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Cree health board installs traditional shaptuaan at Chisasibi hospital

In an effort to help long-term and elderly patients connect with their culture, the Cree Board of Health and Social Services installed a traditional shaptuaan made of wood poles and canvas just outside the Chisasibi hospital.

Traditional structure constructed as part of health board's efforts to implement TRC recommendations

Terrence Duff · CBC News ·
The inside of the shaptuaan. The traditional Cree structure is meant to be a place to help long-term and elderly patients connect with their culture. (Virginie Lubino/CBHSSJB)
In an effort to help long-term and elderly patients connect with their culture, the Cree Board of Health and Social Services installed a traditional shaptuaan* made of wood poles and canvas just outside the Chisasibi hospital.
The shaptuaan is tied together. The structure has already proven a hit with elders and patients. 'When we brought them in the shaptuaan, we could see immediately their smiles,' said a hospital coordinator. (Virginie Lubino/CBHSSJB)

Patients staying at the only in-patient hospital in Eeyou Istchee can spend time in the shaptuaan to hear stories, connect with other patients, or enjoy traditional foods. 

"When we brought them in the shaptuaan, we could see immediately their smiles," said Gary Chewanish, coordinator of administrative services at the Chisasibi hospital, after the official inauguration on Aug. 29.

The shaptuaan floor is covered on one side with spruce boughs, with wheelchair access on the other side, and a cooking pit in the middle for preparing wild game. 

Spruce boughs are laid during the construction of the shaptuaan. (Virginie Lubino/CBHSSJB)

It is also intended to be a place where non-Cree employees of the health board can familiarize themselves with the local culture.

It's part of the health board's efforts to implement the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's recommendations concerning Indigenous healing practices and cultural competency for health care workers.

"Three people [at the inauguration] told stories about the residential school era," said Chewanish. "And the non-Indigenous people who were there were very happy to hear about Cree culture."

The Chisasibi hospital houses about 40 patients from the James Bay area of Quebec.

*Note: There are multiple accepted spellings of the word "shaptuaan" — shaputuan, sabtuan, shaptuan, shaputuan and shaapuhtiwaan are also commonly used. 
The shell of the shaptuaan is made of wood poles and canvas. The structure holds spruce boughs and a cooking pit for preparing wild game. (Virginie Lubino/CBHSSJB)
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