Star blanket gifted to Jim Pattison’s Children’s Hospital

Chief Mark Arcand proudly smiled as he looked down the main corridor of the Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital, where a purple, blue and yellow star blanket now hangs on the wall.

The star blanket was made using the hospital’s signature colours.

The Saskatoon Tribal Council gifted the star blanket to the hospital to honour their collaboration.

“I don’t think it’s called a donation,” said Arcand. “I think it’s a symbol of relationship building. It’s a symbol of partnership.”

This is the first official collaboration between a children’s hospital and an Indigenous organization in the country.

Arcand said he wants to lead by example, and encourage other Indigenous groups and hospitals to form similar connections.

“This is going to help other hospitals across Canada open the door to encourage that partnership and that relationship,” said Arcand.

“To be the first is always a good thing. It’s always leading by example.”

In partnership with Synergy8, the Saskatoon Tribal Council helped fundraise for a new portable MRI machine for the hospital.

Arcand also took part in a traditional pipe ceremony in the hospital prior to the unveiling of the star blanket.

“The star blanket ceremony and the pipe ceremony that we attended is truly an honour,” said Brynn Boback-Lane, the president and CEO of the Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital.

“We are honoured and looking forward to learning more about affirming our relationship with our ancestors with this place from Treaty 6 territory and throughout Saskatchewan.”

The children’s hospital’s collaboration with the tribal council has been sending a mobile health bus into Saskatoon Tribal Council communities.

The bus has a paramedic, dental care workers and mental health officials on board. The bus travels to seven Indigenous communities five days a week.

“It’s about helping everybody. It’s about working together,” said Arcand.