The Indigenous Wellness Centre at St. Michael’s Hospital will be a space where Indigenous patients and caregivers can receive support and advocacy as they move through their health journey. (Photo by Nadya Kwandibens)

Unity Health Toronto has received a transformative $11 million donation from the Krawczyk Family Foundation to support Indigenous health and reconciliation at St. Michael’s Hospital and Providence Healthcare. The investment will drive critical initiatives to address deep-rooted disparities experienced by First Nations, Inuit and Metis communities in Toronto and beyond.

The donation was announced in conjunction with the grand opening of a new Indigenous Wellness Centre at St. Michael’s Hospital, which was also supported by the Krawczyk Family. The space is central to Unity Health’s Indigenous Health Program that supports the thousands of First Nations, Inuit and Metis people who seek care in our hospitals every year.

“The process of truth and reconciliation is a lifelong journey that must be rooted in healthy, respectful relationship-building with Indigenous people and Indigenous-led organizations,” said Alex Krawczyk, founder of the Krawczyk Family Foundation.

(Photo by Nadya Kwandibens)

“Through this gift, I hope to contribute to the important work St. Michael’s Hospital and Providence Healthcare are leading to support health and healing for Indigenous people and communities.”

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The new centre at St. Michael’s will be used by Unity Health’s Indigenous Wellness Team to provide patient-facing services, staff training, and ceremonial and community events at St. Michael’s.

“To be able to create a new space, it’s signaling a change in the hospital’s understanding of reconciliation and what that means. It solidifies the commitment to work with Indigenous people and to listen to what their needs are and to be able to address our cultural and ceremonial needs,” said Roberta Pike, Director of Indigenous Wellness, Reconciliation and Partnerships at Unity Health Toronto. Pike leads the Indigenous Wellness Team, which consists of an Indigenous physician and several Indigenous wellness specialists.

“One of the ways to provide better service is to have care teams that understand Indigenous peoples’ realities implicitly, without having to ask clients too many intrusive questions,” said Pike.

“Our team understands what kind of experiences people may have when they’re coming to the hospital, and they’re able to assist and get to the heart of the matter of what people truly need, which is often times a lot more complex than what they’re presenting with.”

(Photo by Nadya Kwandibens)

The new 650-square-foot space will be an area for the Indigenous Wellness Team to support Indigenous clients during their care journey. The space features a large ceremonial circle, special exhaust ventilation to permit for smudging ceremonies and Indigenous art and symbols. 

It is the first of three new Indigenous wellness spaces that will operate at Unity Health’s hospital sites, with one each to follow at Providence Healthcare and St. Joseph’s Health Centre.

The builds at St. Michael’s Hospital and Providence Healthcare were made possible thanks to a generous donation by the Krawczyk Family Foundation and the work of the St. Michael’s and Providence Foundation. The development of the space at St. Michael’s was initiated and guided by the First Nations, Inuit and Metis Community Advisory Panel (FNIM-CAP) and a wonderful group of Indigenous community advisors.

A key guiding principle of Unity Health Toronto’s Indigenous Health Program is that everything is done in consultation and in partnership with Indigenous partners and community members. In February 2024, Unity Health’s Office of Indigenous Wellness, Reconciliation and Partnerships launched a series of community consultation sessions, where Indigenous community members shared feedback about their own, and their clients and loved ones’ care experience at our hospitals.

Unity Health has embarked on foundational work to recognize the history of colonization and ongoing racism and structural inequities in Canada and its health-care system. The Indigenous Health Program and Service and the new space at St. Michael’s are meaningful steps for Unity Health as it moves forward in its reconciliation journey. 

The Indigenous Wellness Team

The Indigenous Wellness Team provides services to Indigenous clients, including access to ceremonial bundles and cultural practices, support with cultural and language interpretation, navigational and advocacy support, and discharge planning and family support. The team also facilitates training and educational workshops for Unity Health staff and physicians to learn about the provision of Indigenous culturally-safer care.

Members of the Indigenous Wellness Team (L-R): Ariana Giulianelli, Roberta Pike, Jessica Demeria and Painted Sky Johnston. (Photo by Katie Cooper)

Meet the team:

Jennefer Simo, Indigenous Wellness Specialist

“What I love most about my role at Unity Health is the ability to give back to our community — being able to help, support and lift up our peoples. I love meeting our peoples, and being able to provide safe, welcoming and inclusive support for those in need. I love that our peoples are able to feel that they can reach out, and know that someone is there for them, to help guide, support, provide resources/referrals, or access to ceremony. I love that over the years, I have been able to make change, a change that’s lasting. It means so much to me, because I need help at times, and I wouldn’t be the person I am today if someone out there didn’t help me.”

Jessica Demeria, Indigenous Wellness Specialist

“The thoughtful and deliberate approach to designing and building the Wellness Space demonstrates Unity Health’s commitment to respond to the Truth and Reconciliation Calls to Action.  More importantly, it has the potential to create safety (emotionally, physically, mentally and spiritually) for our patients and their families during their health journey, whether they are local or from rural, remote and northern communities.  It’s a practical work space for us as inter-professional Indigenous Wellness Specialists, supports the vision of reducing barriers to care, and access to the Indigenous Wellness Team and Office of Indigenous Wellness, Reconciliation and Partnerships. It’s exciting to have a space where there is potential to provide community and staff educational sessions and provide a sense of community for those who are seeking care.”

Painted Sky Johnston, Indigenous Cultural and Ceremonial Facilitator

“The new space at St. Michael’s will provide new opportunities for Indigenous patients to access culturally-appropriate care that includes spiritual and ceremonial practices. Patients will have access to the Four Sacred Medicines (tobacco, cedar, sage, and sweet grass), as well as opportunities to smudge. They’ll also have access to our team of specialists who can help them navigate through the circle of care and help them journey through any challenges that may come up. I’m honoured to be part of this team and I’m happy that we can build a rapport with patients here at Unity Health Toronto and build a new relationship of trust with Indigenous communities.”

By Marlene Leung

Photos by Nadya Kwandibens, an Anishinaabe (Ojibwe) artist from Animakee Wa Zhing #37 First Nation in northwestern Ontario, and Toronto’s current Photo Laureate.

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