Stakeholders

Department of Indigenous Services Canada

The current Norway House Indian Hospital is operated by Health Canada, First Nations and Inuit Health Branch, Manitoba Region. Norway House Hospital has provided health services in Norway House since 1952.

Through a framework agreement for transition, the new NHCN Health Centre of Excellence will be owned and operated by Norway House Cree Nation, through support and collaboration with all stakeholder partners.

A newly formed NHCN Health Authority will provide management and oversight and will ultimately become the funding recipient of all public sector health funding on behalf of the Cree Nation.

The NHCN Health Authority will be governed by a board of directors with representation form all key stakeholders.

First Nations and Inuit Health Branch – Manitoba Region

First Nations and Inuit Health Branch supports health systems in First Nations Communities by working with partners that create positive outcomes for healthcare. The goal is to close the healthcare gaps between Indigenous and non-indigenous peoples. This is done by providing quality and accessible health services that include

• Community-based health promotion and disease prevention programs
• Primary, home and community care services
• Programs to control communicable diseases and address environmental health issues
• Non-insured health benefits to supplement those provided by provinces, territories and private insurer

Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak Inc.

MKO is a non-profit, political advocacy organization that provides a collective voice on issues of inherent, Treaty, Aboriginal and human rights for the citizens of the sovereign First Nations they represent. Norway House Cree Nation is represented as one of their 24 First Nations communities. MKO has a vision of self-sufficient nations and wants to strengthen areas that effect the lives of First Nation’s citizens. MKO envisions these goals in a 3-part process:

• the repeal or amendment of The Indian Act and the dismantling of the federal government department of Indian and Northern Affairs
• the transfer of federal and joint federal-provincial programs, services, and related funding allocations directly to First Nations in Manitoba; and
• most importantly, the legal recognition and extension of First Nations’ jurisdiction and self-governing authority over our traditional lands.

Manitoba Health, Seniors and Active Living

Manitoba Health, Seniors and Active Living (MHSAL) supports numerous health programs and services currently offered in Norway House Cree Nation.

• Funding for 7.85 EFT primary care physicians
• Funding for specialist medical services
• Funding for one EFT medical on-call position
• A service purchase agreement between Northern Regional Health Authority (NRHA) and Pinaow Wachi Inc. Personal Care Home (PCH) which includes a commitment to fund eight Level 4 BCDS. This amounts to $651,300 in annual funding for Level 4 residents. Pinaow Wachi Inc. is one of only two provincially licensed PCHs on reserve in Manitoba.
• Through a funding agreement between Health Canada, Manitoba Renal Program and Winnipeg Regional Health Authority, MHSAL provides funding for four dialysis stations servicing eight patients, which also includes funding for 3.1 EFT nursing positions. NHCN is currently in negotiations with MHSAL to increase funding support for renal dialysis and become a signatory to the next agreement that is negotiated for the community-based renal dialysis unit in Norway House.
• As a result of recent negotiations, MHSAL now provides funding for a full-time midwife and 0.3 FTE funding for administrative support for the midwife. This funding is a key component of the family birthing program that will be established in the new NHCN Health Centre of Excellence.
• Recent negotiations have also resulted in new annual funding from MHSAL to establish a community-based peritoneal dialysis program in Norway House. The funding enables NHCN to hire one full-time nurse, qualified and trained in peritoneal dialysis and 2.9 FTE health care aides. This not only addresses a service gap, but also creates education, training and employment opportunities in NHCN.

Additional Program Information

Manitoba Renal Program

The Manitoba Renal Program (MRP) is made up of a team of health-care professionals working together to provide kidney care and kidney education. MRP jointly operates haemodialysis units in 20 locations throughout Manitoba. It also has home dialysis training units in Winnipeg that train and support home dialysis patients who reside in all corners of the province.

MRP partners with Norway House Hospital and currently operates four haemodialysis stations to address the renal health needs of community members from Norway House and various other communities throughout the region. Community members who cannot be accommodated within Norway House receive care at other facilities in Thompson and Winnipeg.

Pinaow Wachi Inc. Personal Care Home

Pinaow Wachi Inc. Personal Care Home is a twenty-six-bed facility that is one of only two licensed Personal Care Homes on-reserve in Manitoba. The facility works closely with the Northern Regional Health Authority and all Provincial and Federal partners to address the long-term care needs of community members from Norway House and various other communities in the region.

Shared Health

Shared Health is a Provincial health system created to deliver the health care Manitobans deserve as close to home as possible. The responsive and accessible system is organized to bring clinical experts together and work collaboratively and strategically towards new and innovative solutions to health care in Manitoba.