Scaling the work: 2018–2023

Province: British Columbia
Funded Partner: First Nations Health Authority

Working with BC Cancer, Métis Nation British Columbia, BC Association of Aboriginal Friendship Centres, First Nations Health Authority aimed to complete key activities to contribute towards the implementation of the shared Improving Indigenous Cancer Journeys in BC: A Road Map. Project activities focused on:

• Developing and implementing a culturally appropriate cancer prevention and screening awareness communications campaign.
• Developing and mailing out tailored cancer information materials for health providers and First Nations community members.
• Developing a cancer awareness webpage on the First Nations Health Authority’s website.
• Developing palliative care information materials for First Nations community members.
• Advancing cancer data linkage work to better understand First Nations cancer incidence and survival rates as well as screening service usage.

Province: Alberta
Funded Partner: Alberta First Nations Information Governance Centre (AFNIGC)

AFNIGC aimed to develop a First Nations Cancer Strategy, with a focus on:

• • Improving access to and use of cancer data.
  • Increasing access and participation in cancer screening.
  • Increasing knowledge and awareness of cancer and cancer prevention.
  • Availability of collaborative processes and mechanisms in cancer care services and delivery.

In addition, AFNIGC worked with Alberta Oncology Champions and Screening Programs at Alberta Health Services to identify cultural competence training needs for care providers in First Nations communities and develop education modules and resources. Sustainability of both key activities was supported by AFNIGC engagement with the Department of Indigenous Services Canada and a Statement of Shared Commitment signed January 25, 2018.

Province: Saskatchewan
Funded Partner: Northern Inter-Tribal Health Authority

In partnership with the Saskatchewan Cancer Agency, the Northern Inter-Tribal Health Authority’s project focused on:

• Understanding cancer care needs and cancer burden, including gaps in the path of care for First Nations peoples.
• Increasing knowledge and awareness about cancer control.
• Developing and implementing cancer prevention and control programs.
• Establishing sustainable relationships through knowledge mobilization and knowledge translation.
• Accessing, analyzing and reporting cancer data specific to First Nations through a data sharing request to Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada to inform community health program planning and care delivered by the Saskatchewan Cancer Agency.
• Building on the report findings and community engagement.
• Incorporating cancer prevention and awareness education into existing chronic disease programming.

Province: Ontario
Funded Partner: Kenora Chiefs Advisory (KCA)

The project aimed to implement Ontario Health’s Indigenous Cancer Strategies specific to the communities represented by KCA as well as the surrounding area. Project activities focused on:

• Developing a Traditional Healing and Cultural Safety Program to support bicultural approaches to care for First Nations patients.
• Working with Ontario Health and CancerCare Manitoba to explore opportunities to address geo-political barriers to the provision of cancer care closer to home.

Province: New Brunswick
Funded Partner: Tobique Indian Band Health Department (Neqotkuk Health Centre)

This project focused on:

• Identifying gaps, existing initiatives, challenges, successes in cancer care for First Nations in New Brunswick.
• Strengthening partnerships between First Nations and New Brunswick cancer system partners.
• Developing and planning for the implementation of a cancer strategy for First Nations in New Brunswick.

Province: Prince Edward Island
Funded Partner: Lennox Island First Nation

The project focused on:

• Developing a cancer care strategy for the Mi’kmaq communities of PEI.
• Making progress towards improving cancer surveillance and data sharing agreements for First Nations.
• Designing and implementing community-based, culturally appropriate cancer navigation and care systems.
• Building capacity of community health staff, Elders, healers and natural helpers to support cancer care journeys.
• Increasing awareness of Mi’kmaq cancer care needs among Health PEI cancer care leaders and providers.
• Further developing relationships with Health PEI policy and program staff as well as cancer centre care providers.

Province: Nova Scotia
Funded Partner: Union of Nova Scotia Mi’kmaq

This project focused on:

• Implementing a Mi’kmaw youth healthy living social media campaign.
• Creating a culturally and linguistically appropriate cancer education session and delivering this within each Mi’kmaw community.
• Developing and distributing a Mi’kmaq cancer patient guide and related communication materials to Mi’kmaq community members.
• Developing a Cancer Care Strategy for the Mi’kmaq of Nova Scotia that values Mi’kmaq community strengths and cancer care needs.
• Facilitating agreements and seeking funding and partnerships to ensure strategy implementation.

