Mi’kmaw health navigators hope to incorporate Indigenous practices into PEI’s healthcare system
Shelby Arsenault-Ellands provides health care just a few roads away from where she grew up.
Arsenault-Ellands, a registered nurse, is a member of Lennox Island First Nation. She now works at Lennox Island Health Center as a Mi’kmaw health system navigator, helping people in her community access services.
“I do a little bit of everything,” said Arsenault-Ellands. “But I think the biggest parts would be helping Indigenous people from all over navigate the healthcare system.
“That could include mental health, surgery, long-term care, addictions, socioeconomic things. And just helping people connect to the services they need.”
Arsenault-Ellands, who works as a navigator, said she can attend appointments with people who may want an “extra pair of ears” in the room when dealing with a doctor.
She has been in that position since September. In March, Health PEI signed an agreement to fund half of its position and another similar one.
The features also receive funding from the federal government.
“I think it’s really necessary for the Indigenous community to make sure, especially because they’re so rural, … that services are connected,” Arsenault-Ellands said.
“Of course we have Western medicine, but we have that too [the] traditional side of things we can help integrate into people’s care plans so they feel like they’re getting the holistic care they deserve.”
Making care accessible
Shelly McLean is the director of health services for Lennox Island.
She said Indigenous community members and healthcare providers sometimes get confused about the uninsured health benefits for First Nations and Inuit.
“It’s called ‘uninsured’ because it provides insurance for First Nations people who don’t have insurance through other avenues,” McLean said.
If someone is diagnosed with cancer, they may not know what is available to them.— Shelley McLean
“So if someone is diagnosed with cancer, they may not know what’s available to them.”
McLean said members of Indigenous communities often felt uncomfortable accessing health services outside their community “because of past racism”.
She said she has been seeking funding for the navigator position since 2019.
“It’s worked so far,” she says. “We’re still in the early stages of coming up with forms and things like that…I think it’s going to grow quite a bit.”
Crissy Riley works at the Abegweit First Nation Mi’kmaq Wellness Center as the county’s other health navigator. She has been a licensed practice nurse for over 20 years.
“The Indigenous community as I see it, and from what I’ve heard from community members and what I’ve experienced working with the community in the past — it’s harder for them to access care,” she said.
“I don’t know why that is, but I intend to make it more accessible to them.”
Riley said her job goes beyond showing up to the doctor. She recently helped an Abegweit First Nation member obtain a birth certificate to access health care.
Changing practices
Health PEI officials are trying to make Indigenous practices in hospitals more consistent, the agency said in an email to CBC News.
One request from Arsenault-Ellands has already led to action, the email said.
“Health PEI has historically allowed smudge ceremonies in its facilities. However, in recent months we have realized that this practice is not always consistent in every facility. We are currently developing a policy that will be more steadfast offer around the process of responding to this request.”
I hope we can work very closely together and make care for all indigenous people inclusive.– Shelby Arsenault-Ellands
Arsenault-Ellands said it’s important to have people with similar cultural backgrounds helping members of the Mi’kmaw community navigate the system.
She said non-Indigenous caregivers still have some learning to do — and hopes she can help with that.
“I hope we can work very closely together and make care for all indigenous peoples inclusive,” she said.
