Smudging space, Indigenous identity built in to new hospital in northern B.C. – CBC
Jan 15, 2025
Fort St. James hospital serves a region that is more than one-third Indigenous
Signs at the new Fort St. James hospital, about 160 kilometres northwest of Prince George, welcome visitors in both English and Dakelh.
Inside, there is a spiritual gathering space with special ventilation built in to allow for smudging — a cultural ceremony involving burning items such as sweetgrass, spruce bows and tobacco.
These touches bring pride to Lauretta Prince, an events co-ordinator with the Nak’azdli Whut’en First Nation, one of several First Nations who will be served by the new hospital in a region whose identity is up to 40 per cent Indigenous.
