Ayden’s Room: Bringing reconciliation to Shellbrook

Esther Badger, Ayden’s grandmother, was at the centre when the family wanted to have the boy smudged – a form of closure in her culture – when “confusion, discussion and anger” over the ceremony followed.

The officers and staff told members of the Badger family they were allowed to smudge in the hospital’s chapel, but not with Ayden according to his grandmother.

“We were in the hallway telling them we need to do this,” Esther said, her voice breaking with emotion.

She explained a nurse and an RCMP officer followed the family as they took Ayden to smudge, insisting the baby be left behind because the boys passing was under investigation.

Eventually, Ayden was taken to be smudged – however it was done against the orders of staff and police.

Esther said everyone involved in the situation “panicked,” but they were all doing their respective jobs as they knew best. She said the RCMP and staff members have since apologized for their actions last February.

Prior to the dedication ceremony, a pipe ceremony was preformed in Ayden’s Room with members of the family and those who made the room possible. Esther said watching the pipe being raised filled her with pride.

“It really made you feel… the way Ayden wants us to feel, proud of our nation, proud of culture,” Esther said. “I felt like I was floating.”

Ayden’s mother Melanie Badger and father Matt Matheson were in attendance for both ceremonies at the PIHC.

Melanie said the events on both Feb. 20, 2016 left her in disbelief.

“It was just like a dream, I just never accepted it,” Melanie said. “Even to this day, its still so unbelievable. One day I’ll be fine and the next I just get hit with it all over again… it’s very hard.”

Ayden’s mother said she’s very proud of what he was able to accomplish in his eight weeks and two days of life.

“This room opening in his name, I’m still just trying to wrap my head around it. It’s unbelievable,” Melanie said. “It means a lot …It gives me comfort knowing that someone can use this room and not feel the way my family did that day.”

After the ceremony, Melanie was honoured with a star-blanket.

“This is about truth and reconciliation”

Following the incident on Feb. 20 2016, the Special Investigations Unit from the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations (FSIN) was contacted to address the need for a room like Ayden’s Room at the PIHC.

“It was a time of anger, it was a time of hurt, it was a time of horrific grief,” FSIN Vice Chief Kimberly Jonathan said. “Here we are today, we’ve moved forward, we’ve had those hard discussions we’ve needed to have, and we’re here.”

The FSIN, and departments from the FSIN contributed pieces of artwork which will be hung on the walls of Ayden’s Room.

Mistawasis Chief Daryl Watson was present for the opening of Ayden’s Room – he said the new ceremony room is a step in the right direction.

“This is all about truth and reconciliation,” Watson said. “With the guidance of grandfathers who we believe in as first nations people, the guidance of churches, I think the whole issue of reconciliation is going to happen in a positive way.”

Bryan.Eneas@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @BryanEneas

by Bryan Eneas

Ayden’s Room: Bringing reconciliation to Shellbrook

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