Health care isn't just about treating illness. It's about fostering trust, dignity and a sense of belonging amongst the communities we care for every day.  

For Indigenous patients, traditional health care settings like hospitals can often feel unsafe and unfamiliar. The history of colonialism, persistent racism and cultural disconnect continue to shape how Indigenous patients and their families experience and navigate the health care system in Canada.  

Indigenous wellness spaces are a meaningful step in addressing these realities and play an important role in improving care outcomes by creating a more equitable, safe and inclusive health care system.  

"Our Indigenous wellness spaces are an important part of moving us towards reconciliation by taking meaningful action to meet Indigenous communities where they are," says Leonard Benoit, Indigenous Health and Partnerships Lead at Sunnybrook. 

"These spaces signify to Indigenous patients that Sunnybrook is a safe place for them to receive care, bring their traditional medicines and have their ceremonies, free from judgment." 

Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre is home to four distinct Indigenous wellness spaces, each offering a unique opportunity for Indigenous patients, families and community members to gather.  

Situated in a quiet part of Sunnybrook's Bayview campus, the Indigenous Wellness Garden is a space for community members to gather, reflect and connect with the land. Developed in partnership with Seventh Generation Midwives Toronto and built by Indigenous-led Miinikaan Innovation and Design, the garden honours the Elders who have come before us by offering sacred medicines and healing plants. 

"Connection to land plays a foundational role in Indigenous medicine and wellness," says Benoit. "The garden is not only an opportunity to provide land-based teachings to the community, but it also offers a quiet place of respite for patients and families to reconnect with Mother Earth." 

An indoor Indigenous wellness space, also at Sunnybrook’s Bayview campus, is available for Indigenous patients, families, and staff to use 24 hours a day. Medicine bundles, a ceremonial drum, and a rattle are available for use in the room and throughout the hospital.  

The space is also open to Indigenous community partners, such as Anishinaabe Health Toronto and the Native Women's Resource Centre of Toronto, who come on-site to meet with patients after hours.  

"Sunnybrook is one of the only hospitals in Toronto that has opened its spaces to Indigenous community partners to come and work with clients, allowing us to offer truly integrated, equitable and culture-informed care," says Benoit.  

A first-of-its-kind in a Toronto hospital, the Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Legacy Space at Sunnybrook's Holland Centre campus is among Sunnybrook's latest efforts to actively advance Indigenous health and wellness.  

Featuring a colourful mural by Anishinaabe artist Que Rock, the space supports staff and learners by offering resources that deepen knowledge of Indigenous health, history and culture.  The space is a welcoming environment where conversations and education about Canada's history and the collective journey towards Truth and Reconciliation can take place. 

“We envisioned the Holland Centre library for this Legacy Space because it is one of the hearts of learning for our community," says Dr. Calvin Law, Vice President of Education at Sunnybrook. "It provides a welcoming environment for current and future health care providers to connect with Indigenous histories and ways of knowing, which is so important to how we are honouring the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's Calls to Action for health education." 

The creation of Sunnybrook's three Indigenous wellness spaces would not have been possible without the input and consultation of Indigenous patients and community partners.  

"When you work with the community, you get a sense of what people truly need to feel safe and welcome in our hospital," says Benoit. "The input of our patients and community partners has allowed us to co-create spaces that push the envelope of what’s possible and help us reshape patient care at Sunnybrook." 

Incorporating Indigenous wellness spaces into hospitals is not simply an expansion of existing models of care, but rather a necessary step toward a health care system that is culturally safe, respectful and grounded in understanding. As Sunnybrook's efforts demonstrate, meaningful collaboration with Indigenous community partners can help create spaces where Indigenous patients feel safe, respected and supported in their care journeys. ​