The new Dawson Creek and District Hospital will be trilingual. The health authority said they want to “create a welcoming environment and respectful environment for Indigenous patients, families, visitors, and staff.”
Signs with directions at the new hospital will be in English, Dane-zaa, and Cree, Northern Health explained in its announcement.
“In collaboration with the Treaty 8 First Nations, we explored how the new hospital could reflect and honour the cultural heritage of the Indigenous peoples whose traditional territories it resides on,” said Northern Health.
Dane-zaa is sometimes called Beaver language. It is one of the traditional languages in Treaty 8 land. It is spoken by the Doig River, Halfway River, and Prophet River First Nations.
The Saulteau First Nations are a combined group of Beaver, Cree, and Saulteau people, according to the Treaty 8 Tribal Association. Members of the group blessed the hospital’s land before construction began and may speak any of the three languages. Cree and Dane-zaa are also both spoken by the West Moberly First Nations, who are located 134 kilometres outside of the city.
Northern Health said including these groups and integrating the languages into signage and digital direction kiosks will ensure the space is inclusive for its visitors.
“One of the core values of the Dawson Creek (and) District Hospital Replacement project is providing culturally safe care to all who use the new facility,” the health authority continued.
The hospital’s lobby will have celebration of the diverse languages spoken in the Peace. Northern Health said it will remind patients of its “commitment to inclusion, reconciliation, and cultural safety.”
These moves also answer a call from the federal government’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission, who said healthcare services should prioritize culturally safe care and Indigenous healing practices.
“By integrating Indigenous languages into the hospital environment, we are taking a meaningful step toward reconciliation – acknowledging the importance of language in identity, healing, and cultural continuity,” explained Northern Health.
Construction began on the new healthcare facility in Dawson Creek last July and is expected to be completed next year. Though, Northern Health said it won’t be operational until spring of 2027.
