2024 – Montreal | Opening of the first family clinic for Aboriginal people

(Montreal) Montreal's first Indigenous Family Health Clinic officially opened its doors Friday morning.

Launched in 2021, Montréal Autochthones is supporting this project to ensure the deployment and sustainability of a range of health and social services tailored to the identity and characteristics of Indigenous clients found in the metropolitan area.

The opening was announced Friday by Minister of Health Christian Dubé and Minister of First Nations and Inuit Relations Ian Lafreniere.

Mr. Dube is excited that the new clinic will promote the local aspect of advanced care. “We don't ask the person who comes to the clinic if they are on the family doctor's record or if they called 811. We ask them, “What are your needs?” We will help you find it as needed. the right person.

“We are in the process of revising the concept of front-line proximity. (…) The example of the clinic is part of this vision,” said Mr. Dube.

The clinic aims to improve access to “culturally safe” front-line services for Indigenous people in Montreal, complementing existing public services.

Social workers, known as navigators, ensure that local residents receive appropriate services based on their needs, much like after-sales services, Mr Dube explains.

There are more than 35,000 Indigenous people in the Montreal metropolitan area, including 13,000 on the islands. It is one of the largest indigenous communities in Quebec in an urban environment.

“More than half of First Nations and Inuit people don't live in communities, they live in urban areas,” Minister Lafreniere said. That's why the clinic we're announcing today makes sense. Several thousand people live in Montreal, they are attracted there, they pass through them. This requires culturally tailored services. This means having browsers, making them feel welcome, making sure the system meets their needs, not just responds to their needs. »

The care space in Montreal joins seven other culturally safe health clinics in the province. Other projects of this type are already in the works and announcements could be made soon, Mr. Lafreniere said.

Montreal Medical Clinic offers a variety of advanced services with an emphasis on prevention. The medical professionals working there are trained in the realities and needs of local communities.

“We hope to be able to train local medical workers. We can be a gateway for other non-Indigenous practitioners who want to learn about internships or different levels of involvement, as well as how they can best practice their practice,” said Philippe Meilleur, CEO of Montreal Autochthon.

In his speech, Mr Meylor noted that the indigenous community had faced discrimination and racism “for far too long”.

“This indifference allowed for the inhumane conditions that Joyce Echaquan experienced in her last minutes,” he said. These collective and intergenerational traumas have widened the mistrust gap that drives our population to avoid traditional health care structures. »

He emphasized the importance of a project such as a new medical clinic adapted to the realities of the local population, which would help eliminate the negative effects experienced by generations.

“Patient members” can be monitored by a medical team of family doctors and nurses from the Family Medicine Clinic of the University of Verdun (GMF-U).

The clinic building, located on rue Saint-Jacques, consists of two examination rooms and three multi-purpose rooms that can be used for various consultations.

What makes this place special is the central one, called the “cedar room”, which consists of several armchairs with wooden walls. It is used, among others, by people from local communities who wish to have the support of a knowledge keeper. Also, several ceremonies and traditional health practices can be performed there — suitable ventilation is installed.

On the other hand, Mr. Maillor said that he worked with the DPJ to get the clinic recognized under the Youth Protection Act. “We want to ensure children's culture and family well-being,” Mr. Meylor said.

Canadian Press health content is funded through a partnership with the Canadian Medical Association. The Canadian Press is responsible for editorial choices.