Learning about Indigenous Health Research in Norway House

By Sarah Wood, 1st year MDP student

Sarah and summer solstice skies

My field placement began with an 8 hour car ride so far outside the city I didn’t even have CBC Radio to keep me company for much of the drive. Instead I kept myself entertained with intermittent black bear and bald eagle sightings. 

My placement is with Norway House Cree Nation and a research team from the University of Winnipeg who are jointly working on a project surrounding birthing and maternity services in this northern First Nations community. Currently, pregnant women living in Norway House travel to cities like Winnipeg to have their babies, but there is growing interest in understanding the challenges this poses to women and their families and exploring the option of births in Norway House.

  

Norway House Indian Hospital where every once and a while babies are delivered

I have been fortunate enough during my time here to speak briefly with hundreds of women and men at numerous events in the community. It has been interesting to navigate the practicalities of Indigenous research that we explored during our course work this past year. 

Specifically, I have met with a Community Advisory Committee who offered crucial feedback on our survey design. I have learned how O.C.A.P (Ownership, Control, Access, Possession) principles for research in First Nations communities are applied to this specific research project such as how the information collected for this research, that belongs to Norway House, will be stored.  I even had to make a radio advertisement to alert the community of my presence here. (Those of you who know me know that is this my nightmare). I am hopeful that this work will prove useful for the community in their efforts to steer their healthcare programs in whichever direction they decide is best.  

Aside from meeting survey quotas, I’ve been keeping myself busy by fighting with the internet connection, swimming, visiting waterfalls, and enjoying sunsets that last well past eleven in the evening.

  

The midway set up for the weekend at the waterfront, bursting with eager survey participants

Northern Exposure

By Alison Everitt, 1st year MDP student

Alison (L) & Rachel (R)

It has now been five weeks since Rachel and I arrived in Norway House Cree Nation – one of the largest First Nations communities in Manitoba with over 5,000 people – for our summer field placement. Aside from the bear warnings (we’ve seen five) and the lack of Starbucks (we’ve seen none), everything has been amazing!

The community of Norway House is truly incredible. We are surrounded by rivers, lakes, and forests, and there is a special feeling of peacefulness that comes from being so far away from the city. We are staying in a cottage on West Island that overlooks the Nelson River and that gives us beautiful views of the northern sunsets. The natural environment of the community is something that I have never experienced before and so is the kindness of its residents. Everyone that we have met has been so eager to teach us about the community and to take us out so that we can explore it for ourselves. Both Rachel and I are truly grateful for the warmth and support that we have received since we arrived here. 

Our placement this summer is with the Health Division. This has given me the opportunity to gain a greater understanding of the prodigious challenges of health care delivery for a First Nation in a remote community. While this was a central point of the discussions in our classes this past year, to actually see it first-hand has been eye opening.

Although the health care delivery disparities have been dismaying, it is also reassuring to see all of the positive initiatives that are part of the Health Division programming. Since arriving in the community, we have been able to attend and participate in several programs and events that have been put on by the Health Division. From helping plan the “Norway House Celebrates Mom’s and Babies” event, to working on several initiatives with the Home and Community Care Program to improve service delivery for families with Children with Special Needs, we have been able to experience the progressive health initiatives that are ongoing in the community. This in addition to our time spent working with other programs, like the Canadian Prenatal Nutrition Program, that has furnished me with a lot of hands-on experience and has given me the opportunity to bring my classroom teachings to a practical setting. 

All in all, I’m very excited to move ahead with my placement here in Norway House! In addition to continuing to work on programs in the Health Division, there are several community events that I’m looking forward to being a part of. There will be a Women’s Gathering in July and the 40th anniversary of York Boat Days is in August! During the week of York Boat Days the Health Division is hosting a Health Fair that Rachel and I have been invited to work on.

With so many exciting things to come, I look forward to seeing what the rest of this placement brings to us!

Life After 53

By Rachel Bach, 1st year MDP student

Norway House Cree Nation, Manitoba

The adventure started as Ali and I packed enough bags for 12 weeks, loaded up her car far beyond capacity, and headed north. I was excited to learn that I would be spending the summer in Norway House Cree Nation. However, the reality of it did not seem to fully sink in until we were leaving the city and I was sipping on what I realized would be my last Starbucks latté for a long time. After many hours on roads of challenging quality, we passed the 53rd parallel and a sign welcoming us to the north.

Having grown up in a very small town and spending a couple of summers on my reserve in BC, I knew that there would be some adjustments to be made; like to no cell service and no wi-fi. I seem to be adjusting okay so far. Although, one thing that I am not used to, and that I may never get used to, is the constant fear that I will run into a bear every time I go for a walk. I have seen five bears so far, thankfully all from the safety of the car. I have also seen about a dozen bald eagles, three beavers, a mink, a fox, and hundreds of pickerel. Living in such close proximity to nature truly ignites a sense of wonder and appreciation. Now that I have been here for six weeks, I am starting to wonder how it will be adjusting back to city life!

My placement is in the Health Division. The Health Division hosts a variety of programs, including: Child and Maternal Health, Canada Prenatal Nutrition Program, Home and Community Care, Medical Transportation, Community Wellness, Aboriginal Diabetes Initiative, and more. This placement has been an excellent opportunity for me to learn about the diversity and vast nature of health programming. The remoteness of Norway House certainly creates many challenges. It has been very interesting to see first-hand how these challenges are approached and dealt with. I am very interested in Health Programming and Health Research and would like a career in the health field one day.

Since arriving in Norway House, we have been able to attend different community events like the National Nurse’s Week Appreciation Luncheon and a local “Fish Fry” put on by Chief and Council. We also attended a research summit where researchers from the University of Manitoba came to Norway House to share their findings. They conducted a 5 year project where they explored what everyday life is like for families of children with special needs given the remote location and lack of services. We have also had the opportunity to meet various health workers; including: program managers, the clinic manager and staff, midwives, nurses, and doctors. So far, we have gained experience in program planning and grant writing. We have also been a part of program implementation. We were also able to assist in the planning and coordinating of a workshop for new mothers aimed at encouraging breast feeding and other healthy parenting practices.

So far I have had a wonderful opportunity learning teamwork and building relationships with Indigenous communities which are both important for indigenous research.