Albert Jimmy, director of Onion Lake Health Board Inc., teamed up with his associate director, Lori Worthing, for a presentation on the services they provide band members along with some funding challenges at the Rotary Club of Lloydminster’s Monday lunch. Geoff Lee Meridian Source
The Onion Lake Health Board Inc. would be in a healthier position with more federal funding, or better yet, operate its own healthcare system.
Those were some of the messages board director, Albert Jimmy and associate director, Lori Worthing, shared in a presentation on Onion Lake’s health services at the Rotary Club of Lloydminster’s Monday lunch.
Jimmy says more provincial and federal funding is needed to expand the services in their community health plan, which serves more than 7,000 band members, including 5,000 residents on the reserve.
“The challenge we are always facing is funding from the federal government. That’s a unique issue and our Treaty Right to Health is a unique issue,” said Jimmy.
Treaty 6 includes a medicine chest clause the federal court interpreted in 1935 as meaning all medicines, drugs or medical supplies are to be supplied free of charge to “Treaty Indians.”
“We’ve been negotiating the Treaty Right to Health on a needs basis,” said Jimmy.
“That’s ongoing; there will be a meeting with the federal government people from Ottawa next Tuesday.”
Jimmy told Rotary the health board was formed in 1993 and has grown to employ 225 members. Over the years, it’s been facing mounting challenges from changing demographics, increasing health needs and restrictive funding under the Canada health transfer.
A First Nations health transformation is in the works recommending the federal government should be a funding and governance partner with First Nations instead of designing and delivering health care programs for them.
“What Onion Lake is trying to do is to promote our own First Nations health system,” said Jimmy.
“For years, they’ve just been trying to absorb us with the provincial health system and so forth, but we’re saying no. We have our Treaty Right To Health and we want our own health care system.”
In the meantime, Worthing told Rotary “We are this close” to signing an agreement with the Saskatchewan Health Authority for 15 detox beds.
“So we’ll be opening that to Saskatchewan and Alberta band members,” said Worthing.
The detox beds will be housed in the existing Ekweskeet Healing Lodge, an alcohol and drug rehabilitation centre on the reserve.
Ekweskeet is a Cree word meaning turn your life around.
“We are looking at building a new detox centre in the future to go to 25 beds,” added Worthing who notes the board has also applied for funding to build a 20-bed shelter for women and children.
Worthing oversees everything from primary health and Home Care and assisted living to EMS and asset management and reports directly to Jimmy.
Jimmy says their current system is based on Western medicine but they’ve managed to incorporate traditional Cree medicine and healers too, including a role for elders.
“They play an important role. We have in-house elders who work alongside for any advice,” said Jimmy.
“They also work with the employees in the wellness centre advising about the protocols and ceremonies including smudging. We also have a land-based program that teaches things like traditional hunting.”
