BCHPCA would like to share the following resources developed by VirtualHospice.ca.

“Quality palliative care helps you honour your culture, spirituality and traditions. At LivingMyCulture.ca, people from various cultures share their stories and wisdom about living with serious illness, end of life and grief to support others.”


Subject: New resource developed by Indigenous Peoples encourages crucial conversations

Announced June 26, 2020

Dear Colleagues, 

We are pleased to launch Coming full circle: Planning for your care a booklet to ensure Indigenous Peoples’ choices for their future healthcare are known and respected. It assists Indigenous Peoples in planning for and having discussions about their care should they become seriously ill or if they can no longer speak for themselves. Developed by Indigenous Peoples for Indigenous Peoples, the booklet includes:

  • A series of questions to guide reflection on values, beliefs and wishes for future healthcare;
  • Considerations for identifying a substitute decision maker(s);
  • Conversations starters to make wishes known to families and healthcare providers; and
  • Wisdom from Elders and Knowledge Carriers.  

Quality palliative care respects people’s culture, traditions and spirituality. We honour the Elders’ Circle, which shared the wisdom of First Nations, Inuit and Métis People to create this booklet. Direct quotes from the Elders are included throughout the booklet. We are grateful to Ted Norris, Project Manager; Holly Prince, Project Lead and Writer; and the National Advisory Committee for addressing a national gap with such a practical, compelling guide. Funding for this project was provided by the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer. 

Attached please find:                      

·       Coming full circle: Planning for your care PDF (large print version available)

·       Coming full circle postcard – to order free printed copies please email info@virtualhospice.ca

·       Communication products for you to use

·       List of the Elders’ Circle, National Advisory Committee and development team

Coming full circle: Planning for your care is available as a downloadable PDF that can be printed and completed as a hard copy or completed online and saved as an electronic file that can be updated. It can be accessed through www.LivingMyCulture.ca, and selecting either First Nations, Inuit or Métis cultures.

COVID-19 underscores the importance of planning for unexpected health emergencies. We encourage you to forward this email to your colleagues and share this resource with the individuals and families you care for.