CAMH’s senior leaders experience Sweat Lodge

Pictured above: From left, Sweat Lodge participants Holly Smith, Linda Mohri, David Cunic, Brian Edmonds, Dr. Catherine Zahn, Dr. Vicky Stergiopoulos, Damian Jankowicz, Rani Srivastava, Dr. Sanjeev Sockalingam, and Cynthia White.  Not pictured, Dr. Bruce Pollock . Cynthia and Holly facilitated the Ceremony for ELT.

It was a time to reflect, an example of the integration of Western and traditional medicine, and a tangible demonstration of the Sweat Lodge’s healing impact.

Those are just some of the thoughts shared after members of CAMH’s Executive Leadership Team participated in a Sweat Lodge Ceremony. Nine accepted the invitation from CAMH’s Reconciliation Working Group to participate, gathering in shorts and skirts on this cool morning in late October. 

“I thought it was such a blessing to even have the opportunity to experience the Sweat Lodge,” says Rani Srivastava, Chief of Nursing and Professional Practice, who noted similarities to her own Hindu heritage. “I’m very interested in health and healing and especially different cultural ways of being. We in Western society don’t always understand the impact of culture and cultural identity.”

CAMH became the first Ontario hospital to operate a Sweat Lodge for traditional Indigenous healing and teachings in June 2016. The Sweat Lodge continues to be used to help people recover from mental illness and addictions, a healing journey that often includes traditional teachings as well as all the resources of the hospital.

“Particularly for First Nations, Inuit and Métis patients, this offers another option. It’s not the only way but it gives them a way to connect with who they are,” Srivastava says. “I love where our field is going, where we are starting to have the integration of Western and traditional medicine. Through the work we’re doing on cultural competence, we’re learning there are so many more options than we thought possible.”

The group participated in the full scope of the ceremony, smudging in the Ceremony Grounds, offering tobacco and food to the Sacred Fire, and being brushed with the eagle feather for blessing. They received guidance in letting go of their ruminations, and were encouraged to address the thoughts that were heavy in their hearts and spirit. Brian Edmonds, Vice-President, Corporate Services and CFO, welcomed the ceremony’s personal reflection component.

“I hadn’t appreciated ahead of time that it would be so completely dark, but that really gave me an opportunity to reflect. We so rarely get time for those self-reflections,” he said. “Even though I was in there with other people, it still felt like a very personal process and that personal element is really important.”

Dr. Catherine Zahn, President and CEO, echoed the importance of having access to traditional ways of healing.

“It’s truly a gift to have the Ceremony Grounds at CAMH and to have such a strong team to lead the ceremonies and practices,” Dr. Zahn said. “Recovery is unique to each individual, and spaces like this are an important part of a CAMH commitment to care that embraces culturally guided opportunities that support the journey.”