The All Nations' Healing Room is a culturally safe, private, quiet, and peaceful space in the Patient Care Centre at Royal Jubilee Hospital. It is welcoming to First Nations, Inuit, and Metis People - including patients, family members, visitors, students and staff. 

The room accommodates Aboriginal people and their right to perform traditional healing practices and ceremonies while in hospital. Ceremonies may include smudging, cleansing, and singing using items such as roots, cedar boughs, grasses, water, drums, rattles, and feathers.

Cultural Ceremony Procedures

• Before beginning your ceremony please notify Fire Protection Services of ceremony start time (see sign behind the door for the phone number)
• Close all doors to the All Nations' Healing Room
• All doors/exits must remain closed during the ceremony - no ins or outs. 
• Activate the ventilation system by pushing the RED button (behind door)
• Wait 20 seconds before beginning ceremony to make sure the fan has been activated. The light should be bright red.
• Depending on how long your ceremony is, the room will clear completely within 10-15 minutes from the END of the ceremony
• Please inform Fire Protection Services when the ceremony is complete
• If ceremonial smoke escapes, it may set off the fire alarm system outside the healing room 
• False fire alarms can cause ceremony privileges being removed.

Information for the General Public

• The Royal Jubilee Hospital, including the All Nations' Healing Room, is built on the 'traditional homeland territory' of the Coast Salish people. 
• The traditional cultural ceremonies performed in this room are sacred and private. 
• Please do not disturb the cultural ceremonies you may hear or see.
• The room has an open door policy and is available to Aboriginal, Metis and Inuit patients      24 hours a day - 7 days a week - 365 days a year.
• The room is equipped with special ventilation to allow traditional ceremonial burning.  Once the doors are closed, they can not be reopened until the room is clear of all smoke.
• Aboriginal people hold the same respect for All Nations' Healing Room as non-aboriginal people hold with churches and/or other religious or spiritual designated areas.  
• Please respect the All Nations' Healing Room and its occupants and do not disturb at all times.

Did You Know?

• Canada is home to 610 First Nations
• BC is home to 197 of the 610 First Nations (27% of Canadian Aboriginals)
• Vancouver Island is home to 50 of BC's 197 First Nations Vancouver Island is home to:
  • 50 First Nation communities (25% of British Columbian Aboriginals)
  • 6 Metis Chartered Communities
  • 5 Aboriginal Friendship Centres
• According to the 2006 Census 40,550 Aboriginal people are living in VIHA's service area.
  • Most Metis people originate from Prairie provinces
  • Most Inuit people originate from the Canada's Arctic areas

History of Aboriginal / Metis / Inuit peoples of Canada

• First Nations - Land Rights and Environmentalism in British Columbia
• First Peoples of Canada
• A Lost Heritage:  Canada's Residential Schools (from CBC Archives)
• Hidden from History:  The Canadian Holocaust
• Indian Residential Schools (AANDC)
• Turtle Island Native Network - Indian Residential School History (Through the eyes of an Aboriginal)
• Metis Nation of British Columbia

Understanding Aboriginal Health

• Patients and families who perform cultural ceremonies in the ANHR may be experiencing or have experienced Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). 
• Aboriginals and First Nations are governed by both federal and provincial governments.
• Both governments provide limited funds to First Nations on a per capita basis. 
• All funds are designated to social and educational programs, as per contract agreements with an individual Nation.
• The provincial government provides funds for Aboriginal health care.
• The federal government provides funds for Aboriginal housing.
• Some First Nations have treaties while others are small and receive very little if any funding.