This initiative is focused on getting a better, and deeper understanding of Anishinaabe history and culture, learning about traditional perspectives and distinct challenges experienced by the First Nations in our area.

Funds will be specifically used to develop Anishinaabe Cultural Competency and Culturally Safe Care training programs, which would be delivered to all Lake of the Woods District Hospital (LWDH) and KCA employees. Cultural training and learning opportunities will happen as part of new hire orientation process and on an ongoing basis throughout an employee’s career to support the progressive development of cultural competency. Additionally, the hope is to eventually expand this work out to other organizations within the health care sector.

Indigenous communities and peoples have long advocated for better health care that encompasses traditional approaches and culturally centered care, and by taking the lead and creating better opportunities for cultural competency and safety training, it allows us to work towards the overall goal of health transformation and creating equity in these spaces. Indigenous communities have unique healthcare needs that need to be acknowledged, and we cannot move forward with the way the current system is and expect positive impactful change.

Work like this will be accomplished with the guidance and knowledge from both elders and knowledge keepers within the community. By starting these conversations and planning at a grassroots community level, it allows for true Anishinaabe led care that is developed for and by Anishinaabe peoples.

KCA and the LWDH have a deep on-going partnership on existing projects such as the client navigators, the All Nations Health Partners, the All Nations Hospital project and this new funding will allow us to continue the expansion and development of that partnership side by side.

This funding is especially timely as we work to co-develop a new hospital. These types of training programs must be embedded into the framework and system, if we want to achieve the goal of improving health outcomes for all people in the region it serves.

The new hospital will be the first large development in the Kenora and Treaty 3 area that sees true partnership and planning with our surrounding First Nations communities and the municipality.

Ray Racette, President & CEO of Lake of the Woods District Hospital shares “We are extremely excited to work together with Kenora Chiefs Advisory on this essential project. Attention to key elements of cultural safety and humility are fundamental to creating a healthy care relationship. Significant cultural training for all our hospital and professional staff will mean bridging gaps in cultural patient care and ultimately an enhanced patient experience.”

Chief Lorraine Cobiness, Board President for Ogimaawabiitong on behalf of the Board of Directors says

“This is the type of change and work that we need to see happening in systems everywhere. We are very excited that we are able to work in a true side by side partnership with the hospital, and really begin incorporating this type of training on a larger scale. In order to strengthen and repair current and future relationships, our partners need to do the ground level work of understanding Anishinaabe peoples and culture. Doing this with the guidance and knowledge from our elders, our healers and our teachers is going to be so crucial if we want to ensure real meaningful change is happening for Anishinaabe peoples everywhere, that is more importantly Anishinaabe led.”

Media Enquiries

• Sydney McInnis – (807) 407-4282 / abbie.siroishka@kenorachiefs.org
  KCA Communications Assistant
• Abbie Siroishka – (807) 407-4282 / abbie.siroishka@kenorachiefs.org
  KCA Senior Executive Assistant and Communications Lead
• Charlene Kissick – (807) 468-9861, ext 2599 / ckissick@lwdh.on.ca
  Brand Management Lead, Lake of the Woods District Hospital

May to September has had the Planning Team in discussions with the Ministry of Health surrounding details of the Stage One proposal. These discussions have been tremendously positive and approval for the next stage is anticipated in the very near future, with Stage Two beginning this fall. While capital projects such as this are funded through the Ministry, operating funding for public hospitals in Ontario is received through Ontario Health North (formerly the LHIN – Local Health Integrated Network). In order for the Ministry to support this project, Ontario Health North would first need to review the Stage One proposal and indicate support for the programs and services proposed. We are extremely pleased to share that a letter of support for the project was recently received from this body.

The Planning Team was advised by the Province to keep details of the proposal, including recommended location confidential until discussions on Stage One have been completed. In the upcoming next stage, a second round of engagement will launch and the team of Community Project Planners (Kathy Kishiqueb, Kenora Chiefs Advisory and Charlene Kissick, Lake of the Woods District Hospital) will begin sharing greater details of the proposal publicly as the community’s support will be critical in moving forward. Proposed is a new hospital designed to meet modern hospital standards, both in service delivery, staff, and patient/family needs, as well as space requirements to achieve these standards. Bed requirements for most programs remain the same but there are an increased number of beds proposed for Mental Health & Addictions to address service gaps experienced in the region. Key service delivery model themes identified in the proposal include accessibility, functionality, efficiency, blending of Western Medicine and Traditional Healing on a new campus, and building strong partnerships for service coordination with other providers across the continuum of care.