Province: Quebec
Funded Partner: First Nations of Québec and Labrador Health and Social Services Commission

The project focused on:

• Refreshing an existing profile of cancer burden among First Nations in Québec.
• Developing a training program focused on increasing health care and social service provider knowledge of cancer and the unique cultural needs and priorities of First Nations peoples.
• Funding and providing support to member communities’ cancer-focused projects.

Province: Ontario
Funded Partner: Tungasuvvingat Inuit (TI)

The project focused on the implementation of Ontario Health’s Aboriginal Cancer Strategy III priorities through an Inuit lens in the following ways:

• Developing Inuit-specific tobacco cessation resources and peer mentorship.
• Increasing participation in organized screening among Inuit.
• In collaboration with Cancer Care Ontario, building on existing cultural competence training to focus on Inuit-specific cultural safety and sensitivity.

TI worked closely with the Indigenous Cancer Care Unit at Ontario Health to ensure alignment and integration between the two organizations.

Province: Québec
Funded Partner: Nunavik Regional Board of Health and Social Services

The focus of this project included:

• Conducting community engagement to inform the development of a Nunavik-specific cancer strategy and implementation plan.
• Developing and implementing the Inuktitut medical glossary application for Nunavik cancer patients and health care professionals.
• Planning and implementing improved patient liaison and support services for patients needing to travel to Montreal for care.
• Planning and implementing improvements to telehealth services.

Province: Newfoundland and Labrador
Funded Partner: Nunatsiavut Government

This project focused on:

• Developing and utilizing culturally safe data collection methodologies to meaningfully capture the experiences of Indigenous patients in Labrador, their family members and caregivers on the journey to diagnosis including community engagement.
• Developing reports with findings specific to Indigenous groups in Labrador for future implementation activities.
• Developing tools and resources to support the pre-diagnosis journey.

Province: British Columbia
Funded Partner: Métis Nation British Columbia

Working with BC Cancer, First Nations Health Authority, and BC Association of Aboriginal Friendship Centres, Métis Nation British Columbia implemented a road map for improving Indigenous cancer journeys in BC. The project focused on:

• Developing a Métis Health and Wellness Plan, leveraging learning from the joint cancer strategy development, to inform Métis-specific screening and prevention activities.
• Strengthening relationships with each Regional Health Authority and BC Cancer regional centre, through the Regional Health Coordinators.
• Establishing a data linkage between the Métis citizenship registry and the BC Cancer registry.

Province: Alberta
Funded Partner: Métis Nation of Alberta

The project focused on developing an Alberta Métis Cancer Strategy including:

• Developing culturally appropriate cancer resources and materials for Métis Albertans.
• Creating a Métis Cancer Journey Video Resource guide to inform service providers.
• Developing Métis-specific content for an online cultural safety course specific to cancer.

Province: Saskatchewan
Funded Partner: Prince Albert Métis Women’s Association

In collaboration with regional and provincial partners, the Prince Albert Métis Women’s Association’s project focused on identifying, documenting, and disseminating information on systemic barriers and challenges in the cancer journey faced by urban Indigenous patients. The goal was to improve the quality, equity, seamlessness, and cultural safety of the cancer care system.

Province: Saskatchewan
Funded Partner: Métis Nation-Saskatchewan

In collaboration with Saskatchewan Cancer Agency, Saskatchewan Health Authority and the University of Saskatchewan Department of Community Health and Epidemiology, Métis Nation-Saskatchewan focused this project on:

• Identifying Métis-specific priorities and needs through community engagement and needs assessment.
• Identifying and analyzing Métis-specific cancer data through a data sharing agreement and collaboration with the Saskatchewan Cancer Agency.
• Creating a database framework for Métis patients that will allow for disease surveillance, work that builds on the “First Nations and Métis Cancer Surveillance Program” funded by the Partnership from 2014-2017.
• Supporting Métis cancer patients’ access to cancer care through transportation and travel funding.

Province: Manitoba
Funded Partner: Manitoba Métis Federation

This project focused on identifying and developing tools and resources for education on cancer prevention, diagnosis and treatment and end-of-life care, with the goal of creating a cancer strategy for Red River Métis Citizens. The strategy was developed with input from Métis communities with a focus on Elders, youth and those experiencing cancer. Activities included:

• Conducting an evidence-based review of programs, policies and resources for education on cancer.
• Developing Métis-specific tools and resources for education.
• Developing relationships between health care systems, Manitoba Métis Federation, and Métis citizens.
• Developing a cancer strategy for Métis citizens in Manitoba that addresses Métis needs and supports individuals and families living with cancer.

