The OFIFC Calls on the Province and Ontario Health Systems to Work with Indigenous Communities and Organizations on Heather Winterstein Inquest Recommendations

Press Release

April 23, 2026

Toronto, ON – The Ontario Federation of Indigenous Friendship Centres (OFIFC) is pleased that the Heather Winterstein Inquest jury has adopted our most urgent recommendations to combat systemic bias and anti-Indigenous racism in Ontario’s healthcare system and prevent future deaths in similar circumstances.

Heather Winterstein, a 24-year-old Indigenous woman and member of the Cayuga Nation with ties to Six Nations of the Grand River, died in Dec. 2021 after being discharged from St. Catharines General Hospital. Despite experiencing severe pain, she was sent home with only Tylenol. She returned to the hospital the next day by ambulance, waited more than two-and-a-half hours, and later collapsed and died. She had a treatable strep infection.

“Our hearts are with Heather’s family and loved ones, for whom this inquest opened a raw wound.” said Sean Longboat, Executive Director of the OFIFC. “It took a lot of courage to demand this inquest and sit through the testimony. It was their strength that compelled this call for accountability. While nothing can bring Heather back, the jury’s recommendations outline a clear and necessary path forward – one that can help ensure no other Indigenous person faces what to happened to Heather.”

The OFIFC was a party participating in the inquest, due to its expertise in anti-Indigenous racism and delivering culturally appropriate services.

The OFIFC recommendations that were adopted by the jury include:

• The Ministry of Health provide dedicated funding to Indigenous organizations and First Nations, Métis, and Inuit communities to build and expand primary care and mental health services.

• The Ministry of Health adopt mandatory, ongoing, Indigenous-led cultural safety training for all publicly funded hospitals, including training on substance use and mental health stigma for all clinical and non-clinical hospital staff.

• The Ministry of Health implement a continuous evaluation process to monitor progress in province‑wide delivery of cultural safety, substance use, and mental‑health stigma training – and allow external Indigenous organizations to monitor the effectiveness of these training initiatives.

• Ontario hospitals to take a concerted effort to strengthen and expand partnerships with Indigenous organizations and communities to meaningfully participate in co-delivering health services.

• Ontario Hospitals establish Indigenous-focused care teams with clinicians who can provide secondary medical opinions, review charts, and guide colleagues in providing culturally safe care for Indigenous patients.

Above all, the OFIFC reaffirms Indigenous peoples’ rights to design, deliver, and receive Indigenous-led healthcare that reflects their realities and responds with compassion and cultural safety so that no one is left to navigate trauma or crisis alone.

“This inquest has shined a light on the tremendous strength and resolve of Heather Winterstein. She depended on a system that was never designed to support her,” added Longboat. “She faced profound structural obstacles with courage and determination, and in doing so, she became an inspiration for Indigenous people and many Canadians.”

“These recommendations must lead to measurable change in how Indigenous people are treated in this province.” Longboat stated. “The OFIFC is looking forward to working with the Province of Ontario and healthcare systems on the swift implementation of these recommendations.”

IHT4