Ontario Aboriginal Health Advocacy Initiative

Goals & Objectives

OAHAI's goal is to address issues and concerns with regard to the equitable access and quality of health services for First Nation, Inuit, and Metis people throughout the province of Ontario.

Programme Summary

OAHAI is designed to promote advocacy functions on behalf of Ontario's First Nations, Inuit, and Metis people. The Initiative does not provide direct advocacy service to clients, but rather, facilitates awareness, training, and education to health service providers, front line workers, governments, and organization representatives. Information about various complaints processes, protocols, and approaches for dealing with inadequate treatment of Aboriginal clients is provided to assist front line workers in meeting the advocacy needs of clients. OAHAI is a specialized project funded through the Aboriginal Healing and Wellness Strategy.

The initiative continues to offer a variety of workshops across the province. Workshops including a General Overview of OAHAI, Cultural Sensitivity and Awareness, Lateral Violence, Health advocacy for Front Line Workers, Abuse of Older Aboriginal Adults, Self-care for the Front-line Workers, Applied Suicide Intervention Skills (ASIST), and Awakening the Spirit (Developed for mainstream physicians and health care providers to meet the needs of Aboriginal women at risk of and with HIV/AIDS.

Focus on Success

In fall 2009 a total of 198 people attended the 'Mamo-Nikaniskeywin - All Together Moving Forward' violence against Aboriginal Women training. The purpose of this workshop was to explore participants' skills, knowledge, attitudes and values of Aboriginal culture and history as it relates to Violence against Aboriginal Women.

Development

OAHAI with funding from Ministry of Community and Social Services are beginning to deliver a total of eight, one day workshops to educate mainstream service providers about the unique circumstances of violence against Aboriginal Women. This training is directed towards Executive Directors and upper management to educate and help facilitate organizational change with mainstream services. Approximately 240 people will attend in various regions of the province.

OAHAI received $79,400.00 in funding from Indian and Northern Affairs Canada to continue to deliver a project entitled Healing our Past, Present and Future. The project focuses on empowering primarily older adults. This is achieved through discussion and presentations about intergenerational trauma and how the legacy of Indian Residential Schools affects interpersonal relationships within the family and community. Workshops began in this fall.