First Nations leaders declare state of emergency amid nursing shortage in Northern Manitoba
A state of emergency on health services has been declared by First Nations leaders in northern Manitoba.
The Keewatinohk Inniniw Okimowin Council’s (KIOC) declaration covers their 23 First Nations and comes after a two-day meeting to discuss health-related concerns.
“In Cross Lake, we had to close our nursing station. That’s one of the reasons why we’re declaring a state of emergency in health,” says Chief David Monias, interim chairperson for the KIOC, detailing the rippling effect the nursing shortage is having on the care they can provide.
Part of the Council’s proposed solution is for the province to allow the communities more control over their health care decisions.
“We can provide our own professionals, our own administrators, our own knowledge keepers to work with us,” says Dr. Barry Lavallee, CEO of Keewatinohk Inniniw Minoayawin Inc. “We’re not afraid to take over a system that will deliver care to ourselves.”
Because of the shortage of nurses, those that are there are overwhelmed as they manage as best they can.
“Right now, we are allotted sixteen nurses for clinical care in Cross Lake,” Monias said. “We currently have four that have to work 24 hours. So you’re looking at maybe two nurses staffing a nursing station for 12 hours each.”
Aside from a lack of nurses, there are additional challenges the Indigenous communities are attempting to manage, the most prevalent being discrimination.
“Pre-pandemic, we’ve always been concerned about the lack of efficient, racism-free primary care services to First Nations,” said Lavalee. “Not only in communities but also at the secondary tertiary referral sectors.”
He adds discussions are ongoing with their leaders to develop new models of primary care.
In a statement, a spokesperson for the Northern Health Region said they look forwarding to continuing its partnership with MKO and KIM.
The partnership includes several initiatives, such as a co-planning process on sustainable health-care delivery in the region, creation of a wisdom council, and ending anti-Indigenous racism in health-care.
“We understand, and we all want these solutions implemented without delay but it will take work and time to solve this very complex, multifaceted issues,” the spokesperson said.
“We are committed to working with all of our partners, especially our Indigenous communities and leadership to find and implement sustainable solutions that meet the health needs of the people we serve.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Grandparent scam: London, Ont., senior beats fraudsters not once, but twice
It was a typical Tuesday for Mabel Beharrell, 84, until she got the call that would turn her world upside down. Her teenaged grandson was in trouble and needed her help.
Deaths of 4 people on Sask. farm confirmed as murder-suicide
The deaths of four people on a farm near the Saskatchewan village of Neudorf have been confirmed a murder-suicide.
CRA no longer requiring 'bare trust' reporting in 2023 tax return
The Canada Revenue Agency announced Thursday it will not require 'bare trust' reporting from Canadians that it introduced for the 2024 tax season, just four days before the April 2 deadline.
Full parole granted to man convicted in notorious 'McDonald's murders' in Cape Breton
The Parole Board of Canada has granted full parole to one of three men convicted in the brutal murders of three McDonald's restaurant workers in Cape Breton more than 30 years ago.
Incident on Calgary's Reconciliation Bridge comes to safe resolution
Nearly 20 hours after a man climbed and remained perched on top of the Reconciliation Bridge in downtown Calgary, the situation came to a peaceful resolution.
Sunshine list: These were the Ontario public sector's highest earners in 2023
Ontario released its annual sunshine list Thursday afternoon, noting that the largest year-over-year increases were in hospitals, municipalities, and post-secondary sectors.
George Washington family secrets revealed by DNA from unmarked 19th century graves
Genetic analysis has shed light on a long-standing mystery surrounding the fates of U.S. President George Washington's younger brother Samuel and his kin.
'We won't forget': How some Muslims view Poilievre's stance on Israel-Hamas war
A spokesman for a regional Muslim advocacy group says Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre's stance on the Israel-Hamas war could complicate his party's relationship with Muslim Canadians.
Why some Christians are angry about Trump's 'God Bless the USA' Bible
Former U.S. President Donald Trump is officially selling a copy of the Bible themed to Lee Greenwood’s famous song, 'God Bless the USA.' But the concept of a Bible covered in the American flag has raised concern among religious circles.