Inuit Health Partners in Champlain Sign Relationship Protocol with Cancer Care Ontario

Today representatives from several Inuit health service providers in the Champlain region signed a Relationship Protocol with Cancer Care Ontario to formalize their partnership and outline the principles of how the parties will work together to address common cancer control priorities. The agreement was signed at The Ottawa Hospital.

One of the key priorities in Cancer Care Ontario’s third Aboriginal Cancer Strategy (ACS III) is to build productive relationships based on trust and respect. This Relationship Protocol, which involves 5 key Inuit health providers (Tungasuvvingat Inuit, Akausivik Inuit Family Health Team, Pauktuutit Inuit Women of Canada, Larga Baffin and Ottawa Health Services Network Inc.) will foster and support the relationship between all parties as they work to improve the health and well-being of the growing Inuit community in Ontario.

"The purpose of this partnership is to build on existing and joint initiatives to improve and advance cancer care and chronic disease prevention with Inuit communities in the Champlain region," says Paula Doering, Regional Vice President, Cancer Services, Champlain Regional Cancer Program. "It also ensures that Inuit traditions are respected and that we are being inclusive of their input when implementing local initiatives."

"This partnership marks a historic moment in our journey to realizing our shared goal of reducing the burden of cancer for the Inuit people in Ontario," says Michael Sherar, President and CEO, CCO. "We look forward to building on this important work together in a way that honours the Aboriginal Path of Well-Being."

The facts:

• Inuit, First Nation, and Métis peoples have higher mortality rates from preventable cancers, show higher rates of some modifiable risk factors and tend to present with later-stage cancers at the time of diagnosis.
• Within Ontario, there are approximately 5,000 Inuit with large groups situated in the Ottawa-Gatineau and Toronto areas.
• More research is needed to understand cancer amongst Inuit in Ontario and this partnership will help enhance our knowledge.
• Since 2012, 5 Relationship Protocols have been signed between Cancer Care Ontario and First Nations groups. Cancer Care Ontario has also signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Métis Nation of Ontario as well as a Letter of Relationship with the Association of Iroquois and Allied Indians.
• ACS III is a comprehensive plan that guides how Cancer Care Ontario works with partners to improve the performance of the cancer system for First Nations, Inuit and Métis people from 2015-2019. ACS III focuses on 6 strategic priorities to improve health equity: build productive relationships; research and surveillance; prevention; screening; supportive care; and education.

ACS III is a direct deliverable of the Ontario Cancer Plan IV and reflects the shared priorities of Cancer Care Ontario, the Regional Cancer Programs and Aboriginal communities.

To contact an Aboriginal Patient Navigator who can help First Nations and other Aboriginal cancer patients and their families, please visit Cancer Care Ontario’s website.

About the participating Inuit Health Service Providers:

This Relationship Protocol involves 5 Inuit health providers and one observing organization, Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami.

Tungasuvvingat Inuit is an Inuit-specific provincial service that provides social support, cultural activities and counselling focused on meeting the needs of Inuit in Ontario.

Akausivik Inuit Family Health Team offers culturally grounded care, real access and competency capacity in local communities.

Pauktuutit Inuit Women of Canada is the national non-profit organization representing all Inuit women in Canada with a mandate to foster a greater awareness of the needs of Inuit women.

Larga Baffin is a full service boarding home in Ottawa which provides a safe and comfortable atmosphere for Inuit travelling from the Baffin region of Nunavut for medical care not available in their communities or at the Oikigtani General Hospital.

Ottawa Health Services Network Inc. provides nursing case management, coordination of medical care and delivery of specialty health services to the residents of the Qikiqtaaluk (Baffin) region of Nunavut who are referred to medical specialists in Ottawa.

Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami is the national voice of 60,000 Inuit living in 53 communities across the Inuvialuit Settlement Region (Northwest Territories). They are an observer of this Relationship Protocol.