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Celebrating and honouring National Indigenous Peoples Day at DCDH

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Margaret McGillis and Stan Fraser standing outside DCDH, in front standing in front of a the dreamcatcher
Margaret McGillis (DCDH Indigenous Patient Liaison) and Stan Fraser (local Indigenous artist) standing in front of the dreamcatcher

Last week, staff and patients at the Dawson Creek and District Hospital (DCDH) took part in a series of celebrations and initiatives to honour and acknowledge National Indigenous History Month and National Indigenous Peoples Day.

Two men on a blue crane as they put up a large dreamcatcher on the Dawson Creek and District Hospital roof

Stan Fraser, a local Indigenous artist and the Cultural Advisor at the Nawican Bergeron Youth and Cultural Centre, created a dreamcatcher which is painted in the medicine wheel colours and webbed with nylon string. The dreamcatcher was installed on the roof of the main entrance of the hospital with the purpose of catching negative energies and releasing good energies to patients, visitors, and staff entering and exiting the hospital. It also gives hope to Indigenous people entering the facility that there is a spiritual method to help them during their health care journey and remind them that they are not alone when dealing with modern medicine and sickness.

Three people standing on a roof in front of a large dreamcatcher
Stan Fraser ( artist), Deanna Thomas (South Peace Health Services Administrator), and Sheena Freeman (Interim Executive Director, Nawican Friendship Centre)

Stan was also asked to do a smudging ceremony in the DCDH Pharmacy to eliminate and cleanse the space and staff offices. Smudging is an important and significant ceremonial practice in Indigenous culture which involves burning sacred herbs. In this case, Stan used white sage.

The DCDH Pharmacy team was gifted 10 traditional medicines as part of the Traditional Medicine Exchange Program through the Nawican Friendship Centre. Having these traditional medicines available for Indigenous patients to access is vital to their healing and health care journey. The traditional medicines are currently on display in the entrance and waiting area of the pharmacy.

Patients, staff, and community partners were invited to come to the hospital to watch the Traditional Dancers from the Dawson Creek Aboriginal Family Resources Society perform a series of traditional dances.

Traditional medicines - Rat Root (Weegas), Devil's Club Root, Osha Root, Cedar-Lavender-Sage
Traditional medicines - Rat Root (Weegas), Devil's Club Root, Osha Root, Cedar-Lavender-Sage
Traditional medicines - Diamond Willow Fungus, Sweetgrass, Lemon Balm, Chaga Fungus
Traditional medicines - Diamond Willow Fungus, Sweetgrass, Lemon Balm, Chaga Fungus

We would like to acknowledge and thank Margaret McGillis, DCDH Indigenous Patient Liaison, for coordinating the creation and installation of the dreamcatcher, smudge of the DCDH Pharmacy, and the performance by the Traditional Dancers from Aboriginal Family Resources Society. Margaret recently retired from her role and was very excited to see the dreamcatcher project come to fruition and completion before she did. These initiatives show respect and honour all Indigenous peoples in recognition of Truth and Reconciliation.

Margaret would like to acknowledge and thank the following people for their support and collaboration with these initiatives:

  • Stan Fraser, local Indigenous artist and Cultural Advisor at the Nawican Bergeron Youth and Cultural Centre
  • Kendra Kiss, Northeast Senior Operating Officer
  • Deanna Thomas, South Peace Health Services Administrator
  • Stephen McInnis, Maintenance Supervisor and his team for installing the dreamcatcher

Interested in seeing more of Stan’s artwork? Visit the Nawican Friendship Centre or the Chetwynd Public Library to see two other dreamcatchers that Stan has created.

Traditional Dancers from Dawson Creek Aboriginal Family Resources Society
Traditional dancers from Dawson Creek Aboriginal Family Resources Society