MAMOO'KANDAA OSHKI AAKOZIIWIGAMIG: Working Together for our New Hospital
Lake of the Woods District Hospital and Ogimaawabiitong Kenora Chiefs Advisory have been working in partnership to foster relationships and to improve patient experiences. The result of this work is a blossoming Indigenous Patient Relations
Department in our proposed new hospital plans AND in our current hospital.
Client Navigation
Our Client Navigators support patients during their hospital stay with:
• Accessing Traditional healing
• Translation
• Transportation
• Referral to in-community programs (Ex: Mental Health, Palliative Care)
• Navigating the Non-Insured Health Benefits (NIHB) system
• General navigation through the healthcare system
• Post-discharge follow up
Mental Health Therapist in the Emergency Department
The Emergency Mental Health Therapist / Social Worker provides wholistic, culturally safe and trauma-informed therapeutic intervention and care coordination to First Nation patients who visit the ER. Patients and their families are connected with community services to ensure continuity of care following admission or discharge.
Cultural Services
A Cultural Services Manager is in place at LWDH to embed Anishinaabe culture and practices in the hospital. This involves:
• Ensuring cultural protocols are met
• Supporting cultural awareness, cultural safety and regional orientation and education to all staff
• Coordinating cultural events
• Promoting both traditional and mainstream approaches to healing and helping clients
• Smudging is available in the hospital for anyone wishing, the Ojibwe Healing Room is located on the 3rd floor
Indigenous Advisory Council
The Indigenous Advisory Council (IAC) was formed in 2022 and membership is made up of LWDH, KCA, and Waasegiizhig Nanaandawe’iyewigamig (WNHAC), community representatives and an LWDH staff rep. Participants discuss hospital program and service enhancements considering with a wholistic, culturally safe lens. The Council meets consistently and at each meeting, there are two standing agenda items - a traditional teaching and a presentation from the hospital (another important purpose of the Council is for participants to become hospital knowledge keepers).
Donna Namaypoke
KCA Cultural Services Manager
807-468-9861, ext. 2544
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Client Navigators
807-468-9861, ext. 2544 or ext. 2250
Emergency Department Social Worker
807-468-9861, ext. 251
pdf LWDH Indigenous Advisory Council TOR 08-18-23
