Ontario Building First Indigenous Hospice in Canada

OHSWEKEN – The Ontario government is investing up to $1.25 million to support the construction of Six Nations of the Grand River’s new five-bed hospice which will help Indigenous people and their loved ones connect to comfortable, culturally appropriate and dignified end-of-life care, close to home.

“Our government is ensuring people and their families have access to the care they need in their community, close to their loved ones,” said Sylvia Jones, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health. “Our investment to expand access to end-of-life care that recognizes the importance of Indigenous-led traditional healing on Six Nations of the Grand River is another step our government is taking to deliver compassionate and specialized care for patients and their loved ones.”

The new hospice – currently named Six Nations of the Grand River Community Hospice – will be constructed on Six Nations of the Grand River and will be the first Indigenous-led, operated and on-territory hospice in Canada. Its community-led services will incorporate traditional Haudenosaunee teachings to provide physical, emotional and spiritual support that will help Indigenous community members connect to equitable quality care that recognizes and respects their cultural identity, values and beliefs as they make their journey into the spirit world.

“Having our own hospice will be amazing for our members to be taken care of our way,” said Chief Sherri-Lyn Hill of Six Nations of the Grand River. “Our members will be able to live out their lives with loved ones and family surrounding them.”

The hospice will provide families the ability to gather with generations of loved ones and bond over food to process grief, loss, and transition. It will also connect people to traditional medicines and practices, specific to each individual’s end-of-life journey. This can include supports to help with nausea, pain, discomfort, and support relaxation. The hospice staff will all be from First Nations communities – where this is not possible, the hospice will ensure non-First Nations staff receive cultural sensitivity training on end-of-life traditions and care for Indigenous clients and families.

The hospice will include:

Decor that is reflective of cultural traditions, including colours and artwork

Sacred spaces for ceremonies

A garden space reflective of traditional medicines and the offerings of nature, providing opportunities to watch the stars, moon, and sun

Large spaces to support multiple families to be together during end of life, share meals and comfort one another

Culturally-relevant services such as traditional healers, elders and knowledge keepers

Hospice care including end-of-life nursing and personal support

Respite and symptom management

Bereavement workshops and counselling tailored to meet the specific requirements of the community.

Through Your Health: A Plan for Connected and Convenient Care, the Ontario government is expanding access to key services to provide people of all ages with the right care, in the right place. As part of the 2024 Budget, Building a Better Ontario, the government continues to expand access to palliative care services, adding up to 84 new adult beds and 12 pediatric beds, bringing the total to over 750 planned beds.

The five new hospice beds at Six Nations Health Services’ new hospice are part of the 84 new adult beds in the 2024 Budget.

With the addition of these five new hospice beds, a total of 72 adult and pediatric hospice beds will be available in the Hamilton Niagara Haldimand Brant (HNHB) area.

Once these beds open, the Ontario government will invest in annual operational funding for Six Nations of the Grand Rivers’ new hospice to support the delivery of nursing, personal support, and other end-of-life care services delivered to patients in these beds.

The Ontario government is investing $147.4 million over three years to expand palliative care services, including increasing funding by 45 per cent for all hospice beds across the province starting in 2022-23.

The Ontario Palliative Care Network (Ontario Health) works alongside hospices, Ontario Health Teams and long-term care homes to ensure providers have access to standardized models of care, clinical expertise, and training to deliver compassionate palliative care supports.

Palliative care, which includes end-of-life care, can begin as early as the diagnosis of a serious illness and focuses on improving the quality of each individual’s life. This integrated form of care ensures people can access the supports they need when facing illness, death, grief, and/or bereavement.