At Niagara Health, we are privileged to provide care on lands that Indigenous Peoples have called home for thousands of years.
If you identify as Indigenous and are coming to Niagara Health for care, there are supports and team members available to help you and your family. Services are available across all Niagara Health sites.
Referral form Frequently Asked Questions
Niagara Health has made it a priority to better support Indigenous patients and their families. This includes the addition of three new roles dedicated to planning and implementing practices and services that promote the culturally safe environment and delivery of high-quality healthcare our teams strive to achieve every day. The Indigenous Health Services and Reconciliation team will identify and act on priorities that ensure inclusive, equitable and compassionate healthcare journeys for Indigenous patients and their families. The focus of these roles is separate and apart from the Emergency Department Assessment currently underway, and continues Niagara Health’s commitment to reconciliation in healthcare.
The team currently includes:
Charity Beland
Manager, Indigenous Health Services and Reconciliation
Charity.Beland@niagarahealth.on.ca
905-378-4647 x29330
Jolene Courchene
Indigenous Relations Specialists
Jolene.Courchene@niagarahealth.on.ca
905-378-4647 x29331
Jessica Baskin
Indigenous Patient Relations
Jessica.Baskin@niagarahealth.on.ca
905-378-4647 x29376
Shyann Jenkins
Indigenous Community Outreach and Engagement
Shyann.Jenkins@niagarahealth.on.ca
905-378-4647 x29794
Kate Bellon
Indigenous Relations Specialist
Kate.Bellon@niagarahealth.on.ca
905-378-4647 x29793
Contact information:
Indigenous Health Services Line: 905.378.4647 x43211
IndigenousHealthServices@niagarahealth.on.ca
We encourage you to contact the Office of Patient Experience should you have any compliments, comments, concerns or suggestions regarding Niagara Health services. Indigenous Patient relations can support with sharing circles for patients and their families with traditional medicines.
Contact Jessica Baskin, Indigenous Patient Relations at Jessica.Baskin@niagarahealth.on.ca or 905-378-4647 x29376
There are resources that have been recommended by Indigenous community partners. To visit the website of any of the external organizations listed below, please click on the name of the organization.
Designed specifically to meet the needs of Indigenous Peoples, the Aboriginal Patient Navigator Program provides support to patients and their families and assists in accessing the healthcare system as well as traditional healing and wellness practices. The program also provides navigation services that are culturally appropriate within the health/social service systems for individuals, caregivers and their families to improve patient outcomes.
905-358-4320, or visit www.aboriginalhealthcentre.com
Learn how an Aboriginal Patient Navigator can help you with cancer care here.
You can also call 905-387-9711 x63312 or ask your family physician to refer you.
We are proud to introduce the new Indigenous community room, named Gathering of Good Minds, a dedicated space for Indigenous community members to gather, access resources and enhance connection.
The community room is available for Indigenous community members and organizations to book for meetings, cultural programming and gatherings. To book the space, please complete an online application form or contact the Indigenous Health Services and Reconciliation team at indigenoushealthservices@niagarahealth.on.ca or by calling 905-378-4647 extension 43211.
View our calendar of events Watch our community room tour video
Niagara Health staff and Aboriginal Patient Navigators can assist with arrangements for patient smudging.
Traditional smudging is performed by many Indigenous people and is an important cultural and spiritual practice involving the burning of small amounts of sage, and occasionally other sacred medicines, including cedar, sweet grass and tobacco.
To request a smudging ceremony, please speak to a member of your care team. The staff member will then notify the Indigenous Health Services and Reconciliation team to facilitate.
Smudging can take place at any Niagara Health hospital or urgent care centre.
Any patient or family member who self-identifies as Indigenous may request a smudging ceremony. Patients are not required to make use of formalized self-identification processes in order to request a smudging ceremony.
Learn more about smudging at Niagara Health
The new South Niagara Site will be built to include an Indigenous Healing Centre, co-designed with Indigenous community members. This space will provide a culture-informed space to use for traditional health practices, ceremonies and conversations with patients and families. The new site will also have an Indigenous Healing Garden that will offer a feeling of grounding and connection to Mother Earth.
Visit the South Niagara Hospital photo gallery for new photos and updates.
Indigenous artwork is featured at all Niagara Health sites, created specifically for Indigenous patients, community members and visitors. The art aims to support wellness, offer a space for reflection, and share knowledge about Indigenous approaches to health and healing.
Each Emergency Department displays an image of Turtle Island with a medicine wheel at its centre. Recognized by many Indigenous Nations, the medicine wheel represents balance across mental, emotional, physical and spiritual health.
Indigenous artwork is also present in all Outpatient Mental Health units, offering support and connection to culture for clients on their healing journey.
Niagara Health has made a commitment to the community to take meaningful action toward reconciliation. Learn more about our progress and initiatives to date.
Niagara Health has:
Niagara Health is listening and learning more about the healthcare experiences of Indigenous Peoples to improve patient care and experiences for Indigenous patients.
Learn more about the independent ED Assessment, the progress we've made and view its report and recommendations.
How was your experience at Niagara Health? Feedback from the Indigenous community helps change policies and services for better patient care.
All stories are fully confidential. Nobody will have their care stopped for telling their story, good or bad.
To tell your story, please complete the Compliments and Concerns form or contact Jessica Baskin, Indigenous Patient Relations, 905-378-4647 x29376.
Indigenous Health Services Line:
905-378-4647 x43211
IndigenousHealthServices@niagarahealth.on.ca
Charity Beland
Manager, Indigenous Health Services and Reconciliation
Charity.Beland@niagarahealth.on.ca
905-378-4647 x29330
Jolene Courchene
Indigenous Relations Specialists
Jolene.Courchene@niagarahealth.on.ca
905-378-4647 x29331
Jessica Baskin
Indigenous Patient Relations
Jessica.Baskin@niagarahealth.on.ca
905-378-4647 x29376
Shyann Jenkins
Indigenous Community Outreach and Engagement
Shyann.Jenkins@niagarahealth.on.ca
905-378-4647 x29794
Kate Bellon
Indigenous Relations Specialist
Kate.Bellon@niagarahealth.on.ca
905-378-4647 x29793
As part of our commitment to Reconciliation to provide culturally inclusive care, Niagara Health’s Indigenous Health Services and Reconciliation team has opened a new Indigenous community room at the Marotta Family Hospital, with programming set to begin this month.
