Photo L to R: Leanna Willier from the Friendship Centre, Indigenous Elder Loretta Parenteau-English and Kelly Benning also with the Friendship Centre. Photo by Sara Blake, AHS.

By Curtis Galbraith

COVID-19

Smudging ceremony held before vaccine clinic opening at Montrose Cultural Centre

Apr 17, 2021 | 7:00 AM

The vaccination clinic at the Montrose Cultural Centre has been busy this month since it opened, but before it opened, a traditional smudging ceremony performed by an Indigenous elder took place.

This is meant to purify and cleanse the clinic.

The Manager for Indigenous Health and Diversity in the North Zone for Alberta Health Services Shannon Dunfield says she was approached by the people at the Grande Prairie Friendship Centre about holding such a ceremony.

“So, I went directly to our manager for the area, Patricia Nordstrom, and she absolutely, 100 per cent agreed,” said Dunfield. “It was a really good opportunity to build on our existing partnership with the Friendship Centre, to create that welcoming space where our Indigenous community members can feel comfortable receiving their COVID-19 vaccines.”

She adds similar ceremonies have taken place before at the Montrose Cultural Centre.

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“A few years ago, we had the Walking with Our Sisters bundle there. The Indigenous community has partnered with the city on many occasions to have cultural events there, so it is set up for ensuring that ceremonies can take place. There’s a system in there that helps with that.”

Dunfield says the ceremony was held the morning of April 1.