Health Sciences North forms Indigenous Health Advisory Council
Health advocates at Health Sciences North in Sudbury are looking for volunteers to help them improve health outcomes for Indigenous patients.
They're looking to set up an Indigenous Health Advisory Council that will provide guidance and advice on evaluating current service gaps.
The aim is to address and prioritize more effective methods of delivering services to Indigenous peoples.
"So HSN has endeavoured in their strategic plan to ensure that they're providing culturally safe, relevant services to Indigenous people," said Deanna Jones-Keeshig, director of Indigenous health.
"It's quite a big region, we have people that come from many different communities to Health Sciences North for services, so that's what we're doing."
Jones-Keeshig said it’s important for the council to be led by Indigenous people.
“Indigenous people know what's needed to make a difference in health," she said.
Improving the health outcomes for Indigenous people has been at the front of a national discussion after seeing several high-profile failures across the country.
When asked if this was overdue, Keeshig-Jones said she was excited to see HSN move in this direction.
"This is exciting, yes, and this needs to happen -- and it needs to happen not only at HSN but at all hospitals," she said.
"When we look at holistic health, essentially it's comprehensive, it's integrated, there's a continuum of care. HSN is one piece of that continuum. Primary prevention, promotion, all of that needs to be held at Indigenous levels of leadership in their organizations, in communities.”
“We will work in partnership with them, so when Indigenous people come to HSN, what we're doing at that point of the continuum, still needs to be in alignment with what is available to them in their communities, organizations that are also fostering the same approaches,” Keeshig-Jones added.
“So we want to be consistent in that approach.”
The idea has the support of the N'Swakamok Native Friendship Centre, which already works in conjunction with HSN.
"I think it's been a long time coming and that it's finally here and being here and implemented," said health and wellness coordinator Autumn Lewis.
“It's definitely a step in the right direction to creating safer spaces for our community members who are utilizing the services at Health Sciences North.”
Lewis said Indigenous health care is a complex issue and having little steps come together to address issues individually in a holistic manner will help Indigenous people to feel safer in accessing healthcare.
"We work closely with HSN, especially Indigenous patient navigators at Health Sciences North, just to kind of help meet the needs of community members who are accessing services at HSN,” she said.
“Whether that's providing support visits, networking with community agencies so they have better access to services.”
Elizabeth Trudeau works as a translator with the health and wellness at N'Swakamok.
"We do need the help, we need to give community members the help they need,” Trudeau said.
“The translation that we do, there's some that will want translation done for them and that's where I go in and help.”
Trudeau said helping with translation services goes along way toward helping patients feel more comfortable.
The idea also has the support of the Anishinabek Nation Grand Council Chief Reg Niganobe.
"The inclusion and elevation of Indigenous voices in health care is important and it’s a positive step in the right direction in creating the advisory council,” Niganobe said.
“My hope is that this is a starting point which progresses to having Indigenous peoples direct inclusion in decision making and policy making tables at Health Sciences North."
Interested parties have until Jan. 20 to apply.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Former homicide detective explains how police will investigate shooting outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion
Footage from dozens of security cameras in the area of Drake’s Bridle Path mansion could be the key to identifying the suspect responsible for shooting and seriously injuring a security guard outside the rapper’s sprawling home early Tuesday morning, a former Toronto homicide detective says.
RCMP not investigating possible foreign interference cases related to Chiu, Dong: Duheme
Canada's federal police force is not investigating any possible instances of foreign interference in the cases of former Conservative MP Kenny Chiu and Liberal-turned-Independent MP Han Dong, RCMP Commissioner Mike Duheme says.
Stormy Daniels describes meeting Trump during occasionally graphic testimony in hush money trial
Stormy Daniels took the witness stand Tuesday at Donald Trump's hush money trial, describing for jurors a sexual encounter the porn actor says she had with him in 2006 that resulted in her being paid off to keep silent during the presidential race 10 years later.
Federal government grants B.C.'s request to recriminalize hard drugs in public spaces
The federal government is granting British Columbia's request to recriminalize hard drugs in public spaces, nearly two weeks after the province asked to end its pilot project early over concerns of public drug use.
Bye-bye bag fee: Calgary repeals single-use bylaw
A Calgary bylaw requiring businesses to charge a minimum bag fee and only provide single-use items when requested has officially been tossed.
CFL suspends Argos QB Chad Kelly at least nine games following investigation
The CFL suspended Toronto Argonauts quarterback Chad Kelly for at least nine regular-season games Tuesday following its investigation into a lawsuit filed by a former strength-and-conditioning coach against both the player and club.
Boy Scouts of America changing name for first time in 114 years, aiming for inclusivity
The Boy Scouts of America is changing its name for the first time in its 114-year history and will become Scouting America. It's a significant shift as the organization emerges from bankruptcy following a flood of sexual abuse claims and seeks to focus on inclusion.
opinion Tom Mulcair: Trudeau's handling of Poilievre's 'wacko' House turfing a clear sign of Liberal desperation
When Speaker Greg Fergus tossed out Pierre Poilievre from the House last week, "those of us who have experience as parliamentarians simply couldn't believe our eyes," writes former NDP leader Tom Mulcair in his column for CTVNews.ca
MPs agree Canadian gov't should improve new disability benefit
The federal government needs to safeguard the incoming Canada Disability Benefit from clawbacks and do more to ensure it actually meets the stated aim of lifting people living with disabilities out of poverty, MPs from all parties agree.