The Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) has First Nations and Metis Health Services available directly in Saskatchewan’s major cities, but Saskatchewan doctors hope to see access expanded. Dr. John Dosman, a family doctor based out of Saskatoon, brought up the topic at the Saskatchewan Medical Association’s (SMA) recent convention during a question and answer session with provincial ministers.
He was inspired by his involvement in an Indigenous ceremony following the birth of a child at the Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital in December. “It was just such a beautiful birth experience, a beautiful way for a baby to come into this world,” Dosman said. He added it was moving to see five generations in the same room.
“Great great kookum, great kookum, kookum, mom, then the baby,” Dosman said. Download the CTV News app to get breaking news alerts sent to your device It’s one example of the Indigenous Cultural Supports available in Saskatchewan hospitals. "It's such a positive, well needed thing and I wish it could be everywhere, not just in hospitals,” said Kylee Lajoure-Kennedy, Manager of First Nations and Metis Health with the SHA.
“We do stuff as simple as end of life care, we support family through that process, right up to the positive thing of babies being born and name giving ceremonies." According to Lajoure-Kennedy, having the spaces available and accessible has to come in combination with having healthcare staff who are willing to learn. “We're lucky.