Healing Hearts Through Indigenous Arts

Indigenous art and creative expression can bring people together and contribute to understanding, connection and healing.

Through Healing Hearts Through Indigenous Arts, Friends United brings Indigenous artwork into health-care, wellness and other shared spaces, creating opportunities for artists, their stories and cultural perspectives to be seen and experienced in everyday life.

Health-care and wellness settings have become an important part of this initiative, showing how Indigenous art can contribute to places where people seek care, support, reflection and connection.

Indigenous Art at St. Martha’s Regional Hospital

Friends United has brought Indigenous art into St. Martha’s Regional Hospital in Antigonish, Nova Scotia, where artworks by Indigenous artists are displayed throughout the hospital.

The collection was made possible through a collaboration between the St. Martha’s Regional Hospital Foundation and the Friends United Foundation. The artworks were donated by the Friends United Foundation and Rolf Bouman in the spirit of reconciliation and friendship with Indigenous peoples.

Displayed in hallways, waiting areas, treatment spaces and other parts of the hospital, the artworks bring Indigenous artistic expression into an environment centred on care and wellbeing. Information accompanying the collection identifies the artists and their works, helping patients, visitors and staff learn more about the people and stories behind the art.

For Friends United, the installation is a strong example of Healing Hearts Through Indigenous Arts — using art to create opportunities for reflection, understanding and connection in everyday spaces.

Indigenous Art at the Indigenous Women’s Shelter

At the suggestion of Melanie Robinson-Purdy from Wasoqopa’q First Nation, Friends United donated 20 colourful Mi’kmaq canvas prints to a new Indigenous Women’s Shelter.

The donation reflects the Friends United motto “Healing Hearts through Indigenous Arts.” The collection was intended to bring inspiration, comfort and hope into a space supporting Indigenous women and children.

The canvas prints feature artwork by Mi’kmaq artists Chelsea Brooks, David Brooks, Shianne Gould, Loretta Gould, Darren Julian, Amanda Julian and Kathy Denny.

Friends United artists Shannon Monk and Melinda Robertson also created a traditional window for the entrance hallway, adding another artistic element specifically created for the space.

The Grand Opening brought together community representatives and guests, including Melanie Robinson-Purdy, Wasoqopa’q Chief Deborah Robinson, L’nu Affairs Minister Leah Martin and L’nu Affairs Deputy Minister Joanne Munro.

Within the wider Healing Hearts Through Indigenous Arts initiative, the project is a strong example of how Indigenous art can become part of spaces centred on support, cultural identity, community and wellbeing.

Indigenous Art at Pictou County Wellness Centre

Friends United artwork is also displayed at the Pictou County Wellness Centre, bringing Indigenous art into a public space focused on health, recreation and community wellbeing.

Several canvas prints by Indigenous artists are installed throughout the facility, where they become part of the everyday environment experienced by visitors, families and community members.

Within the Healing Hearts Through Indigenous Arts initiative, the installation reflects the idea that Indigenous art can contribute to spaces that encourage connection, reflection and wellbeing.

The collection includes artwork by Friends United artists Jay Bell Redbird and Loretta Gould.

Indigenous Art at Emergency Health Services

Friends United and Emergency Health Services have developed an ongoing relationship that brings Indigenous art into paramedic stations across Nova Scotia.

Friends United donated Indigenous artwork for display at EHS bases throughout the province, extending the Healing Hearts Through Indigenous Arts initiative into spaces used every day by paramedics and emergency health-care professionals. The partnership was also featured by Global News in 2023, highlighting Indigenous art being showcased at paramedic stations across Nova Scotia.

The relationship has continued beyond the artwork installations. EHS has supported Friends United in return, including the donation of a defibrillator to the Friends United International Convention Centre, while EHS staff have also used the Centre for training and meetings.

Through this continuing relationship, Indigenous art becomes part of environments connected directly with emergency care, service and community wellbeing.

Featured by Global News: Indigenous art showcased at paramedic stations across Nova Scotia

Supporting Mental Health Through Indigenous Art

Friends United has developed an ongoing relationship with the Mental Health Foundation of Nova Scotia, connecting Indigenous art with fundraising, awareness and mental-health initiatives.

Friends United has donated Indigenous canvas prints to support the Foundation’s fundraising events, including the RBC Holiday Black Tie Gala. In 2025, six donated artworks were sold through the Gala’s silent auction, raising $12,750 in support of mental-health programs across Nova Scotia.

The relationship also extends beyond fundraising. Earlier in 2025, the Mental Health Foundation provided $25,000 in support of Friends United mental-health presentations delivered by Friends United artist Eric Schweig, including presentations at NSCC and with the RCMP.

Friends United artwork is also displayed in the Foundation’s boardroom, further extending the presence of Indigenous art into a space connected directly with mental-health advocacy and community support.

Within Healing Hearts Through Indigenous Arts, this partnership shows another way Indigenous art can contribute to wellbeing — by helping raise funds, supporting mental-health programming and creating opportunities for reflection and conversation.

Healing Hearts at Commissionaires Nova Scotia

Friends United’s relationship with Commissionaires Nova Scotia has developed into an ongoing effort to bring Indigenous art into everyday workplace environments.

In 2025, Friends United donated more than 20 Indigenous artworks for display throughout the Commissionaires Nova Scotia Bedford Head Office and district offices. The works are accompanied by plaques identifying the artists and sharing the stories behind each piece. Mi’kmaq translations of the artwork titles were also included with support from the Mi’kmaw Native Friendship Centre in Halifax.

Commissionaires described the collection as a way to share Indigenous art, culture and storytelling in the workplace while encouraging reflection, connection and reconciliation.

A prominent example is End of the Road by Mi’kmaw artist Loretta Gould. Commissioned for Commissionaires Nova Scotia, the painting was unveiled in 2025 and is now displayed in the Head Office lobby in Bedford. The work reflects themes of protection, leadership and community and has become a lasting symbol of reconciliation, respect and shared values.

Through initiatives like this, Healing Hearts Through Indigenous Arts extends beyond galleries and events and into the places where people work, meet, heal and build relationships every day.

This collaboration is also part of Friends United’s broader outreach and community connections.

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