Oct 04, 2024
Wabano Centre says new criteria needed to fight identity fraud
When Cheri Power tried to book a new round of therapy this week at her clinic of 16 years, she got an unwelcome email.
“You must provide proof of Indigenous ancestry,” it said.
It was a new policy, the Wabano Centre for Aboriginal Health informed her. She would need a status card or an official letter from a federally recognized band.
Power has relied on the Ottawa clinic for her doctor, for mental health and addiction support and for everything from nutritionists to chiropractors. Though she’s able to hold onto her doctor for now, she was devastated to read that she would lose access to other services with so little warning.