Mental-health, addiction clinic focuses on Aboriginal people
Cedar Sage Health and Wellness clinic opens in downtown Kelowna offices of Interior Health
As drumbeats and singing in the Syilx language reverberated through the atrium of Interior Health’s Kelowna headquarters Friday, a new and innovative clinic for Indigenous people opened.
“This is a holistic and culturally sensitive treatment solution for First Nation peoples with mentalhealth and substance-use challenges,” said family practice lead Dr. Michael Koss.
The Cedar Sage Health and Wellness clinic, on the second floor of Interior Health’s Community Health Centre in downtown Kelowna, will see about 30 patients a day, with assessment and care provided by a team including doctors, nurses, counsellors and social workers.
Koss mentioned one in five people in the general population will suffer from a mental-health challenge or substance abuse in his or her lifetime.
Allan Louis from the First Nations Health Council said that in the Indigenous community, the number is one in three.
“First Nation people have a cycle of mental health that goes back to residential schools and is passed down through generations,” he said.
“We need to break the cycle. That’s why I applaud this opening.”
In recognition that Kelowna is part of the Westbank First Nation’s traditional lands and the clinic is for Indigenous people, Interior Health invited WFN member Pat Raphael Derrickson to offer a blessing.
After the prayer, she was joined by Sacheen Lindley, and the women sang two songs in the Syilx language while pounding deer-and-moose-hide hand drums.
The clinic was named Cedar Sage after consultation with Indigenous communities.
Cedar and sage are commonly used in traditional smudging ceremonies promoting protection, clarification, blessings and healing. They also are used in First Nation medicines and healing practices.
“This is a new and innovative way to promote services to Aboriginal people who previously thought they couldn’t or shouldn’t seek help,” said Interior Health board member Cindy Stewart.
For now, Cedar Sage is available to Indigenous people who are referred by their family doctor or a nurse practitioner.
As the clinic expands, patients will be able to refer themselves, or be referred by their family or other community services.
Currently, hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday.
However, as the Cedar Sage Health and Wellness clinic expands, operating hours will also include evenings and weekends.