Connecting Indigenous Communities and Local Health
Released on February 15th, 2023, the Cultural Wall in the Phil & Jennie Gaglardi is a welcoming to the communities that Interior Health services in the region. Royal Inland Hospital (RIH) Foundation funded this project through the hospital renovations to create the connection with the Secwepemc, Northern St’át’imc, Métis, Dãkelh Dene, Tsilhqot’in, Nlaka’pamux and Syilx Nations. The mural project was awarded to Chris Bose who is a Secwépemc and Nlaka’pamux member and overseen by Interior Health.
After talking with Heidi Coleman, CEO at RIH Foundation, this mural was no small task, it was completed not only through the effort of the artist, but it was painted by youth of the Tk’emlups community and young Ukranian students (names listed on the mural below). The foundation hopes this mural is one of the many initiatives with connecting Inteiror Health with the indigenous nations they serve, and are excited to cultivate more relationships in the future.
Come check out the mural at the Royal Inland Hospital, and also reference their website for more information about the project, and future initiatives.