Better Together Indigenous Health Project

The Northern Lights Health Foundation is leading the capital campaign for Better Together, a transformative initiative to create a dedicated Indigenous Wellness Space on the fourth floor of the Northern Lights Regional Health Centre.

This project is shaped by Indigenous voices and grounded in a shared commitment to reconciliation. By repurposing a portion of the regional health centre’s 4th floor, we are creating a space that embraces Indigenous approaches to wellness – where cultural identity, community connection, and healthcare come together.

This is more than a renovation. It represents meaningful progress towards systemic change. The Indigenous Wellness Space will help close long-standing gaps in access, foster culturally safe care, and rebuild trust in the healthcare system.

Guided by Elders, Knowledge Keepers, and Indigenous partners, this space will:

Expand access to services that reflect Indigenous culture and values
Honour traditional healing practices alongside clinical care
Promote community wellness and holistic supports across all stages of life
Strengthen partnerships with post-secondary institutes to support Indigenous health leadership
Deepen collaboration between Indigenous communities and healthcare providers

For community, the
Indigenous Wellness
Space will be:

A Place to Gather

A warm, welcoming space where Indigenous People feel safe, heard, and supported with compassion and respect.

A Place to Care

An Indigenous health team to help connect individuals with Elders, Knowledge Keepers, and traditional healers, supporting access to culturally grounded care beyond the hospital. These connections honour community values and traditions while complementing the services and supports offered.

A Place to Connect

Space for health promotion, cultural programming, and prevention-focused care that spans all stages of life.

A Place to Belong

Community members are at the heart of this space. Grounded in Indigenous knowledge and guided by local voices, it will be a space shaped by those it serves

A Place to Learn

Opportunities to share cultural teachings, promote health education, and pass on traditional knowledge across generations.

A Place to Heal

A dedicated, calm environment that eases fear, anxiety, and past trauma, supporting healing of mind, body, and spirit.

Our Commitment Moving Forward

We believe that access to healthcare must include access to culturally informed, community-designed spaces. Supporting the Better Together project reflects our belief that reconciliation in health is not symbolic – it is something we must actively pursue. This is a long-term commitment to equity, trust, and shared leadership. We are honored to walk alongside Indigenous leaders, healthcare professionals, and our community in advancing this important work.

In the year ahead, we will:

Focus on raising the funds needed to bring the Indigenous Wellness Space to life
Work in partnership with project partners to support long-term sustainability
Share updates with donors and partners who are making this vision possible

Better Together is not just a project. It is a promise to create a space rooted in respect, guided by community, and designed to inspire lasting change.