Canada’s first Indigenous-led healing space underway at HSC Children’s Hospital – PortageOnline
Feb 25 2026
Construction is moving forward towards the first Indigenous healing space in Canada that is designed for kids and their families in a children’s hospital.
The $2.2 million project at HSC Children’s Hospital is being led by Indigenous Elders, Knowledge Keepers and health care experts as well as children and families from Métis, Inuit and First Nations communities.
Originally, after planning began in 2015, led by Dr. Melanie Morris who is Canada’s first Indigenous pediatric surgeon and Physician Lead, Indigenous Health at HSC Children’s, the project has been guided and supported by Elders Levinia Brown, Barbara Bruce, Sherry Copenace, Margaret Lavallee, Charlotte Nolin, Martha Peet, Jack Robinson, Katherine Whitecloud as well as the late Valdie Seymour and Barry Lavallee. Indigenous designer, Destiny Seymour has been involved to ensure every decision reflects community voices and priorities.
