In Memoriam: Elder Aaron Therriault

We send our deepest condolences to Elder Aaron Therriault’s family, friends, his community of Aroland First Nation, and all those affected by this loss as our dear friend makes his way to the Spirit World.

Elder Aaron, also known by his Anishinaabe name Animkii-gaabowii (Thunder Spirit), was a respected Elder who called Thunder Bay home since 1983. His dedication to his culture, language, and tradition, shared through education, song, and storytelling, made him a deeply valued presence in our community and at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre (TBRHSC).

He could often be seen around the Hospital, smiling and carrying his drum. He participated in many Hospital initiatives and his positive presence and guidance helped to move the work forward.

Elder Aaron provided support and guidance to patients alongside our Spiritual Care team. He sat with many patients at the end of their lives, helping them begin their journey to the Spirit World. The compassion he showed brought comfort to both patients and their families.

Elder Aaron served as an Elder for the Repairing the Sacred Circle: An Indigenous Health Primer training, designed by our partners N’Doo’owe Binesi at St. Joseph’s Care Group, and delivered by TBRHSC. Through his teachings and guidance, he supported staff in developing stronger cultural safety skills and a deeper understanding of Indigenous health. He helped shift attitudes and bring people together in a more meaningful way.

His voice was central to TBRHSC’s annual Truth and Reconciliation Report, which highlights the Hospital’s efforts to address the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s 94 Calls to Action. His reflections, grounded in the teachings of the Medicine Wheel and the spirit of the Sacred Circle, helped shape the Hospital’s approach to reconciliation and the path forward.

The greatest gifts he gave us were the Anishinaabe names he offered through ceremony, laying a foundation to move the work forward in a good way. He gifted the Indigenous Collaboration, Equity and Inclusion portfolio’s Indigenous departments the name Miskwaa Biidaaban meaning ‘Red Dawn’, and the youth-focused career experience the name Kinomagai Akosii-agamong Anokiiwin, meaning ‘Teaching Hospital, Career or Work.’

These were the first traditional names gifted to Indigenous Collaboration, Equity and Inclusion, and the significance of that moment will not be forgotten. Elder Aaron saw the dedication to this work as a sign of compassion and love, and a commitment to building respect and common ground. He shared that people heal through love, through culture, and through the support of those who carry the teachings. He saw opportunities to grow and do things better. He hoped we would learn from one another, and that by walking this path together, we would find a better way forward for patients, families and our staff.

Elder Aaron’s spirit lives on in the names he gave us and the teachings he shared. Everyone who had the privilege of working alongside him was touched by his knowledge, generosity, and belief in what we were doing and why it mattered. We give thanks for a life of service and will remember him fondly for his tremendous contributions to the well-being of the growth of our Hospital. We are grateful. We will carry his teachings forward.