Working with Provincial Indigenous Partners

Ontario Health Protocol Agreements

Starting in 2013, Cancer Care Ontario signed relationship protocols with the First Nations, Inuit, Métis and Urban Indigenous (FNIMUI) organizations. These agreements formalized the relationship with Cancer Care Ontario and held Cancer Care Ontario accountable for the work it is committed to deliver through the First Nations, Inuit, Métis and urban Indigenous Cancer Strategies.

Ontario Health continues to honour the Protocol Agreements signed with Cancer Care Ontario and is currently building relationships with FNIMUI communities and organizations through discussions on Relationship Protocols.

Working with Political Territorial Organizations and Independent First Nations

Politically, First Nations communities are represented at the provincial level by a Political Secretariat (Chiefs of Ontario) and four Provincial Territorial Organizations (Grand Council Treaty #3, Nishnawbe Aski Nation, Anishinabek Nation, and the Association of Iroquois and Allied Indians). There are also 13 Independent First Nations communities representing themselves.

Ontario Health has a number of formalized relationships (i.e. Relationship Protocols, Letter of Relationships) with First Nations organizations in Ontario. Through these formalized relationships, Ontario Heath has effectively entered into relationships to engage and work with member communities and respective organizations and committees, to improve the cancer system for all community members.

Grand Council Treaty #3 – May 2013
Anishinabek Nation – June 2013
Nishnawbe Aski Nation – August 2014
Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug (Big Trout Lake First Nation) – October 2014
Association of Iroquois and Allied Indians – November 2016
The Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation – February 2018
Bkejwanong Territory (Walpole Island First Nation) – October 2019

Working with the Inuit Service Providers

The largest Inuit population in Canada outside Inuit Nunangat lives in Ottawa; a number of Inuit service providers are located there. These providers offer a variety of health, social, cultural, educational and political services to the Inuit community. Ontario Health has developed formalized relationships with the following Inuit service providers in Ottawa:

Tungasuvvingat Inuit
Akausivik Inuit Family Health Team
Pauktuutit Inuit Women of Canada
Ottawa Health Services Network Inc.
Larga Baffin

This has enabled us to understand and respond to cancer care needs and challenges unique to Inuit living in Ontario or travelling to Ontario for health services through Iqaluit from throughout the Qikiqtaaluk region.

Collectively these organizations – along with the Indigenous Cancer Care Unit and the Champlain Regional Cancer Program – form the Champlain Inuit Service Providers Relationship Table (CISPRT). This table, which signed a formalized Relationship Protocol in 2017, meets quarterly to provide insight and guidance on the development and implementation of Inuit-focused initiatives within the provincial strategy and Regional Indigenous Cancer Plans.

Working with the Métis Nation of Ontario

In 1993, the Métis Nation of Ontario (MNO) was established through the will of Métis people and Métis communities coming together throughout Ontario to create a Métis-specific governance structure. The MNO has a democratic, province-wide governance structure. The MNO maintain a recognized registry of Métis citizens in Ontario. Métis people who are members of MNO and other Métis people in Ontario receive chronic disease prevention services through the provincially funded health system, just like other people in Ontario, and certain groups also receive drug benefits.

The MNO Healing and Wellness Branch facilitates and coordinates activities that address the holistic needs of the Métis Nation in Ontario at the provincial, regional and local levels. Holistic Métis health includes the physical, mental, emotional, spiritual and cultural aspects of life. The Healing and Wellness Branch operates through 34 locations in Ontario and actively seeks to partner with Métis and non-Métis people and governments that recognize and respect the diverse lifestyles and traditions of Métis people.

On February 21, 2015, Ontario Health signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the MNO. This memorandum formalizes the relationship between Ontario Health and the MNO, and will help Ontario Health ensure that the cancer system recognizes the cultural distinctiveness of the Métis people. It also ensures that Ontario Health will address the unique cancer control needs of Métis people and Métis communities.

Working with the Ontario Federation of Indigenous Friendship Centres

The Ontario Federation of Indigenous Friendship Centres (OFIFC) is the largest urban Indigenous service network in the province. It supports the vibrant, diverse and quickly growing urban Indigenous population through programs and initiatives that span justice, health, family support, long-term care, healing and wellness, employment and training, education, research and more. There are 29 Friendship Centres located in Ontario. Friendship Centres are community hubs where Indigenous peoples living in towns, cities and urban centres can access community-based and culturally grounded programs and services every day. Friendship Centres receive their mandates from their communities and they are inclusive of all Indigenous peoples.

On July 19, 2014, representatives from Ontario Health signed a relationship protocol with the OFIFC. This protocol enable Ontario Health and the OFIFC to identify and address common concerns and interests in order to enhance the quality of health of urban Indigenous peoples and communities through partnership. The protocol sets a new course for a collaborative relationship between Ontario Health and OFIFC to work to improve cancer programming and service delivery ensuring those who do get cancer live longer and better lives.

Working with the Aboriginal Health Access Centres

Aboriginal Health Access Centres (AHACs) are Indigenous community-led, primary healthcare organizations. They provide a combination of traditional healing, primary care, cultural programs, health promotion programs, community development initiatives and social support services to Indigenous communities in Ontario. There are currently 10 AHACs in Ontario that provide health services on- and off-reserve, as well as in urban, rural and remote locations.

Like Community Health Centres (organizations that provide primary health and health promotion programs), AHACs are recognized by the Ministry of Health, and have a direct funding and accountability relationship with the ministry. The ministry has recognized AHACs as important providers of health and healing services to Indigenous communities and as partners in Ontario’s healthcare system.

Working with the Ontario Native Women’s Association

The Ontario Native Women’s Association (ONWA) is a not-for-profit organization that was established in 1972 to empower and support Ontario’s Indigenous women and their families by delivering culturally enriched programs and services. It is located in Thunder Bay and delivers programs and services throughout the province via 11 Chapter Offices – Delivery Sites and 38 Council Offices – Community Level Groups.

Working with the Indigenous Primary Health Care Council

The Indigenous Primary Health Care Council supports the advancement and evolution of Indigenous primary health care services throughout Ontario, including through its work with 23 Indigenous primary health care organizations which address the physical, spiritual, emotional, and mental wellbeing of the First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples and communities being served.

Regional Indigenous Cancer Plan Overview