KATERI MEMORIAL HOSPITAL CENTRE TEHSAKOTITSÉN:THA OUR HISTORY THROUGH THE EYES OF KAHNAWA’KEHRÓ:NON This book, its stories, memories and the legacy of pride it encompasses, is dedicated to present, past and future doctors, nurses, staff, and patients of the Kateri Memorial Hospital Centre. May the next hundred years be just as grand! ~ Lori Niioieren Jacobs Wendy Skye- Candida Rice-Jacobs Caireen Cross Dr. Williams Dr. Montour Delaronde Some of our own nurses and doctors Valerie Diabo Cecelia Curotte Heather Jacobs-Whyte Charlotte Dolly Diabo Barnes Table of Contents Greetings from Executive Director / Time .................................................................... 2 Preface ........................................................................................................................... 3 When We Talked to the Devil ...................................................................................... 4 History of Kateri Memorial Hospital Centre (1905-2005) ..................................... 8-35 Articles Madame Perronno ....................................................................................................... 36 The Wharf and the Old Grand Trunk Hotel ................................................................ 37 Kateri Tekakwitha / Indian Agent Report 1905 .......................................................... 38 Bingo Makes a Hospital Live ..................................................................................... 40 Reflections of the Big House ...................................................................................... 42 The Hospital Key ........................................................................................................ 43 Working at Kateri in the Early Days ........................................................................... 44 Kahnawake’s First Registered Nurse .......................................................................... 45 June Kaherine Delisle ................................................................................................. 46 The Hospital in 50s and 60s and Tombolas ................................................................ 47 Special Places in My Heart ......................................................................................... 48 Carol Diabo Beauvais ................................................................................................. 49 Kitchen Crew in the Early Days / Kitchen Memories ................................................ 50 History of Rehabilitation Services .............................................................................. 52 History of the Activity and Day Center ...................................................................... 54 Fire Safety at the Old KMHC ..................................................................................... 56 The Last Baby Born at Kateri ..................................................................................... 58 1984 Hospital Agreement ........................................................................................... 59 CHU Baby Clinic ........................................................................................................ 62 Reflections of My Time at KMHC.............................................................................. 63 KMHC Construction Project ....................................................................................... 64 A Feather in His Cap ................................................................................................... 66 Memories of 1990 ....................................................................................................... 68 MCK Suspends Board of Directors & Executive Director ......................................... 69 Responsibility and Mohawk Experience .................................................................... 70 History of Social Services at KMHC .......................................................................... 71 Diabetes Education Program ....................................................................................... 72 Growing Up Together ................................................................................................. 74 Doctors Who Worked at KMHC ................................................................................. 76 First Recorded Statistics ............................................................................................. 78 In Memory .................................................................................................................. 79 Credits ................................................................................................ Inside back cover Our History Through the Eyes of Kahnawa’kehró:non Greetings From the Executive Director t is with great pleasure that we book is an integral part of that present this compilation of celebration. It is intended to honor Istories, anecdotes, historical those who came before us and data, photographs, etc. in worked so hard to maintain health commemoration of the 100th care services in this community anniversary of the Kateri Memorial when times were tough and Hospital Centre. One hundred financial resources were scarce years of service to the community or even non-existent. It is also is truly a monumental occasion that intended to validate the efforts and must be celebrated to the fullest commitment of the many people extent. This commemorative that continue the work today. We Susan Horne Time also hope that our messages will By June Delisle be inspirational to those who will continue on into the future. Time (ah time) my favourite subject. If one is dedicated to a cause he or she This book would not have been sincerely believes in, one has time. possible without the participation of many. We would like to extend Time is not only running back and forth on two logs; a sincere expression of thanks to time is not watching the clock. the community members who took Time to me is taking time to think things out to the time to share their stories, and arrive at the best solution. to the past and present employees who were so enthusiastic to Time is even working through lunch research the past and write so breaks when necessary; eloquently. We would especially Time is to play, like to thank a very special Time is to pray, individual, Lori Jacobs (of the Time is to laugh, KMHC Board of Directors), who Time is to give, came forward voluntarily to pull Time is to listen, this whole initiative together. June Delisle Time is to love and be loved, Time is a precious gift. We hope you enjoy! And above all, time is our friend – it is mine. Susan Horne You and I together have time! Executive Director Source: An excerpt from June Delisle’s open letter to Kateri Memorial Hospital Kahnawake in summer 1976 titled: TO THE PEOPLE OF Centre CAUGHNAWAGA, MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS. 2 KMHC Tehsakotitsén:tha 1905 - 2005 Our History Through the Eyes of Kahnawa’kehró:non Preface - The Glue That Binds The Fabric of Our Lives ahnawake has always had a proud past, a That history was written history of power, resilience and determination. by Myrtle Bush, who laid KIn times of strife or turmoil, the people the foundation of historical banned together to ensure that the spirit of the facts upon which this book collective and the best interests of the people were was based. Nia:wen kowa at the forefront of decision-making. Our ancestors to Myrtle for her research demonstrated these noble qualities throughout prowess and for making my history, especially in the last century. job that much easier. I’m proud and honored to have had the opportunity M y w o r k b e g a n b y to work on this compilation of Kateri’s beginnings researching back to January Lori Niioieren Jacobs and evolution. The history of how the hospital 1982, leading up to the came to be, the struggles of its administrators and destruction of the old hospital, the construction of workers, and the sometimes strained relationships the new, and culminating with present day 2005. with the governments make for an interesting read. However, the real stories lie beneath the surface, This book, its stories, memories and the legacy of from the mouths and hearts of the people who lived pride it encompasses, is dedicated to present, past that history, through their own eyes. I was awed and future doctors, nurses, staff, and patients of the and humbled by the succinct recollections of our Kateri Memorial Hospital Centre. May the next interviewees and different writing styles of our many hundred years be just as grand! contributors. I can’t take all the credit for the research. In December In closing, I’d especially like to acknowledge the 1981, an informational booklet on the history of memory of my father, Ernie Karonhiarakwen “Aieh” the hospital and the need for a new hospital was Jacobs, who spent his last days at Kateri and passed developed and distributed to Kahnawa’kehró:non. into the spirit world on August 31st, 1996 from complications of diabetes. My admiration for his untiring drive, spunk and tenacious spirit in life became the inspiration for this book. I hope the next few pages will stir up as many pleasurable hospital memories for you as it did for me as I put it together. These stories are the glue that binds the fabric of our lives together as proud Kanien’kehaka people. Respectfully submitted, Lori Niioieren Jacobs The Kateri hospital, taken from the Wharf in the first half of the 20th century. (Photo credit