Province: Ontario
Funded Partner: Métis Nation of Ontario (MNO)

This project focused on implementation of Ontario Health’s Aboriginal Cancer Strategy III priorities through a Métis lens, including:

• Developing Métis-specific tobacco cessation resources and the Métis component of the Indigenous Smokers Helpline in partnership with the Canadian Cancer Society.
• Delivering Métis-specific healthy living workshops, including training of facilitators for ongoing workshop delivery.
• Promoting smoking cessation and healthy living through the Champions of Change video series, highlighting Métis citizens’ stories.

Province: National
Funded Partner: Métis National Council (MNC)

This project focused on:

• Identifying and documenting Métis Nation cancer priorities and risk factors through the development of a commercial tobacco consumption and smoking cessation summary document and a national summary document of Métis cancer priorities.
• Sharing Métis-specific cancer information with health system partners through knowledge exchange activities such as a Métis Health Forum.
• Sharing cancer control information among Métis Governing Members through MNC Health Committee.

Province: Manitoba
Funded Partner: Rural Municipality of St. Laurent

A Community Connector was employed by the Rural Municipality of St. Laurent to assist residents of the municipality along the full cancer continuum, from prevention and screening to treatment, survivorship or end-of-life care. The Community Connector participated in community connector training developed and offered by CancerCare Manitoba (CCMB). The project focused on:

• Developing a community profile for St. Laurent, detailing the available services and supports, along with potential challenges or barriers to participation in cancer care. This community profile would be part of CCMB’s web-based community profiles.
• Developing an evaluation framework for assessing the impact of the Community Connector and community profile. The framework and evaluation activities would align with and contribute to the evaluation of Community Connectors and community profiles by CCMB.

Province: Alberta
Funded Partner: Cancer Care Alberta

Cancer Care Alberta, in collaboration with stakeholders, developed a First Nations, Métis, and Inuit Cancer Action Plan focused on concrete actions to improve the experiences and outcomes for Indigenous peoples with cancer in Alberta. In addition, Cancer Care Alberta collaborated with First Nations and Métis communities as well as a Friendship Centre to address priority actions for immediate change. Project activities focused on culturally responsive care, relationship/trust building, and care closer to home, among others.

Province: Manitoba
Funded Partner: CancerCare Manitoba

Working with a network of project partners, CancerCare Manitoba focused on a Roadmap to Cancer Control for Manitoba, which identified CancerCare Manitoba’s commitment to new and enhanced access to services for First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples. Specifically, the work focused on:

• Establishing a Community Connectors Program that provides cancer-specific training to health and social care providers from Indigenous communities to enhance cancer navigation services available to First Nations, Inuit and Métis patients and families.
• Increasing knowledge of First Nations, Métis and Inuit communities and improving health care providers’ ability to establish safe care and transition plans by developing online Community Profiles in collaboration with communities.
• Actively facilitating staff access to training on cultural safety.

Province: Saskatchewan
Funded Partner: Saskatchewan Cancer Agency

The Saskatchewan Cancer Agency worked in partnership with the Saskatchewan Health Authority, Northern Inter-Tribal Health Authority, Métis Nation-Saskatchewan and others, with a focus on:

• Developing a Culturally Responsive Organizational Strategy to guide the delivery of culturally responsive care.
• Integrating and embedding cultural responsiveness training for staff and leadership.
• Working to increase First Nations and Métis staff recruitment and retention in the Agency.
• Developing tools and process to guide staff in working appropriately and respectfully with First Nations and Métis patients, families and communities.

Province: Newfoundland and Labrador
Funded Partner: Eastern Health

In partnership with Miawpukek First Nation, Qalipu First Nation, NunatuKavut Community Council, and Nunatsiavut Government, this project focused on:

• Developing a provincial Indigenous Cancer Framework for Newfoundland and Labrador to inform policy decisions around cancer care.
• Developing screening participation profiles (scorecards) for Indigenous communities on the island portion of the province.
• Developing and distributing a Transitions in Care Action Plan and promoting the use of resources developed in the previous funding initiative by health and community partners.

