Health | Taykwa Tagamou Nat

HEALTH

VISION STATEMENT

Get to Know Us

To build and sustain a healthy community, through the facilitation and promotion of physical, mental and spiritual well-being.

Description

The Department of Health provides a variety of health services that respond to community needs and health care systems while facilitating the prevention and management of critical health issues and their risk factors.

Pre-Contact

Before contact, an active lifestyle and healthy traditional diets contributed to First Nation people enjoying good health. Diets were balanced with protein, healthy fats, fruits and vegetables. Lifestyles had many other “health-protecting” features as well, including; small family size, comparatively low population density, reasonable mobility on land and water, seasonal relocations to different harvest locations, and availability of a variety of foods. A hunting, fishing and gathering lifestyle ensured that people were physically fit. Although there were some health problems prior to contact, First Nation people experienced almost no diabetes and had a limited number of infectious diseases.

Contact

With contact, epidemics spread through First Nation communities. The introduction of infectious diseases from Europe and Asia had devastating effects on the people. Lacking biological or cultural adaptations to these diseases, First Nation peoples were overwhelmed. Smallpox, influenza, measles, whooping cough had devastating effects in the First Nations population. Chronic diseases also entered the population at this time.

Post Contact

The demand for land increased with the increase of European settlement and colonization. With this increase there was a profound social, economic and political change to the well-being of First Nation communities. These changes continue to affect the health of First Nation peoples in Canada today.

Current Health

Social determinants of health are the non-medical factors that influence health outcomes. These may include; access to safe housing and food, quality of education and health care, and access to other social supports. European settlers and colonization have created the conditions that have led to disproportionately poorer health in First Nations.

PROGRAMS AND SERVICES

Nursing & Personal Support Workers

Home and Community Care is a coordinated system of services that enables First Nations people of all ages with disabilities, chronic or acute illnesses to receive needed care in their homes and communities.

Care is delivered primarily by home care registered nurses and trained, certified personal care workers. Service delivery is based on assessed need and follows a case management process.

Essential services include:

• Client assessment

• Home care nursing

• Case management

• Home support (personal care and home management)

• In-home respite

• Linkages and referral to other health and social services

• Provision of and access to specialized medical equipment and supplies

• Record keeping and data collection

Medical Transportation & Data Clerk

Provides assistance with obtaining the cost of meals, accommodation and transportation for travel to a medical appointment outside of the community of residence. Medical Transportation coverage is intended as a supplement and may not cover the full cost of your travel.

You can access medical transportation benefits if you are traveling to:

medical services covered by Medical Service Provider or a public health agency.
services covered by the Health Benefits Program

(e.g., dental, vision, etc.)

traditional healers.
treatment at a NNADAP funded or referred facility.

Medical Transportation benefits cover travel to the closest appropriate provider, using the most efficient and economical type of transportation appropriate for your needs and medical condition.

Aboriginal Healthy Babies & Healthy Children (AHBHC)

The program is designed to ensure that all Aboriginal families and their children (prenatal to age six) who need assistance with physical, emotional, mental and social issues have access to effective, consistent early intervention services. To provide the best opportunities for healthy child development through home visiting, services coordination, parenting groups, cultural teachings and traditions and referrals. As well as to address the children at risk, to ensure that they have access to series and support that will address their needs. Supporting the parents through pregnancy, birth, and child rearing is critical in promoting the best health and development of infants and young children; offering support and access to culturally appropriate, early intervention and prevention services.

Recreation and Youth Coordinator

is responsible for the planning, development, facilitation and evaluation of all sport, recreation, healthy living, and leisure programs in the community for all ages and abilities. The Recreation Program facilitates the creation and implementation of the most appropriate programs for youth and their abilities.

Choose Life – Pathfinders provides programs and services to youth at risk of suicide by for group child and youth mental health prevention programs/services.

Community-Based Mental Health Services, such as one-on-one intervention counselling, psychological and psychiatric assessments, development of treatment plans, counsellors in school, etc.
Capacity Building, training for front-line staff, community members and youth through training sessions and workshops.
Youth Empowerment through the creation of youth councils, forums, youth-driven programming, mentoring programs, peer support programming, etc.
Land-Based/Cultural Activities through the seven Grandfather Teachings, traditional therapeutic land-based healing and detox camps, traditional hunting, fishing, promoting traditional language, medicine preparation, canoeing, skinning and preparing wildlife, etc.

Throughout the COVID19 global pandemic, TTN has provided numerous vaccine clinics. The Health Department has been able to provide – Flu Clinic, Foot Care clinics, Fluoride Dental Treatments,

Program staff have facilitated many programs and events including Elder’s Cookouts, One-Million Step Challenge. Yahtzee Walk,

Crisis Workers On Call, Tie Blankets, Nutrition Bingo, etc.

Our Pathfinders program has either provided or assisted with Sweat Lodge Ceremonies, TTN Fishing Derby, hosted Turtle Concepts – Confidence & Empowerment, Spring Hunt, Ribbon Skirts, Youth Bingo, Hockey Clinic, Anti-Bullying Day, LGBTQ2S+ event, Mitt Making, Rabbit Snaring, Hide Tanning, Beaded Poppy Making, Canada’s Wonderland trip, etc.