Meet Angela Parisian, Indigenous care liaison, Grey Nuns Community Hospital

When Angela Parisian stepped into her role as the Indigenous care liaison (ICL) at the Grey Nuns Community Hospital this past May, she was hopeful for a positive new beginning for the site. Her presence represented more than just a dedicated ICL at the Grey Nuns — it signified Covenant Health’s commitment to pursuing truth and reconciliation and to providing culturally sensitive care to all patients.

“Throughout Canada’s history, collaboration between Indigenous Peoples and non-Indigenous Peoples has been discouraging. Our voice was being heard but not considered in all the ways where it would be helpful to our Nations. But it’s being included now, here at Covenant Health,” Angela says.

The ICL at the Grey Nuns hospital plays a critical part in supporting Indigenous patients by addressing their cultural and spiritual needs. This work includes organizing ceremonies and facilitating the integration of Indigenous medicines into Western healthcare practices. The ICL also educates staff about Indigenous culture and provides guidance about culturally sensitive care. Through collaboration with healthcare teams, the ICL ensures Indigenous patients feel seen, supported and respected while also advocating for inclusive spaces within the hospital.

Before Angela arrived at the Grey Nuns hospital, the ICL position had been vacant for some time. During the absence of a permanent ICL at the site, Valerie Courchene, ICL at the Misericordia Community Hospital, provided support to Indigenous patients at the Grey Nuns, while Lyn Beddoes, manager, spiritual care, seniors (urban and rural), advocated for a full-time ICL position there.

Lyn is thrilled to have Angela onboard. “She is very collaborative, creative and grounded in who she is,” Lyn says. “She always has a positive, friendly approach…she’s absolutely lovely.”

Angela’s journey to her role as an ICL is rooted in her lifelong commitment to community work. Growing up in Winnipeg, she was immersed in Indigenous cultural education, traveling with her family to share their traditions. In her young adulthood, she served in leadership positions with the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs Regional Youth Council and the Assembly of First Nations National Youth Council. She also brings over 15 years of professional experience working with Winnipeg Child and Family Services, providing cultural advice at schools, gatherings and conferences. Her leadership training, along with deep community engagement, has uniquely prepared her to serve Indigenous patients and make cultural connections in health care.

Angela spends her days providing patient care, which varies greatly depending on the needs of each patient, ranging from providing smudge ceremonies to simply being a comforting presence. She often acts as a cultural liaison, educating healthcare professionals about the importance of traditional practices while ensuring that patients’ cultural needs are respected.

Angela came to Edmonton to be closer to her family. With three nephews and a niece in the area, she felt her presence was needed. “They don’t have any other blood relatives from my side of the family out here, and I felt that they needed an auntie close by,” she says. After visiting, she fell in love with the city’s trails and decided to put down roots and look for a job. When she learned about Covenant Health’s mission and values, as well as its goals to transform the quality of care for Indigenous patients, she knew she could contribute meaningfully to these initiatives.

“I could see myself doing that work here at the Grey Nuns,” she says.

Angela says her role is deeply personal and inherently spiritual. “Some patients I meet have just received the toughest news of their life. It’s a humbling experience and an honour to be in that moment with them.”

Finding the right words in such heavy moments can be difficult, Angela says. “A big part of who I am is communication and finding a path forward, but what do we do when we don’t have the words? One of the things I was taught is that when we don’t have those words, we sing. Our heart, mind and spirit know, but we may not always be able to come up with the words to describe how we’re feeling. The vibration of the song we sing carries our intent from inside of us to our Creator, or God or whoever we choose to pray to.”

Angela’s approach is patient-centred and focused on providing the type of care most appropriate to the patient’s healthcare journey.

“I’ll get asked to do a consult with a patient and sing for them because that’s all they are able to take in at that time…it’s about meeting them where they’re at in that moment,” she says.

Angela believes her work is crucial for patients who are far from their families or who don’t have relatives who can easily visit. “There are many Indigenous communities here in the Edmonton area, but for various reasons, family members can’t always make the journey,” she says. She fills this gap by becoming what she describes as an adopted relative, offering spiritual care and a sense of community to those who need it most.

While she has generally felt welcomed at the hospital, Angela recalls a doctor’s comments that showed her the impact her presence is having on staff and patients alike. “He said, ‘Angela, seeing you every day, with all the colours of your skirts and the different parts of your culture that we never got to see before, is such a beautiful part of our hospital. It’s so nice to have you around.’”

Hearing such appreciation was new for her, she says. “It’s a humbling experience. Sometimes, it’s hard not to get emotional when I hear how much this role was needed.”

Angela says her work at the Grey Nuns hospital is not just a job; it’s a calling. “What I do is more than just being present. I’m able to help patients and care teams work with both Indigenous cultural practices and Western medicinal practices. It’s about helping people reconnect with who they are, and that’s a powerful thing.

“Every day, I see the difference it makes when people feel seen and heard in their full identity. That’s the kind of quality care everyone deserves.”