BC Emergency Health Services (BCEHS) and Tla’amin Nation celebrated the gifting of the name qathet (working together) to Station 229, formerly known as Station 229 Powell River.
According to a media release from BCEHS, the renaming of the station to Station 229 qathet reflects a shared commitment of BCEHS and Tla’amin to further cultural safety.
“We are honoured to be gifted the name, qathet,” stated Leanne Heppell, executive vice-president and chief ambulance officer, BCEHS. “This is an important step in the process of reconciliation and creating a workplace and a patient care environment that is anti-racist, culturally safe and inclusive.”
Tla’amin hegus John Hackett said first responders show up during some of the hardest moments in the lives of Tla’amin families, so trust is paramount.
“The steps that BC Emergency Health Services is taking to increase cultural safety—such as cross-cultural training—are meaningful and are being heard and felt in our community,” stated Hackett. “Removing the harmful name Powell from the ambulance station is yet another important step toward moving our relationship forward in a good way.”
At Station 229 qathet, BCEHS employees and senior leaders, and members of the Tla’amin legislative assembly gathered for the renaming ceremony on April 16.
Elder Randolph Timothy Sr. shared the opening blessing, and culture and heritage manager Drew Blaney (kespahl) shared the blessing of the floor song. Timothy Sr. and elder Cindy Pallen performed a cedar brushing ceremony to prepare the station to receive its new name. Tla’amin recognized BCEHS employees for their service to the community and shared the healing song. A new station sign was then unveiled.
"This renaming is not just an honour; it is a call to act in alignment with Indigenous values and teachings,” stated Sheree Haydu, BCEHS Clinical Operations Manager, Sunshine Coast. “I view this renaming as ʔiʔ t̓imɛxʷ, good medicine, for our station and community.”
Tla’amin legislator Callum Galligos stated that emergency services show up on the hardest days of people’s lives and a lot can be lost in translation in these moments.
“Whether it’s a medical crisis, an accidental overdose or a traumatic loss, trust is everything, and it’s hard to build trust in the midst of crisis; it’s best if it’s already there,” stated Galligos. “BC Ambulances’ commitment to cultural safety, to cross cultural training, to getting to know our first responders outside the crisis zone, means a lot.”
Galligos added that cultural safety isn’t a nice-to-have. It’s essential to care.
“We are here today because as partners we have managed to find the good in hard places,” stated Galligos. “We all know and feel that this journey to this renaming began in a tough moment. Complaints, racism and community concern is how this conversation started.”
The release stated that BCEHS is committed to eradicating Indigenous-specific racism and embedding cultural safety and humility across all areas of the organization. Grounded in Indigenous values, laws, and ways of knowing, this commitment is carried forward in partnership with the Indigenous Health Program, which works alongside First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples to ensure equitable access to emergency care and culturally relevant services, according to the release.
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