At Lu’ma Medical Centre, culture, traditional medicines and ceremony are supporting First Nations healing
When providing health care services to First Nations communities, ceremony is more than a preferred practice—it is an ancestral tradition that guides healing.
Grounded in these teachings, the Lu’ma Medical Centre and newly opened Indigicare Medicines Pharmacy are fulfilling a need that many urban and away-from-home First Nations people in the region have felt for some time.
The patients, whom the Lu’ma team refers to as Members, have access to culturally safe, traditional care and medicines that centre wellness through ceremony. Elder Seis’lom (Glen Williams), who works directly with Members and medical practitioners, describes the centre’s journey as an act of overcoming colonialism.
“I remember the first couple of years we were doing the spiritual work to see the specific needs of those who were seeing our medical professionals,” he said. “Some were residential school survivors… there were no resources for them to get help.”
As Elder Seis’lom describes it, this “taking the power back” within a medical setting requires a connection to cultural teachings. These teachings include the incorporation of medicine for the mind, body and spirit.
For Lu’ma’s Members, culture is present from the moment they walk through the door. From the medicine bundle station at the entrance to the offering of herbal tea that was prepared in ceremony, these cultural practices are not after thoughts; they are woven within the blanket of care that Lu’ma provides.
“A lot of what is happening is a learning curve,” states Elder Seis’lom. “Not just in terms of the modern – but the ancient that comes together. I cannot overemphasize this more, that the bottom line is our ceremony.”
The importance of ceremony was also evident when Meagan Badr was welcomed to the team as Indigenous Pharmacy and Elder Assistant. Her onboarding was celebrated in a traditional way with drumming. Lu’ma’s Operations and Wellness Director Annette Garm emphasized the importance of ceremonial welcomes, saying they’re “huge for setting up the success of our team to walk the path.”
Ceremonial smudging is revered by the team of Lu’ma and is regularly made available for their Members. Often, Members who are struggling may seek the comfort and support it provides. Badr recalled one patient’s experience that stayed with her.
“We had a member that came in without an appointment scheduled, and when brought to a room to wait, they asked to access smudging. By smudging them, some of their symptoms were alleviated. They shared after the fact that receiving that medicine took the edge off for them and helped them to stay long enough to receive the care they needed.”
As Lu’ma Medical Centre and the newly opened Indigicare Medicines Pharmacy continue to grow, they demonstrate how Indigenous-led health care can support wellness, strengthen identity, and advance traditional medicine through ceremony. This trauma-informed care, grounded in culture, is what Members can expect when seeking their care.
Please note: At this time, the Lu’ma Medical Centre’s patient panel is at capacity and the waitlist is closed. The Indigicare Medicines Pharmacy is currently only open to current Members of Lu’ma. Visit the link here for more information.