Health Services Should Care For Us Auntie Style
New Report Highlights Indigenous Youth Suggestions for Primary Care
In November 2023, nearly 30 Indigenous Youth joined me for our primary care roundtable at the Neeginan Centre at 181 Higgins Ave in Winnipeg, MB to contribute to the national OurCare initiative. Youth attendees shared the good and bad of our current health care system, what was missing from the presented priorities & their ideas for improving primary care for themselves and their families. It was such a meaningful and sometimes heart breaking day to see and hear the stories of hardship and hope that these young people carried with them. I was also inspired by the ulture, language, drum songs and medicines that were shared throughout the day that demonstrated a beautiful example of the kind of health care that our invited guests were talking about.
“AUNTIE STYLE means systems and workers are rooted in the concept of kinship and are able to provide culturally safe care.”
We also hosted a circle at the end of the day so those young people could meet and share with political and medical leaders in Winnipeg and Manitoba. I have seen Indigenous youth too often feel tokenized, taken advantage and ignored after participating in consultations and reports and this listening circle connected the youth directly with political and medical leaders so they could make a face to face connection with these decision makers.
