2012Looking back, growing forward

Serving the community for 14 yearsEstablished in 1998, Wabano is a leader in community-based, holistic health care. The centre provides a combination of traditional healing, primary care, cultural programs, health promotion programs, community development initiatives, and social support services to more than 10,000 First Nations, Inuit and Métis people each year.

Our mission• Provide quality, holistic, culturally-relevant health services to First Nations, Inuit

and Métis in Ottawa• Engage in clinical, social, economic and cultural initiatives that promote the

health of Aboriginal people• Promote community-building through education and advocacy• Serve as a centre of excellence for urban Aboriginal health

Our vision A world in which First Nations, Inuit and Métis have achieved full and equitable access to the conditions of health, including: pride in ancestry, cultural reclamation, peace, shelter, educa-tion, food, income, a stable environment, resources, and social justice. And where the gifts and wisdom of First Nations, Inuit and Métis cultures are recognized as distinctive and beautiful.

www.wabano.com

“Our teachings, passed on through our culture, present us with the understanding and tools to create strong and healthy communities.” – Allison Fisher, Executive Director

Staff and community enjoy hot dogs and hamburgers at a BBQ fundraiser, which raised nearly $900 for the capital expansion campaign.

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Get in touch.299 Montreal RoadOttawa, ON K1L 6B8Clinic: 613-748-5999Programs: 613-748-0657wabano.com

Looking back, growing forwardA word from the board president and executive director

It’s been an exciting year filled with challenges and promise. Last fall, we uprooted our programs and services from our homebase at 299 Montreal Road to make way for construction as we expand to better serve the community.

We would like to extend a big thank you to Montfort Hospital, Rideau High School, the Parent Resource Centre, and the John Howard Society for generously donating space for our primary care clinic, cultural programs and administrative offices. We would also like to thank our many funders and donors for helping to make this expansion a reality. Through the Wabano Mamawi capital expansion campaign, we’re building new beginnings—together.

Growing forward, the expanded Wabano Centre will offer enhanced maternal and newborn wellness services, and social entreprise and youth training initiatives in catering and fashion. It will also feature a cultural gathering space which will be used for Wabano’s cultural celebrations, and will be available to the broader community for events, conferences and workshops.

For more than one-third of the city’s Aboriginal population, Wabano is a space of belonging—where they can live and celebrate their cultures. Through its design, the magnificent space we’re creating will honour culture as the centre of our community.

We look forward to celebrating the opening of the expanded Wabano Centre with you in early 2013.

Marsee. Miigwetch. Thank you. Merci.

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Allison Fisher, Executive Director and Pete Gauthier, Board President.

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Expanding to better serve the communityWalk by 299 Montreal Road and you’ll notice that the Wabano Centre for Aboriginal Health is under renovation. The centre is getting more than a face-lift—we’re wrapping up a $15 million project to create a 25,000 square-foot centre of excellence in Aboriginal health that bridges traditional knowledge and culture with contemporary health care.

The renovated centre will offer enhanced maternal wellness services and social enterprise initiatives. It will feature a rooftop garden commemorating residential

school survivors, and a cultural gathering space which, through rentals for celebrations, conferences and workshops, will help fund Wabano’s ongoing programs and services.

So far, we’ve raised more than half of our fundraising goal of $9.6 millon, but there’s still a long way to go.

Become a pillar of the community. Visit wabano.com to donate today.

To learn more about the capital expansion campaign, please contact Carlie Chase, Director of Initiatives at 613-748-0657 ext. 220.

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Friends old and new gathered around fire to ignite the spirit at Wabano galaOn National Aboriginal Day, more than 550 friends of Wabano came together to celebrate Aboriginal cultures at the 2012 Igniting the Spirit Gala. The flames of generosity burned brightly throughout the evening, raising $175,000 towards Wabano’s capital expansion campaign.

Fire, the theme of this year’s event, was at the centre of the Hampton Inn ballroom and the stage for First Nations, Inuit and Métis performances.

Traditional and contemporary art lit up the auction tables, including stone sculptures by Stewart Steinhauer and David General, and nature-inspired artwork by Christi Belcourt.

At the gala, the Rotary Club of Ottawa announced its commitment to raise $1.5 million towards Wabano’s capital expansion campaign, and Duchesnay Inc. announced a contribution of $25,000 towards the centre’s expansion.

Thank you to our generous supporters for making this event a success!

Throat singers Lynda Brown and Heidi Langille (left) and hoop dancer Lisa Odjig perform at the 2012 Igniting the Spirit Gala.

A friend in need ...is a friend indeed From January to March 2012, Montfort Hospital made it possible for Wabano to continue to service our Aboriginal patients while our centre at 299 Montreal Road underwent construction. Montfort provided Wabano with ample space, state-of-the-art amenities, and close attention to our needs—allowing our primary health care clinic to function with minimal disruption.

Because of the hospital’s close proximity to Wabano, patients were able to continue to access Wabano services at Montfort via the #12 bus.

“Through this partnership, Wabano and Montfort contributed to a new creation story in Vanier—one where we work together to make sure all people in the community are cared for,” says Executive Director Allison Fisher.

To Dr. Bernard Leduc and his team at Montfort, we say a heartfelt “Miigwetch” from Wabano staff and the community we serve.

Wabano thanks Montfort Hospital for donating space for its primary health care clinic. From left to right: Montfort Chief of Governance Michel Tremblay, Wabano Director of Health Services Mary Albota, Montfort President Dr. Bernard Leduc, Wabano Executive Director Allison Fisher and Wabano Director of Initiatives Carlie Chase.

