NORWAY HOUSE – In Norway House Cree Nation, Manitoba, the Honourable Jane Philpott, Minister of Indigenous Services Canada (ISC), announced the Government of Canada will invest $100 million over the next five years for the construction of the Norway House Cree Nation Health Centre of Excellence.
“Today is a historic day for our community, Norway House Cree Nation is honoured that Indigenous Services Canada recognizes the strength and capacity of our nation to design and build this facility. This new state of the art facility will not only address the health care needs of our community, but will also create education, training and employment opportunities for our people, while empowering our health programs to further strengthen partnerships with all stakeholders and enhance community-based services,” comments Chief Larson Anderson, Norway House Cree Nation.
The driving force behind this project is the community of Norway House Cree Nation, and community members have been leading the planning and design of the centre, based on the current and future needs of the community.
“Our Government is fully committed to supporting First Nations-led health transformation in our shared priority of improving health outcomes for First Nations people. Today’s announcement for a new health facility in Norway House Cree Nation is an example of our government’s partnership in this endeavour, and I congratulate Chief Anderson and the entire community for their leadership in making this project a reality. In the future this facility will be the largest health centre in Manitoba history under First Nations leadership,” says Jane Philpott, M.D., P.C., M.P. Minister of Indigenous Services.
The fully integrated health facility will provide emergency, in-patient, diagnostic community-based programs and services to the 8,000 residents of Norway House Cree Nation and the surrounding region. This new facility will replace the existing Norway House Hospital.
The long-term plan is for the facility to be operated by the community. The Norway House Cree Nation Health Centre of Excellence will be the largest health centre in Manitoba history under First Nations control.
“The development of this health centre is the culmination of 30 years of vision and planning; starting with the birth of adult education and post-secondary education in our community which has resulted in Norway House graduating our own nurses, physician, x-ray technicians, lab technicians and support staff. This is a health centre that will be built by Indigenous people, run by Indigenous people, in our territory and using our traditional language to serve our community and teach future healthcare providers. When we speak of improving health outcomes of Indigenous peoples of Canada, Norway house will be at the forefront of that change,” according to Dr. Courtney Campbell Leary, MD. Lecturer Department of Family Medicine University of Manitoba Site education lead Norway House and. Member of Norway House Cree Nation.
“The federal government’s investment in health infrastructure in Norway House is a significant step to address the current healthcare inequity in this community. In addition to addressing the healthcare needs of the community, it will continue to serve as a training hub for physicians who will go on to work in other under-serviced areas in Manitoba and Canada,” states Dr. Adrienne Morrow, Chief of Staff, Norway House Hospital & Senior Medical Advisor, NHCN Health Centre of Excellence:
