March 29, 2011

The All Nations Healing room at the new Patient Care Centre at Victoria's Royal Jubilee hospital is a unique place. It's designed to look like a big house with a peaked ceiling - pebble-like floors and wood furnishings. There's a button on the wall to ventilate the room and cancel the fire suppression system for special events like smudging ceremonies when sweet grass is burned.

Master carver, Charles Elliott, of the Tsartlip First Nations, is creating one of two house posts that will frame the front entrance to the healing room. Elliot's pole will have a traditional Coast Salish greeter beating a drum on the bottom and at the top a moon circled by eagles. Eagles represent strength and Elliott is hoping they will watch over patients as they battle illnesses.

VIHA's Aboriginal Liaison Nurse Monique Pat believes once patients understand the purpose of the room - to host large families and for end of life ceremonies - it will be well utilized.