Where the Rivers Meet: Honouring Indigenous Culture and Community in Health Care

On the traditional, ancestral, and unceded lands of the Tk̓emlúps te Secwépemc, where the North and South Thompson Rivers meet, a new vision for cancer care is taking shape. The upcoming BC Cancer Centre at Royal Inland Hospital is not just a building, it is a symbol of collaboration, healing, and respect for the communities it serves.

From the earliest planning stages, Interior Health has worked in partnership with Tk̓emlúps te Secwépemc to ensure Indigenous voices, values, and worldviews are reflected in every part of this project. Together, they developed an Indigenous Engagement Plan that goes beyond consultation—it builds relationships and creates space for culture, ceremony, and connection to land.

This engagement includes working with First Nations and urban Indigenous communities across the Thompson-Cariboo-Shuswap region. Their insights are helping shape how the space looks, feels, and functions—from physical design to how care is delivered. The goal: to ensure that the centre supports wellness in a way that is truly holistic, addressing the physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual aspects of healing.

Key commitments include:

• Creating culturally safe and inclusive environments where Indigenous patients and families feel respected and supported.
• Ensuring staff are trained in cultural safety, and that programs and services reflect Indigenous experiences and ways of knowing.
• Engaging communities in conversations about care and designing spaces that welcome ceremony, culture, and connection.

But the partnership goes beyond care delivery. Through the Enhanced Inclusion and Development Agreement (EIDA), Interior Health and the Province of BC are supporting procurement opportunities for the Tk̓emlúps te Secwépemc Nation to ensure meaningful economic participation and employment as the centre is built.

This includes:

• Increasing Indigenous and underrepresented workers in the construction workforce.
• Creating apprenticeship opportunities, including for Indigenous youth.
• Supporting Indigenous-owned businesses and culturally relevant procurement.

As we move forward, this project serves as a powerful reminder of what’s possible when healthcare is grounded in respect, relationships, and the wisdom of the land. Where the rivers meet, a new path of healing begins.

On Sept. 23, 2024 members from Tk̓emlúps te Secwépemc met with Interior Health and design-build proponents. L-R: Lyle Paul, Greg Ferguson; Jackie Jules , Laura Saul and Elsie Joe.