Territory: Yukon
Funded Partner: Government of Yukon

The Government of Yukon worked in partnership with all 14 Yukon First Nations and the Chief Medical Officer of Health. The project focused on:

• Developing a First Nations Cancer Strategy that reflects the priorities and needs of Yukon First Nations as expressed through engagement and dialogue
• Laying the foundation for the creation of a Yukon Cancer Registry. The registry includes peoples-specific data that is meaningful for Yukon First Nations communities and builds a better understanding of the cancer journey by co-designing a data governance structure in partnership with the 14 Yukon First Nations.
• Conducting a mobile mammography screening feasibility study.
• Collaborating with Yukon First Nations to build resources that support individual engagement, awareness and access to cancer care services and health promotion activities.

Territory: Nunavut
Funded Partner: Government of Nunavut

The activities of this project involved:

• Developing and implementing a pilot organized CRC screening program.
• Supporting the production of an updated Nunavut cancer report.
• Initiating strategic planning to define future work in priority areas such as tobacco cessation, Nunavut cancer plan, data monitoring and reporting, and other priorities as identified.

Territory: Northwest Territories
Funded Partner: Government of Northwest Territories Health and Social Services

This project focused on planning, developing and implementing a centralized, territorial colorectal cancer screening program using a peoples-specific, phased-in approach within Northwest Territories. The project focused on:

• Establishing a CRC screening program and embedding related processes within the NWT health system.
• Providing screening for all eligible people living in the NWT for colorectal cancer.
• Defining the referral pathway for endoscopy services for the CRC screening program.
• Strengthening community trust in the health care system.
• Advancing public knowledge and uptake of colorectal cancer screening practices
• Educating Nurses in Charge, Community Health Nurses and Community Health Representatives on CRC screening guidelines, referral pathways and their roles/responsibilities in the screening process.

Territory: Northwest Territories
Funded Partner: Government of Northwest Territories Health and Social Services

The Government of Northwest Territories worked in partnership with First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples, organizations and governments to continue to implement Charting our Course: Northwest Territories Cancer Strategy 2015-2025. Specifically, the project focused on:

• Enhancing electronic medical record systems to capture standardized, cancer-specific data for First Nations, Inuit, and Métis populations to support clinical decision-making.
• Developing training plans, cultural competency resources for cancer navigators and health care providers, while also increasing awareness and understanding of navigation services among patients, families, and care providers.
• Collaborating with Alberta Health Services to refine care pathways and scale effective care approaches.
• Collecting and applying feedback from NWT residents with cancer to inform quality improvement efforts.
• Expanding public-facing resources to better support NWT residents affected by cancer

Province/Territory: National
Funded Partner: Canadian Indigenous Nurses Association

Working with a network of partners, the Canadian Indigenous Nurses Association focused on:

• Developing a National Indigenous Health Care Provider Partnership collaboration to address cancer-related issues in the Indigenous population.
• Developing an Indigenous Knowledge Translation Framework in Cancer Control to support culturally competent and culturally safe cancer care and screening services for First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples.

Province/Territory: National
Funded Partner: Canadian Virtual Hospice

In collaboration with a network of national partners, Canadian Virtual Hospice focused on:

• Developing online videos and resources to inform and support advance care planning among First Nations, Inuit and Métis populations.
• Expanding the content on LivingMyCulture.ca to include Indigenous storytellers from more jurisdictions.
• Developing guided learning modules for people working in healthcare on the delivery of culturally safer palliative care.
• Collaborating with partners to ensure the uptake of resources through engagement and outreach knowledge mobilization activities.

Province/Territory: National
Funded Partner: Canadian Cancer Society

In partnership with a network of agencies and governing bodies, the Canadian Cancer Society focused on:

• Developing and implementing relevant commercial tobacco cessation services for First Nations, Inuit, Métis, and urban Indigenous communities, including online resources and cessation support by phone, text and live chat.
• Conducting extensive community engagement and consultation with First Nations, Inuit, Métis, and urban Indigenous community partners in Ontario, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba to assess needs, seek guidance, and co-develop tobacco cessation services with an understanding of Indigenous health and wellness, and in the context of distinct cultures, rights and circumstances.
• Undertaking a scan to increase engagement and understanding of Inuit commercial tobacco users’ cessation needs across Canada.