Once a week Providence Care Indigenous Transitions Facilitator Josee Sunday gets together with Providence Care Hospital, long-term stay, patient Becky Leduc.
In their hourly sessions together, they focus on Becky’s Cree culture, read books and have even sewn a ribbon skirt together for Becky to wear.
Today, in partnership with the Kingston Frontenac Library, they’re making buttons on units across Providence Care Hospital to mark the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation.
“It’s fun,” says Becky.
More focused on making buttons than being interviewed, Becky is happy to let her work do most of the talking.
Over the past year, Becky’s weekly sessions with Josee have helped her strengthen her connection to her Cree heritage. Together they’ve explored Cree culture through stories and cultural teachings, uncovering knowledge Becky says even her own family didn’t always have.
“Mom doesn’t know about it,” Becky says while reflecting on some of the things she has learned.
Helping patients and clients navigate their health care journeys while honouring their Indigenous culture, community and identity is at the heart of Josee’s role at Providence Care.
As Indigenous Transitions Facilitator, Josee supports self-identified Indigenous patients and clients along with their families, from admission through discharge.
Her work includes helping individuals understand treatment plans, connecting them with cultural supports and assisting with safe transitions home, all while helping bridge gaps they may experience while navigating the health care system.
“Each patient is on their own journey, and it can be really hard to be a patient,” says Josee. “As the Indigenous Transitions Facilitator, I stay beside our patients and clients through any monumental or mundane event.”
The role also supports Providence Care’s ongoing commitment to reconciliation and Indigenous health equity.
“The health care system can be this elusive program for Indigenous people who are disadvantaged by the in-between spaces, as they move between regions for health care, and move between programs for care,” she says. “The Indigenous Transitions Facilitator fills those in-between spaces so that communication and transitions in care are smooth and timely.”
While much of Josee’s work focuses on supporting individual patients and clients at Providence Care Hospital and Providence Transitional Care Centre (PTCC), her commitment to Indigenous health equity extends across the organization through her involvement with Providence Care’s Inclusion Advisory Council.
This year’s button-making activity is one of several initiatives supported by the Council in recognition of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.
Providence Care Indigenous Transitions Facilitator Josee Sunday, Providence Care Hospital patient Becky Leduc, a Kingston Frontenac Public Library representative and a Providence Care staff member make buttons ahead of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.
“Making and wearing the button is such a simple way to demonstrate our acknowledgement of this day and our commitment as allies to Indigenous health equity,” says Josee.
Throughout the month of September, Inclusion Advisory Council members have hosted information booths across Providence Care sites, organized an Indigenous vendor market and welcomed staff, patients, clients and community partners to a gathering focused on truth, learning and reconciliation.
“Through initiatives like these, we’re helping create spaces where Indigenous patients, clients, staff and families feel seen, supported and safe,” says Josee.
Becky’s experience reflects exactly the kind of environment Josee strives to create.
Providence Care has become a place where she feels comfortable asking questions, learning more about her Indigenous heritage, building relationships with staff, sharing stories about everything from her health goals to Taylor Swift, and making decisions about her care with confidence.
Providence Care Hospital long-term patient Becky Leduc poses in her room at Providence Care Hospital, where a Taylor Swift poster reflects her love of the pop superstar.
“I hope that when Indigenous patients come to Providence Care, they are relieved. I hope that these patients and clients meet me and the rest of their care team and know this is a safe place for them on their journey.”
When asked if she looks forward to seeing Josee each week, Becky’s answer comes without hesitation.
“Yeah, definitely.”
National Day for Truth and Reconciliation activities, like today’s button-making event, help create opportunities for reflection and learning. But for Josee, Becky and many other Indigenous patients and clients, the work doesn’t begin and end on Sept. 30.
Through roles like the Indigenous Transitions Facilitator, dedicated spaces for ceremony and healing, cultural supports and ongoing efforts to advance Indigenous health equity, Providence Care continues its commitment to reconciliation every day of the year.
