b'HEALTH & WELL-BEINGA CHANGING HEALTHCARE SYSTEMBy Matthew BradfordPrioritizing Indigenous womens health to ensure strong A families and healthy communities cross Canada, IndigenousWe started the vaccine clinic in responseDilico Anishinabek Family Care Clinic, medical professionalsto the lack of access for urban Indigenousthe Thunder Bay District Health Unit, and and advocates havepeople to be vaccinated during COVID,medical professionals from the Northern stepped up to enhancerecalls Christina Ortolan, CommunityOntario School of Medicine (NOSM) the quality and accessibility of healthcareDevelopment Manager of HealthUniversity, the clinic began as an initiative services for Indigenous women andPrograms at ONWA. Even though theto provide members of the Indigenous their families. Indigenous population was priority onecommunity with a safe and welcoming for the vaccine rollout, they did not haveplace to receive their vaccinations. In Ontario, an important contribu- equitable access. Fortunately, several tion was made during the COVID-19partners came together to make this massOur focus was to provide vaccines where pandemic, when healthcare partnersvaccination clinic possible. they were at and how they needed [them], across the Thunder Bay region joinedwhether that was in their car if they didnt The clinic borrows its name from thewant to come in or on a bench outside, the Ontario Native Womens AssociationOjibwe term of respect for women Elders,says Ortolan. We also had volunteers (ONWA) in opening the Mindimooyenhwhich means The one who holds thingsthere to explain what the vaccine was Health Clinic.together. Launched in partnership withand answer any questions to help people Nurses and additional team members actively involved in the Mindimooyenh Health Clinic in Thunder Bay. From left: Carley Kostyshyn, Kate Hanson, Tina Ortolan, Ashley Anderson, Mellissa Giba, Chara Ortolan, Laura Parise, Winter McCrady, Amy Iserhoff, Kaija MacKay'