We are grateful for the opportunity to support the important work, ongoing growth, increased understanding, and commitments to Indigenous Peoples by Kingston Community Health Centres, (KCHC), and the Frontenac, Lennox & Addington Ontario Health Team, (FLA OHT).

While we are aware both are systems, and systems can be inherently complex, often leading to be slow to change, we have been appreciative that both spaces have continued to listen, learn, and act on what they have heard to better serve and build meaningful and respectful relationships with Indigenous Peoples. 

Three Things and Kingston Community Health Centres

In 2013 Three Things Consulting in partnership with Kingston Community Health Centres, (in particular their Pathways to Education program), the City of Kingston, and the Students Commission of Canada, and many other local organizations, we celebrated the release of The Kingston Youth Strategy, which was endorsed by city council and 40 Kingston organizations.  This partnership cemented a strong relationship between KCHC and Three Things, and we continued to support the important work being undertaken by the health and community services being offered at KCHC.  Since then we have supported cultural exchanges, professional development, partnership support, and Board engagement, and in return KCHC has been a champion of our projects and programs as well as home to many of our special projects and opportunities for youth and community in Kingston. 

Three Things and FLA OHT

In the fall of 2020, local grandmothers engaged Three Things Consulting to host a virtual Circle on health care and wellness to explore the needs of the Indigenous communities in Kingston, Frontenac, Lennox and Addington that could be helpful in the development of the FLA OHT. 

We continued our work and role by holding further Circles and discussions which generated the Insights, Ideas and Voices from Members of the Indigenous Communities in FL&A report that could help shape a meaningful role for Indigenous Peoples in the ongoing development of the FLA OHT.  It included eight recommendations and further learning from the voices of the participants.

From what we heard we generated further learning tools that were shared with those in the early development of the FLA OHT, and we remain grateful to Elder Mae Louise Campbell, Kanonhsyonne Janice C. Hill, and Elder Bernard Nelson who all shared the gift of their knowledge, understanding, and perspectives with the leadership and members of the FLA OHT. 

We were tasked with identifying and recruiting community members to participate in the next stage of development of the Ontario Health Team model.  It was community members who identified those they believed could and would represent their interests in the further development of the FLA OHT.  

It’s not surprising that, in 2020 and 2021 there was a genuine interest in having Indigenous engagement in the development of the then new Frontenac, Lennox and Addington Ontario Health Team, nor does it need to be acknowledged as groundbreaking or change making.  It was simply the right thing to do. 

Components of the Indigenous Health and Wellness Strategic Advancement in KFL&A project which Three Things has undertaken with the support of KCHC and the FLA OHT is again, simply the right thing to do.  It is an opportunity to reflect on what was recommended three years ago while providing support for the further learning, space and place development, and systemic change; all steps further towards health equity for Indigenous Peoples in the region. 

These are three components of the project.

Piloting the process with Kingston Community Health Centres, engaging their internal teams to review, enhance, or develop policies with direct intention for more relevant and respectful care for Indigenous patients, families, clients, participants, staff, and volunteers.

Working with up to 5 OHT partners / members, who have an interest and commitment to process, using templates and supporting the creation / enhancement of policies, processes, and procedures to strengthen the quality of care of Indigenous patients, and experience of Indigenous staff and volunteers.

Are you an OHT member and would you like to learn more or explore how we can support a review / development of policies for your health space?  Contact us at [email protected]. 

We have been hosting our sharing and learning Circles for more than a decade, helping non-Indigenous people build their knowledge and understanding while strengthening their cultural capacity and confidence that supports relationship development, increased quality of services, supports with and for Indigenous Peoples, and greater equity for all. 

We will be supporting 4 OHT members, who will be invited to host a Three Things Indigenous Wellness and Awareness Circle, for up to 20 people. The desired outcome is the increased cultural confidence and capacity of leadership, decision makers, and front-line staff to strengthen the well being of Indigenous patients, families, clients, participants, staff, and volunteers. 

In September 2024 we will be offering Zoom based 1 – 3 hour sessions to support FLA OHT members gain a greater understanding of how the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation came to be and what can be done, individually, and as a collective, to move forward the path of truth telling informed reconciliation actions in health care spaces. These sessions will address components such as:

History and Roots of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
Call to Action: What You Can Do
Lived Experiences of Indigenous Peoples: Challenges, Strengths and Hope
Beyond Orange Shirts and Social Posts
Building Reciprocal Relationships
Land Acknowledgement Sniff Test

Click here to register for one of these sessions and we will follow up within 3 business days.

Working with up to 6 OHT members, who will develop relationships with local and regional Indigenous artists, creators, knowledge keepers, Elders and/or Grandmothers, will use various mediums to recognize, celebrate, honour and showcase Indigenous approaches to well being. Each piece will be anchored in teaching(s), knowledge sharing, and/or recognition of Indigenous Peoples and / or their contributions to health systems. Members could include hospitals, health systems, service providers, primary care clinics/ or other members of the FLA OHT.

We will walk those interested through a process of questions that can help in the planning (and determining best fit) for the project.  In our initial conversation we will explore content, logistics, accessibility, documentation, and staffing / internal needs (pre/during and post).  Contact us at [email protected] if you are interested in exploring this opportunity.