The place where they heal us – CBC

Jun. 10, 2024

June is National Indigenous History Month. To celebrate our accomplishments, CBC Indigenous is highlighting First Nations, Inuit and Métis trailblazers in law, medicine, science, sports — and beyond.

Retired nurse Wendy Skye-Delaronde sits at her kitchen table, flipping through a booklet of memories of her 45 years working at Tsi Tehsakotitsén:tha Kateri Memorial Hospital Centre.

Like many in Kahnawà:ke, Skye-Delaronde takes pride in having a hospital in her own community.

“This is ours; nobody’s going to take it away,” she said.

“It’s ours, and you can decide what’s best for your own people.”

In Kanien’kéha, or the Mohawk language, Tsi Tehsakotitsén:tha means “the place where they heal us.”

This place has been helping heal the community for over 100 years, and remains the only hospital of its kind run by a First Nation in Quebec.