Indigenous Health and Wellness
Through the Office of Inclusion and Social Accountability, LHSC’s Indigenous Health team is taking active steps to advance more culturally safe, inclusive and equitable health care with Indigenous Peoples. We aim for our hospitals to be a place where Indigenous patients and families feel safe and valued, and where they have access to ceremony and traditional health practices and teachings. We are committed to walking the path of reconciliation, to listening and learning from the Indigenous communities we serve, and answering the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's Calls to Action related to health care.
LHSC is working towards building culturally safe and appropriate care and services:
- To improve access to quality care through a variety of providers, both clinical and non-clinical, addressing the physical, social, emotional and spiritual care needs of the patient.
- To provide resource support and advocacy for Indigenous patients, caregivers, and their families by appropriately responding to their health needs and goals.
- To assist in bridging the service gaps between Indigenous communities and health care providers by facilitating linkages to services.
The Indigenous Health Team at LHSC includes clinical and non-clinical staff, who support LHSC’s fundamental commitments and strategic priorities.
Wellness supports and services specific to Indigenous patients at LHSC and Children’s Hospital are listed below.
LHSC has an Indigenous Healing Space:
The Indigenous Healing Space was created in partnership with Atlohsa Family Healing Services as a direct response to two of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action related to healthcare. This space, located at E1-204 in Victoria Hospital, represents a culture-informed environment of care at LHSC and is used for Traditional Health Practices, Ceremony and Traditional Teachings.
LHSC has an Indigenous Health Navigator for Emergency Medicine at Victoria Hospital:
- To provide information and education in a safe, culturally sensitive manner.
- To liaise and advocate between patient, families and the care team.
- To provide consultation to clinical teams with a cultural and trauma informed lens.
- To facilitate access to traditional medicines and ceremony.
Contact Information:
Andrea Racette, Indigenous Health Navigator, Emergency Department at Victoria Hospital
Telephone: 519-685-8500 Extension: 55884
Email: Andrea.Racette@lhsc.on.ca
Children’s Hospital has a Youth Wellness Consultant:
- To offer 1:1 mental health and wellness support for youth 0-18 in hospital at bedside, during appointments or circle of care meetings.
- To provide Indigenous children’s books, crafts, art and music.
- To provide information and education in a safe, culturally sensitive manner.
- To liaise and advocate between patient, families and the care team.
- To provide consultation to clinical teams with a cultural and trauma informed lens.
- To facilitate access to traditional medicines and ceremony.
Contact Information:
Nicole Yawney, Youth Indigenous Wellness Consultant, Children's Hospital
Telephone: 519-685-8500 Extension: 52242
Email: Nicole.Yawney@lhsc.on.ca
LHSC's Verspeeten Family Cancer Centre has an Indigenous Patient Navigator:
- To provide support and advocacy for First Nations, Inuit, Métis, and Urban Indigenous (FNIMuI) patients and families by facilitating and coordinating access to cancer services for palliative and supportive care.
- To address cultural and spiritual needs.
- To network with FNIMuI and non-Indigenous partners to make the cancer journey a culturally safe experience for FNIMuI patients and families.
Contact Information:
Rachel Sutherland, Indigenous Patient Navigator, Verspeeten Family Cancer Centre at LHSC
Telephone: 519-685-8500 Extension: 54043
Email: Rachel.Sutherland@lhsc.on.ca
Southwest Regional Renal Program has an Indigenous Lead:
Southwest Regional Renal Program has an Indigenous Lead:
- To lead Indigenous engagement within the renal program.
- To develop kidney screening and disease prevention programs unique to each First Nation.
- To provide information and education in a culturally safe manner.
- To liaise and advocate between patient, families and the care team.
- To provide consultation to clinical teams with a cultural and trauma informed lens.
Contact Information:
Heather Talbot, Indigenous Lead, Regional Renal Program at LHSC
Telephone: 519-685-8500 Extension: 75939
Email: Heather.Talbot@lhsc.on.ca
Within the Office of Inclusion and Social Accountability, the Office of Indigenous Health is responsible for creating a strategic plan for LHSC to:
- Meaningfully and authentically engage in a culturally responsive and respectful manner with First Nation, Inuit, Metis and Urban Indigenous (FNIMU) people and communities.
- Build trust and foster meaningful relationships.
- Address racism discrimination, and bias.
Contact Information:
Chantel Antone, Senior Director, LHSC
Telephone: 519-685-8500 Extension: 75471
Email: chantel.antone@lhsc.on.ca
Colleen Jewell, Adminstrative Support, LHSC
Telephone: 519-685-8500 Extension: 52049
Email: colleen.jewell@lhsc.on.ca
