City Hall Ballroom

The Developmental Services department at Sioux Lookout First Nations Health Authority (SLFNHA) strives to support Indigenous children, youth and their families in 33 communities in Northwestern Ontario. A variety of health care providers are part of this team, but a vital part of the team are two Cultural Liaison Workers, Charles Meekis and Dieter Sainnawap.

Charles and Dieter are working to create a unique role to support communities, clinicians, and clients at SLFNHA. Elements of their role include working to establish meaningful connections with clients that acknowledges Indigenous ways of knowing and understanding, offering cultural teachings to clients and staff, and providing opportunities for clients and staff to participate in cultural events and activities either together or separately.

This presentation is a deep dive into the Cultural Liaison program’s development and ongoing evolution, sharing successes through client and clinician stories and experiences.  It will also include a discussion of areas where the program challenges and continues to challenge the traditional medical model. Presenters will also share learning that has emerged from this delicate dance of perspectives.

Charles and Dieter aim to stimulate new ideas and perspectives for working with clients from many cultures and backgrounds, highlighting the importance of acknowledging the role of culture in healing and wellness.  The presentations will also hopefully show how Indigenous Knowledge assists in this kind of work.

3 Key Takeaways
1. Bringing awareness to decolonizing methodologies when working with children and families.
2. Idea to support ongoing cultural learning within an organization/ team. 
3. Identifying ways cultural knowledge has driven change at our organization, with the hope of generalizing ideas to other organizations.  
 

Charles Meekis, Cultural Liaison, Sioux Lookout First Nation Health Authority
Dieter Sainnawap, Cultural Liaison, Sioux Lookout First Nation Health Authority
Susan Chapman, Program Manager, Sioux Lookout First Nation Health Authority
Stephanie Garrett, Clinical Manager and Occupational Therapist, Sioux Lookout First Nation Health Authority