Recently, Yukon Hospitals renamed all inpatient units at Whitehorse General Hospital (WGH), moving away from clinical terminology and toward names grounded in First Nations culture, nature, and healing. The initiative began with the mental health unit, now known as the Fireweed Unit. It is part of Yukon Hospitals commitment to Truth & Reconciliation, Decolonization & Indigenization.
“Fireweed symbolizes new growth and resilience,” says Donna Neyando, who works with the First Nations Health Programs (FNHP) at Yukon Hospitals and participated in the process of renaming the units. “It felt like the right place to begin.”
For Donna, a member of the Teetl’it Gwich’in First Nation from Fort McPherson, her knowledge stems from a close connection with the land. She grew up at her family’s bush camp alongside her mother, aunties, uncles, siblings, and grandparents, learning through fishing, hunting, trapping, and harvesting berries and traditional medicines.
“I remember my grandmother tanning caribou hides—the smells, the sounds, the processes of making dry meat and dry fish,” she says. “I always say that I was one of the last generations to experience that full way of life. After that, people went out for weekends or cultural camps, but not in the same way.”
Those early teachings shaped how Donna approached the project. “At first, it was just an idea, and then it just started growing,” she says. Raised close to nature, plants were part of her everyday life. “My grandmother taught us what plants were used medicinally and for what purpose. I could relate to naming these units through plants.”
Working with FNHP colleagues, Donna helped select names drawn from flowers and medicinal plants important to First Nations in the Yukon. Each inpatient area now carries a name rooted in meaning and care:
- Fireweed for the mental health unit – representing new growth and resilience
- Blue Bells for intensive care – representing healing, respiratory relief, and strength
- Dandelion for the medical unit – representing brightness, growth, and strength
- Yarrow for the surgical unit – representing pain control, healing, and love
- Wild Rose for maternity - representing pure love, hopefulness, and blessings for childbirth
- Goldenrod for the Thomson Centre – representing strength, calm, and protection
“All of these plants have medicinal value,” Donna explains. “Many are used in teas, and when we chose each plant, we also included its traditional uses alongside it.”
For example, wild rose, chosen for maternity, carries deep symbolism.
“Wild rose carries blessings for childbearing and children,” Donna says. “Rose hip tea is often suggested as labour begins. It promotes trust, hopefulness, and being open-hearted. It’s a symbol of pure love.”
Myra Iles is a representative of Little Salmon Carmacks First Nation on the Yukon Hospitals Board of Trustees. Myra was also part of the committee that helped pick the new inpatient unit names.
“Somehow, my heart has always been connected deeply to nature - perhaps because it’s quiet wisdom gives us a sense of belonging, a sense of calm, quiet and safety,” says Myra.
But the project extended beyond naming. FNHP also reimagined what the physical spaces could feel like, integrating First Nations art to create warmth and belonging. Tlingit artist, Mary Blahitka, beaded each of the selected flowers by hand. Artist Larissa Stanley then digitized the beadwork, which will be enlarged and printed onto feature walls, paired with carefully chosen colours.
Artwork is now on display at the Wild Rose Maternity Until. Work continues to get art installed in the other units.
“Skillful and beautiful beadwork on the walls of WGH helps us reach that piece of nature which always gives back with abundance! It is like a quiet conversation with our Ancestors that reminds us of who we are, why we matter and the interconnected relationships many seek,” says Myra. “This art form is not just a decoration on the wall - natures beauty has a way of reaching us so deeply it draws us in and speaks its own language of comfort - the calmness and wholesome beauty of it can be transformative no matter where we cast our gaze upon it.”
For Donna, seeing the digitized beadwork on the walls is deeply emotional.
“Beading is a process, step by step, but it’s also part of our history,” she says. “I was taught these skills when I was very young. To see that artwork on the walls, I hope people feel pride if they can relate to what they’re seeing,” she says.
She believes the changes will benefit not only patients, but staff as well. “I think it’s going to give warmth to patients—and to staff, too. To see this artwork every day, to pass it in the hallways.”
Correction: An earlier version of this story incorrectly identified Myra Iles as a member of the Little Salmon Carmarks First Nation. In fact, she is appointed as a representative for Little Salmon Carmacks First Nation on the hospital's Board of Trustees."
Correction: An earlier version of this story referred to Donna Neyando as a Gwich’in Elder from Fort McPherson. In fact, she is a member of the Teetl’it Gwich’in First Nation from Fort McPherson.