenges for Aboriginal Peoples due to systemic racism and the lack of culturally safe care.

Ensuring health-care services are safe and free from discrimination is an ongoing journey at Interior Health. Building relationships, working to decolonize health care and health-care settings, and providing education opportunities for staff offer pathways to understanding and reconciliation.

In Creston, the Yaqan Nuʔkiy (Lower Kootenay) Band and IH staff have formed the Ki?su?k Awumu (Good Medicine) Working Group to address the needs of Aboriginal Peoples. The group came together to initiate collaborative discussions between the Band and IH staff, and now meets regularly to provide focus and direction around increasing understanding, educating staff, strengthening relationships, healing, and implementing effective ways to serve Aboriginal clients.

Four people wearing winter clothes walk on a snowy road. One holds a white flag. — Creston community members join the canoe walk on Nov. 23, 2022 in support of those struggling with or affected by substance use

During discussions, one of the topics the group focused on was a sturgeon-nosed canoe located on the main floor of the Creston Valley Hospital. This canoe was constructed by four Ktunaxa Nation youth 10 years earlier, and was presented as a gift to the hospital during National Addictions Awareness Week on November 23, 2012. Members of the Yaqan Nuʔkiy Band carried this canoe through harsh weather along a 6 km route to the hospital to present it as part of a commitment to a healthy and healing partnership. The sturgeon-nosed canoe is “representative of life” and unique to the Yaqan Nuʔkiy Band.

Regretfully, this symbol of healing between the Band and the hospital became forgotten in an almost out of sight area of the hospital.

As clinical operations director for Creston Valley Hospital Walter Felitsyn shares, “We asked ourselves, how can we refresh and honour the significance of this gift? In consultation with an Aboriginal Patient Navigator, IH staff rediscovered how to relate our commitment to reconciliation, and honour the gift of the canoe appropriately as part of the path to healing and relationship building.”

In September 2022, Walter offered on behalf of Interior Health a gift of tobacco to Yaqan Nuʔkiy Band Nasuʔkin Jason Louie to signify the promise of renewed respect and commitment to honour this very important gift.

Three people wearing dark winter coats and hats smiling at an outdoor event. — IH clinical operations staff, L to R: Kendra Kruger, Walter Felitsyn and Jason Schinbein.

Today, the canoe is in its rightful – and respectful – place: displayed as a central piece in the hospital lobby under museum-quality glass. Its new location has revived interest in and curiosity about the canoe from both staff and visitors. Work is underway in collaboration with Yaqan Nuʔkiy Band to establish a video display above the canoe to share its history and significance, and the Ktunaxa Nation’s culture.

Mistakes have been made. Correcting these mistakes and creating awareness is needed. As I like to say, ‘Without the past there is no future.’ History gives character and purpose to our actions. This is part of our journey to a stronger relationship and deeper commitments with Aboriginal Peoples we serve in the Creston Valley.

-- Walter Felitsyn, clinical operations director for Creston Valley Hospital

To mark 10 years since the first canoe walk, the Yaqan Nuʔkiy Band and IH collaborated to organize a second canoe walk on November 23, 2022. Following the same 6 km route, Band members, IH staff, physicians and Creston community members walked in unity to show support for those impacted by this era of toxic drugs and enduring stigma.

Says Walter, “The goal of this walk – which will now be an annual event – was not only to bring awareness to the struggles of addiction, but to create ‘Good Medicine’ and show a renewed commitment to deliver ‘Good Medicine.’ A renewed feeling of hope emerged from this walk. Fewer people will have challenges as they access the care they need.

“We don’t have the answers, and we don’t know everything. But we strive for cultural humility.”