The Steering Committee would like to acknowledge the contributions and leadership of Chief Marilyn Sinclair over the last two years, who participated on the Steering Committee as Vice Chair while serving as chief of her community. We now welcome Chief Vernon Copenace to the Vice-Chair position as he assumes his role as chief of Washagamis Bay.

The partnership between Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities is invaluable as this project moves forward, not only towards building a new hospital but also in building relationships, trust and moving reconciliation forward in our territory.

For more information on the redevelopment of Lake of the Woods District Hospital / All Nations Hospital Project, visit https://anh.lwdh.on.ca

Aakozii-agamig gadaziigamowad gebi niibin odonokiidanawaa. Bizhig enagonigewin ongizhiidonaawaa. Bizindawaawag Anishinaabeg, ga-onogiiwad, ga-wiidanogiimaawad geye.

Ganiiganiiziwad ominwendanaawaa izhiinagok owe enagonigewad, gadaziigamowad aakozi-agamig. Miigo ani-dagwaagiin magi-kiigaadeg niizho enagonigewin.

Gadaziigomowad aakozi-agamig dawiindamagewag azhinagok gakinagego.

Kathy Kishiqueb (KCA), Charlene Kissick (LWDH) wiinaawaa danwiindamagewag.

Anishinaabe nadawe’igewin imaa geye dagoba’ige.

Miigwech inigaaso ogimakaan, Marilyn Sinclair giwiisooka’ige nizho baboon. Miigwech inigaaso ogimakaan, Vernon Copenace wiidam imaa namadabi.

Miigo owe izhi-kiinwaabagegadeg gakina-awiiya gi-mino-wiijiindewad ga-aanokiidamowad aakozi-agamig midaash geshi minosig gakinagego.

To keep informed on the project, please follow the Lake of the Woods District Hospital on Facebook and visit the All Nations Hospital Project website to subscribe to receive the most up-to-date information – https://anh.lwdh.on.ca

The All Nations Hospital Project is a community project, focused not only on creating an inclusive, efficient facility staffed by compassionate and caring individuals but also on building relationships to strengthen our community. Mamoo’kandaa oshi aakoziiwigamig. Working together for our new hospital.

More Info

Charlene Kissick
Community Project Planner, All Nations Hospital Project
ckissick@lwdh.on.ca
(807) 464-1941

Cheryl O’Flaherty
VP Corporate Services & CFO / Executive Project Sponsor
Lake of the Woods District Hospital
coflaherty@lwdh.on.ca
(807) 468-9861, ext: 2265

Communications

• Working on materials for public education on ANHP purpose
• Reviewing options for Partner recognition
• Sharing partner information on ANHP social media platforms
• Developing policy for ANHP brand usage
• Encouraging public participation and learning on September 30th National Day for Truth & Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day
• ANHP branded PowerPoint and letterhead templates have been developed and are available to all working groups

Privacy & Security

• Working group’s Terms of Reference drafted and approved
• Co-chairs of the working group have been elected

Mental Health & Addictions

• In response to the Call for Proposals, ANHP supported two separate applications under different funding streams
• Future meeting scheduled to continue to plan for the vision and implementation of the work that will done by the working group

Primary Care & Specialists

• Physician sub-group will have its first meeting at the end of September to discuss primary care physician service models for ANHP area
• Meeting regarding NORTHH Practice Based Research Network occurred with various partners
• Opportunities to support ANHP with the collaborative quality improvement plan and community driven primary care research projects were explored (cancer screening research project across OHT)
• Preliminary meetings held with consultants to explore possibility of working together to create 1 – 3year strategic plan to advance and implement primary care blueprint
• Primary Care interim proposal funding for First Nations Primary care still stalled but under consideration within MOHLTC

