De dwa da dehs nye>s receives over $10M in Provincial Funding

Press Release

April 27th, 2022

It is with great excitement we announce provincial government investment of over $10M for the redevelopment of De dwa da dehs nye>s Aboriginal Health Centre.

This investment will provide De dwa da dehs nye>s with the space – and quality of space – required to provide appropriate and accessible health care and to deliver programs, appropriately sized, to meet the needs of Indigenous community in Hamilton. The current De dwa da dehs nye>s facility has not been able to meet community need for years. It is severely outdated and undersized and is not accessible to all who require its services. There are growing wait lists and inequitable access to care and program participation.

“The provincial government’s investment of over $10M for De dwa da dehs nye>s capital redevelopment will enable us to address the health access barriers identified in a survey of the Indigenous community in Hamilton, including waiting lists (48%) and lack of trust in health care providers (24%)” notes Bryanne Smart, Board Chair.

De dwa da dehs nye>s is the only urban Indigenous health care provider in the greater Hamilton area that provides a blend of western and Indigenous Traditional Medicine and as such is an integral part of the health care and social service system in Hamilton for urban First Nations, Inuit and Metis people. De dwa da dehs nye>s has been successfully providing culturally safe programs and services that are relationship based, welcoming and individual directed since 1998.

“As a member of the Indigenous Health Practitioner’s Task Force I am happy to celebrate with De dwa da dehs nye>s the infusion of resources to support the health and well-being of Indigenous people in Hamilton. These types of collaborative efforts by Indigenous organizations and governments demonstrate that we can move forward together to address inequities in the system and improve the experience of Indigenous people accessing health services.” Amy Montour, BScN, MSc, MD, CCFP (PC)

A circle of established partners has come together with a shared goal to establish a new and innovative Indigenous-led Well-Being Centre in the McQuesten neighbourhood of Hamilton, Ontario. This new community Centre of integrated health, family, social and housing services and supports will operate under the name Biindigen Well-Being Centre. The provincial government’s investments in De dwa da dehs nye>s Hamilton capital development will provide the foundation for the Biindigen Well-Being Centre.

For more information or to arrange an interview contact:

Naomi Samuel, Communications Consultant
De dwa da dehs nye>s Aboriginal Health Centre
nsamuel@dahac.ca
www.aboriginalhealthcentre.com

IHT5