Oct 31, 2024
The Ontario government is investing $1.25 million to help build the Six Nations of the Grand River’s new five-bed hospice, providing Indigenous-led, culturally appropriate end-of-life care. Named the Six Nations of the Grand River Community Hospice, this will be Canada’s first Indigenous-led and on-territory hospice, offering compassionate care rooted in Haudenosaunee teachings.
The hospice will feature culturally reflective decor, sacred spaces for ceremonies, a garden with traditional plants, and large family areas, allowing relatives to gather and connect during loved ones’ end-of-life transitions. Hospice services include end-of-life nursing, symptom management, and bereavement counseling. All staff will come from First Nations communities, or, if non-First Nations, will receive cultural sensitivity training.