COVID-19 Response Group

COVID-19: Temporary Housing – Vulnerable Sector

• The focus of the Kenora Waterview Housing Project is to meet people where they are at, staff are supportive and nonjudgmental, providing a housing first approach, believing people are better able to make positive life choices if they are housed
• 21 people continue to reside at the Waterview – all rooms are full
• Operational for 9 months, no one has had to leave due to eviction and there is a daily schedule each week with partner agencies who assist occupants
• Partner services/supports offered are based on occupant request and are individualized and centered on the person; services offered:
  • Harm Reduction Options
  • Access To Traditional Healing
  • Western Medicine
  • Counseling and Sharing Circles
  • Foot Care
  • Sexual Assault Education
  • Life Skills
  • Case Management
  • Education Upgrades (GED)
  • Addictions Medicine (RAAM)
  • Crafts and Recreation

COVID-19: Temporary Housing – Isolation

• As of September 20, 2021 at 12pm:
  • Clients to Date: 353
  • COVID-19 Positive Clients to Date: 71 – No change
  • # of Unique Clients to Date: 287
  • Clients Currently in Isolation: 0
  • COVID+ Clients Who are Currently in Isolation: 0

Communications

Work has begun to create a social media strategy and content sharing among all participating partners.

Digital Strategy

• Explored the feasibility, implementation timing, costing and resources needed to consolidate electronic medical records.
• Explored virtual care funding opportunities
• ANHP OHT was asked to participate on two project teams and the Digital Strategy Working Group endorsed two applicants: North York General and Hamilton Health Sciences.
• Ministry of Health has an open call until July 29 for organizations who can take existing evidence-based,provincially-endorsed clinical content (including clinical standards, protocols and guidelines) and translating it into digital tools and templates that can be embedded into frontline clinical systems in order to support improvements in care delivery.

Patient Family & Elder Advisory

• Developed recruitment plan to recruit committee members; this included: drafting application, create member matrix, establish interview questions, and approve communications plan to promote opportunity.

Mental Health & Addictions

• Established the vision of the working group for the work that will occur within the sector.
• Identified Goals and Objectives, focusing on the ideal outcomes.
• Determined Intentions for the group and how we will work together.
• Initiated conversations on defining the “problem” properly.

COVID-19 Response Group

• Vaccination rates within Northwestern Health Unit are similar to provincial rates:
  • 78.7% of those 12+ have at least 1 dose (provincially 79.7%)
  • 66.5% of those 12+ have 2 doses (provincially 66.2%
• Long Term Care Hospital numbers show high vaccination rates in residents (95%) and staff vaccinationrates are also high (94%).
• The province of Ontario has announced that restrictions in Step Three of the Roadmap will remain for at least 21 days and until 80 percent of eligible population aged 12 and over has received one dose of aCOVID-19 vaccine and 75% have received their second, with no public health unit having less than 70% of their eligible population 12 and over fully vaccinated.
• Mass immunization clinics are wrapping up with the last clinic expected on August 5. There are two clinic dates on July 28 and 29. Clinics are then available through the Northwestern Health Unit office clinics, primary care clinics and partner clinics.
  • For Kenora the office clinics start on August 10 and are generally on Tuesdays every week. Additional clinics may be added if there is demand.
• Vaccine supply is readily available.
• Recent response for forest fire evacuees hosted in Kenora did allow an opportunity for vaccination of evacuees if there was interest; however, as the evacuees have returned home, this did not occur.

Funding

OHT funding has been announced, and ANHP will set up a budget committee to prioritize and plan how to move our work forward.

Compassionate Kenora

As of Dec 31, Compassionate Kenora will need new space to carry out their primary care work. Partners will work together to help find suitable space, and support the CK programs and pathways.

Mental Health

Multiple partners report increased crisis calls, which they expect will continue over the holidays and winter months. Partners need to support each other, and their staff who have been working especially hard during COVID, and are experiencing fatigue.

Waterview Inn

Waterview Inn expected to open for emergency temporary stays starting Dec 16, following expedited staff training and renovations.

Isolation space

Isolation spaces have been reserved at a location separate from the Waterview.

Strategy Institute Conference

Henry will be speaking at the Strategy Institute Conference about the work of the ANHP

Digital Connectivity

Work is progressing on the Digital Strategy, which will help connect different aspects of the ANHP work, reduce barriers, and help us develop a patient-centred, seamless, holistic health care system.

