Manitoulin wellness programs moving ahead

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As Mnaamodzawin Health Services enters its third year of a federal health transfer agreement, a new home is on the horizon.

Aboriginal wellness programs on Manitoulin Island will soon be housed in a brand new building based in Aundeck Omni Kaning.

Mnaamodzawin Health Services Inc. was incorporated on Oct. 5, 1999.

The agency administers federally funded diabetes education, mental health services, long-term care, homemaking and healthy baby programs.

Aundeck Onmi Kaning, Sheguiandah, Sheshegwaning, Whitefish River and Zhiibaahaasing First Nations share the resources.

"Our target for moving into our new building is December," interim director Brenda Roy informed delegates to the second annual general assembly Sept. 28.

"It will be a fully integrated health facility, a home base for all the programs.

"We want to assure the community that we are taking a team approach and working collaboratively. We are all working towards the same health and wellness goals."

Mnaamodzawin will share space with Noojmowin Teg, the provincially funded health services.

"Many changes will have to occur in the coming year," according to Zhiibaahaasing Chief Irene Kells.

"We need to focus on strengthening the relationship between various agencies, and we need to incorporate traditional approaches into our programs."

Kells, who assumed responsibility for the United Chiefs and Councils of Manitoulin health portfolio last April, reiterated the agency's mission statement.

"We need the co-operation of everyone in order to reach our goal of promoting personal, family and community responsibility for health," she said.

Tammy Gordon, co-ordinator of the Knaw Chi Ge Win program, presented an overview of that healing initiative for the gathering at the Ojibwe Cultural Foundation in M'Chigeeng.

The program funded by the Aboriginal Healing Foundation started in the summer of 2003 and continues until May 31, 2005.

"This program addresses the legacy of the residential schools," Gordon said.

"It responds to the quest of our communities to heal the wounds of physical, mental, sexual and spiritual abuse."

Over the past year Gordon and assistant Shirley Wesley have conducted a variety of public education workshops.

"We organized a traditional women's teaching session," Gordon said, "and we helped high-risk students work on building healthy self-esteem. We also did a session on parenting with a focus on safety for children."

Gordon is particularly proud of the work with adolescent girls.

"Presently we are doing a workshop on how to build healthy friendships. It has been a great honour to work with them.

"This project is just starting to scratch the surface. It takes a long time to build trust," Gordon added.

"A lot of people have been affected by the impact of the residential schools, but many don't admit it and others don't realize it."

As the program enters its final phase, Gordon fears that funding will be eliminated.

"We've had a positive response to the program, but the time is so short and the need out there is so great. Everyone agrees that great work is going on," she said.

"But there are no promises for future funding."

Limited and fragmented funding has also created obstacles for the mental health program, according to case manager Glenn Hallett.

In an era where "mental health has taken a back seat" with government funding bodies, he advocates building bridges with other agencies on Manitoulin and in Sudbury.

Hallett further recommends "a shared care model" that would emphasize prevention. "We need to look at the bigger picture," he said.

"We need to clearly define that which we see as a healthy community. We need to remember that everything in our life has an impact on our mental health."

From his clinical work, he has observed several patterns. "Clients are being referred earlier now," he reported.

"They don't wait until they are in crisis. Also, cases are rquiring a higher level of intervention skills. That's why I encourage frontline staff to further their education in the clinical area."

From Hallett's perspective, future goals should involve setting up mental health services in the local schools and increasing visibility of mental health workers in the communities.

"There's a lot of work in front of us," director Brenda Roy agreed at the meeting's close.

"Health Canada is advising us to work on integration of services with other agencies. Recently the board hired a consultant to conduct an evaluation of all programs and services. This survey will be completed over the next year."

Meanwhile, an auditor's report reveals that Mnaamodzawin boasts a very healthy balance sheet.

The firm of Freelandt, Caldwell and Reilly has reported a surplus budget of $363,000 as of March 31, 2004.

As the agency moves into new headquarters at year's end, Kells predicts "new and innovative approaches to programs that meet the changing needs of our communities."