SCO Adds Jordan’s Principle Coordinator at HSC Winnipeg Children’s Hospital

Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 20, 2022

ANISHINAABE AND DAKOTA TERRITORY, MB — The Southern Chiefs’ Organization (SCO) is pleased to announce that after working with Health Sciences Centre Winnipeg (HSC) Children’s Hospital and Indigenous Health for more than a year, a Jordan’s Principle Coordinator is now available at HSC Children’s to support First Nation children and their families, throughout their care at the facility.

“Having a presence at the largest health centre for children in this Territory is at the very core of Jordan’s Principle and critical to our work to support First Nation children and families,” stated SCO Grand Chief Jerry Daniels. “The majority of children at Children’s Hospital are First Nation children, and today I am so proud to see that a dedicated professional will be in place to ensure every child receives the supports and services they need.”

Jordan’s Principle is named in memory of Jordan River Anderson, a young boy from Norway House Cree Nation in Manitoba. Jordan was born in 1999 with multiple disabilities and stayed in the hospital from birth. When he was two years old, doctors confirmed that his care could continue outside of the hospital, in a special home suited to his medical needs. However, the federal and provincial governments could not agree on who should pay for his home-based care. As a result, Jordan never got to spend even one night at home, and he passed away at the age of five in the hospital.

“Our care teams provide medical services to children with a wide variety of health needs and who come from many different communities and backgrounds, and it is our goal to ensure that the access to and quality of those services is equitable,” said Nicole Sneath, Director, Health Services, Child Health, HSC Winnipeg. “The addition of a Jordan’s Principle Coordinator will improve the coordination of supports for First Nation patients receiving care in our facility while also providing valuable assistance to families in need of resources or services that can improve outcomes for their child.”

The Jordan’s Principle Coordinator at HSC Children’s Hospital will assist First Nation children and youth under 18 and their families in accessing programs, services, and supports to improve health, education, and social outcomes. Bonnie Murray, a citizen of Rolling River First Nation, has taken on this vital role effective July 2022.  She has extensive experience in patient advocacy including case management with Indigenous Health (WRHA) at St. Boniface Hospital, patient resource coordination, and coordinating Indigenous services at Selkirk Mental Health Centre.

While there is a mandated focus on building relationships with Indigenous communities, cultural training, acknowledging concerns about police conduct, and the IIU unit, in addition to other positive steps towards accountability the Community The creation of a Jordan’s Principle Coordinator at HSC Children’s builds on a similar SCO position at the Specialized Services for Children and Youth (SSCY) Centre that has been in place to support children and families since 2020. Working together with Jordan’s Principle staff from First Nations and Tribal Councils, as well as with SCO’s Non-Insured Health Benefits (NIHB) Navigator, they will ensure children and youth are provided with responsive and coordinated wrap-around health care services.

“I want to commend the leadership and child health care teams at HSC Children’s for sharing in our vision of equity when it comes to healthcare delivery,” concluded Grand Chief Daniels. “My hope and that of the southern Chiefs is that this announcement leads to improved outcomes for our children and our families.”

For more information on all of SCO’s Jordan’s Principle programming, be sure to visit OUR WEBSITE.

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The Southern Chiefs’ Organization represents 34 First Nations and more than 81,500 citizens in what is now called southern Manitoba. SCO is an independent political organization that protects, preserves, promotes, and enhances First Nations peoples’ inherent rights, languages, customs, and traditions through the application and implementation of the spirit and intent of the Treaty-making process.

Health Sciences Centre Winnipeg is Manitoba’s hospital with specialized support for trauma, neurosurgery, burn, transplant and psychiatric health. HSC Winnipeg Children’s Hospital provides highly specialized pediatric care in the areas of ambulatory, cardiac, emergency, dialysis, intensive medicine, mental health, neonatal and surgical care.

Indigenous Health works with programs and facilities in Winnipeg to identify, develop and implement culturally safe environments, practices, and services to support the holistic needs of First Nations, Métis and Inuit People.

For Media Inquiries:

204-806-6837

Email: Media@scoinc.mb.ca

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