Next meeting

Regular Agenda: Dec 16, 3-5 pm

The urgency of preparing appropriate COVID-19 isolation solutions for our communities, and developing solutions for individuals who lack appropriate, affordable shelter as harsh winter conditions approach, continues to be the focus of the All Nations Partners (ANHP) and its 15 Partner members.

A working group spearheaded by the Kenora Association for Community Living and Waasegiizhig Nanaandawe’iyewigamig has developed the processes required to welcome individuals most in need and ensure safety and dignity of citizens who require a shelter or who need to isolate for reasons related to COVID-19. The group continues its work with Kenora District Services Board and other partners to:

• Adjust building layout and complete renovations to ensure the safety and security for residents and support workers
• Hire staff to provide supports
• Coordinate partners providing wholistic supports

An alternative location has been identified to specifically better meet the needs related to COVID-19 isolation. As a result, additional units will be available for short-term supported housing at the Waterview Inn. In the coming weeks, the ANHP will welcome the most vulnerable within the homeless population as they move into housing and get to know the support staff. The partners are keenly aware that the demand for housing far outweighs the available supply, and the Waterview Inn is just one of many projects that are underway at this time to provide a more comprehensive response to the fundamental need all citizens have for appropriate, affordable options to meet their needs for shelter.

The first intake has been completed. Individuals who want to be considered for housing at the Inn as space becomes available can access forms at the emergency shelter, Morningstar, Compassionate Kenora, Fellowship Centre, CMHA Kenora and the mobile outreach van, or they can stop by KDSB offices.

Pathways to COVID-19 isolation for those individuals in need in the Kenora area are currently being finalized and shared with stakeholders. The partners are committed to moving this work forward as quickly as possible.

Joe Barnes, Executive Director
Kenora Chiefs Advisory
Co-Chair All Nations Health Partners
Phone: 807-467-8144
joe.barnes@kenorachiefs.ca

Henry Wall, Chief Administrative Officer
Kenora District Services Board Co-Chair All Nations Health Partners
Phone: 807-223-2100 ext. 2222
Email: hwall@kdsb.on.ca

Community members wishing to be tested should call 469-9861 (ext. 2483) in order to be scheduled for the next available appointment (please have your health card number and reliable phone number available). If you are unable to get through to an Assessment Centre clerk, please leave a message on the confidential voicemail. Messages will be returned within one business day. Appointments can be made for either a drive through assessment at the central site or for a mobile assessment team to come directly to a person’s home or First Nations community. Efforts are made to schedule appointments within two days and urgent requests are accommodated the same day whenever possible. Please note in times of increased demand for testing, wait times will increase. The Assessment Centre team appreciates your patience.

The nasal (or nasopharyngeal) swab test is conducted by inserting a long Q-tip-like swab into one or both nostrils to collect a sample. The process is described as being slightly uncomfortable but not painful. Swabs are sent to the National Microbiology Lab in Winnipeg for processing. If you have a positive test result, the Northwestern Health Unit will call you at the phone number you provided as soon as the result is available, which is usually within 3-5 days. You can view your COVID test results by searching “Ontario COVID-19 test results” online. You will require your valid OHIP card that you used at the time of your test, and you will be asked to provide the 7 digit number on the back of the card to verify that it is you. Once your result is displayed, you cannot print the result but you can take a screen shot of the result and then print that if you require hard copy evidence. If you are unable to view your results, you can call the hospital at 468 -9861 Ext. 2555 and ask for your results either verbally by phone or for a hard copy if required.

COVID-19 symptoms include but may not be limited to fever, new or worsening cough or shortness of breath at rest, sore throat, headache, muscle aches, fatigue, runny nose, and joint aches.

The All Nations Health Partners is a diverse coalition of municipal, Indigenous and health system leaders who have combined forces to support and prepare our communities for the COVID-19 pandemic.

Media Contact

Brock Chisholm
Assessment Centre Coordinator
Lake of the Wood District Hospital

Phone: 807.468.9861, ext: 2290
Email: bchisholm@lwdh.on.ca

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