Chinook Regional Hospital celebrates Blackfoot culture
By Al Beeber - Lethbridge Herald on June 24, 2022.
Herald photo by Al Beeber
People sit near a teepee that was erected on site at the Chinook Regional Hospital Wednesday morning. The Blackfoot Confederacy flag was also raised as Alberta Health Services acknowledged National Indigenous Peoples Week celebrations.LETHBRIDGE HERALDabeeber@lethbridgeherald.com
The Blackfoot Confederacy flag was raised at Chinook Regional Hospital on Thursday as part of Alberta Health Services events celebrating National Indigenous History Month.
The flag was also raised Wednesday in Pincher Creek and Saturday in Cardston.
Samantha First Charger, Indigenous Wellness Core Manager at the hospital, told media in front of the auxiliary building where events were being staged that “today’s flag raising is one of the many steps that are needed…it’s no secret that there is racism, discrimination in the health care system and we’re working on several pathways to Indigenous equity.
“We need to take active steps to transform the healthcare system and raising the flag today is one of the many steps we are taking toward this goal,” First Charger said.
“Just as the Canadian flag symbolizes the unity of Canadians, this flag symbolizes the unity and strength of the four nations within the Blackfoot Confederacy. As Blackfoot people, our culture, identity, values, language and traditional medicines help our people heal,” added First Charger.
She said culture plays an important role in Indigenous health and well-being.
Kirby Smith, the intergovernmental relations co-ordinator with the Blackfoot Confederacy tribal council, said “for the Blackfoot Confederacy as a whole, we’ve been making great efforts in a variety of areas including health and education, children services, trying to make some inroads into some of the more important policy decision-making tables and helping to address some of the discrepancies that exist in all of those areas.
“So health, of course, is a priority for us, as well. The importance of this particular event on this occasion does symbolize the efforts that we’re making towards trying to create awareness of the importance of our culture, the importance of how our people that are in the healthcare system that are trying to heal themselves in a good way. But also, too, of course working with Alberta Health Services to try to eliminate some of the racism that exists and discrimination that exists.
“So our people have more of a comfort level in dealing with the system,” added Smith.
“All of those kinds of efforts, again at a high level, the Blackfoot Confederacy is trying to make inroads,” he added.
AHS has been receptive to Confederacy initiatives and efforts, he added, as the sides try to find common grounds and points to start from to better their relationship and improve the quality of health care provided to Indigenous peoples, Smith added.
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Now it’s time to celebrate White Culture. Enough already.