Hundreds of invited guests, community members and government leaders crowded into the Sechelt First Nation Longhouse last Saturday for a sacred ceremony to honour the renaming of St. Mary’s Hospital to Sechelt (shíshálh) Hospital.
Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) recently confirmed that it was renaming the 83-year-old hospital to build stronger ties with the community and address concerns by the Sechelt Nation about the existing name.
The name change came after an extensive consultation process with the public and various stakeholders that started last year.
Chief Calvin Craigan said Saturday’s ceremony was an important step in the transition of the new name, and the grounds the hospital sits on.
“The ceremony was held to make the community aware and the reasons why we are not just simply changing the name of the hospital,” Craigan said. “It’s the recognition of many former chiefs and also recognition that the land that was donated was the name of a residential school. Because of our culture we felt that having the grounds blessed was the appropriate thing to do. The medicine men who came from all the other Nations and the many chiefs were here to witness an event that was historical. It was the first event of its kind across Canada.
“Not only was our culture recognized, but also our way of healing was recognized and our willingness to share that. There are different ways of healing, different ways of presenting medicine, and many people witnessed that Saturday.”
Vicki Forest, president of the Hospital Auxiliary, was one of several auxiliary members who attended. She said they were honoured to be at such an emotional and special event.
“A gift was presented to the auxiliary, which was very special, to honour all of the auxiliaries for the work that we have done,” she said.
VCH had also planned a totem raising ceremony and a formal event at the hospital at the same time, but due to some technical glitches, VCH has postponed that event until late April or early May.
Craigan said the shíshálh would again be a big part of that event and will also bless and perform a healing on the grounds of the hospital.
The decision to officially change the name from St. Mary’s Hospital — the only hospital in Canada with a denominational name that has no denominational support or governance — arose after the opening of the newly renovated facility in late 2013. The Sechelt Nation asked VCH to consider renaming the hospital in the spirit of reconciliation and to remove a name with links to the residential school system.