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Wabano’s four service pillars

Family doctors & nurse practitioners

Walk-in clinic

Housing support

Addictions

Outreach

Therapists

Youth programs

Community kitchen

Seniors support

Cultural celebration

Workshops

Cultural sensitivitytraining

School presentations

Cultural events

Symposiums

Medical ClinicSocial &

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legend Current Services(inner circle)

Future Services(outer circle)

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Building community using “good medicine”Culture is the cornerstone of Wabano’s approach to health and wellness—and the centre of our community. Talking circles with visiting Elders, craft workshops, and medicine walks are commonplace in all our social and cultural programs which support individuals and families throughout the life cycle.

Connected youth = healthy youthMore than 40 youth and 10 families participated in Wabano’s back-to-school camp in August. Mornings started with Elders circles. Day-time activities included medicine walks, berry picking and traditional Aboriginal games.

“Our goal with the camp is to get the youth connected, to gain confidence through life skills, to learn healthy behaviours,” says Programs Director Vicky Laforge.

She continues: “First, we get the youth out on the land— for many it was their first time—and we let them have fun. And the neat thing is they all live together—the families, Wabano staff and Elders. Everybody contributes, everybody shares. It’s like a community. And what we see is that con-nected youth equals healthy youth.”

Laforge highlights the positive impact of bringing together dif-ferent generations: “By living together, youth see the parents and seniors model healthy behaviours, and the youth instantly pick up those behaviours and model them for their younger siblings and children.”

Wabano organizes two youth camps a year—one in March and one in the summer. The camps complement Wabano’s suite of youth activities which include an afterschool homework club, mentoring, young offender diversion, and fitness activities.

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Engaging and empowering seniorsFor Nathaniel Parant, one of Wabano’s Aging at Home coordinators, “good medicine” is about engaging seniors to empower themselves.

“Seniors want to take their health in their own hands. And they’re curious, hungry for their culture,” he says. “My role is to coordinate activities that provide a holistic approach for their continuing growth. Even as seniors, we grow as individuals.”

Using the medicine wheel as a model, Parant organizes activities that address the physical, emotional, mental and spiritual needs of his clients.

“We do laughing yoga. We drum. We invite Elders and traditional teachers, participate in ceremony. We recently created a papier-maché abundance tree—we focus on gratitude and giving back.”

For the more than 100 clients that accessed the Aging at Home program in the past year, Wabano is more than a place to gather, Wabano is their community.

In addition to day programming, Aging at Home helps connect clients to housing, income and legal supports, and offers transportation to appointments, and refer-rals to counsellors, Elders and health professionals.

Take in the culture! Join our communityJoin Wabano every Wednesday for Culture Night, open to the entire community. Activities include traditional teachings, crafts and children’s activities. For more information, contact our culture coordinator at 613-748-0657 ext. 222.

To learn more about Wabano’s social and cultural programs visit wabano.com or call 613-748-0657.

“Good medicine” is characterized by:• reclamation of culture as a pillar of healing• the teachings and healing practices of First

Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples• a contemporary model of quality, primary

health care• a focus on the individual in the context of family

and community• a belief in the wisdom of Elders, traditional

healers and teachers• a belief in the importance of ceremony and

celebration

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Mental health at Wabano—meeting people where they areWhen it comes to health—physical, mental, social or spiritual—the Wabano Centre for Aboriginal Health meets people where they are. Take for example the Working Hope program, which connects at-risk and distressed Aboriginal youth with culturally-based mental health and addictions supports in their community.

Through the program, a youth clinical therapist goes to schools and community service agencies across the city to reach youth in need. The youth are under a lot of stress: more than half come from rural or northern communities. More than half have a history of foster care, or are adopted. They face abuse in the home. They are homeless or “couch-surfing.” They live in poverty. They face legal troubles. They are in despair.

By going to the schools and community agencies, the therapist meets youth where they are. And from there, the therapeutic process begins. Through indi-vidual counselling, talking circles, cultural activities and life skills education, the therapist creates an environment for youth to feel they belong, they are compe-tent, thoughtful and generous.

Working Hope services children and youth ages 5 to 24 and receives referrals for counselling through Wabano’s clinic, other Wabano programs, and community partners such as Rideau High School, the Odawa Native Friendship Centre, and the Roberts Smart Centre. When Wabano launched the United Way Ottawa-funded program, it estimated that it would be able to serve 80 youth. In the first six months of the program, Wabano has supported 146 youth—and the number is growing.

Working Hope is just one of Wabano’s many mental health programs. The centre offers individual and group counselling for men and women in crisis and dealing with addictions, the impacts of historical trauma (e.g., suicidality, depression, anxiety) and violence. It also offers couples counselling, child and family art therapy, traditional healing, psycho-education, and cultural activities for the broader community.

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For more information about Wabano’s mental health services, please contact the director of mental health services at 613-748-0657 ext. 224.

415 clients accessed individual and group counselling

1658 participants in cultural healing programs and educational workshops

29 families served by Circle of Care—a traditional approach to families involved with the Children’s Aid Society

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Homelessness outreach: Making change happen, one person at a time by Joseph Moreau

As an addictions outreach worker with Wabano’s homelessness team, I remind First Nations, Inuit and Métis people of what it means to live in a good way. My job is to figure out where the wheel of their life is out of balance, and support them at the points of disharmony. And in turn, I help guide them out of despair, disease and death, and into health and life.

To me, making change happen means not turning a blind eye to a homeless young man on the cold streets of Ottawa. It means saying: “Hi, where are you headed?” It means having a coffee and quietly listening to his story of addictions and pain since childhood, and realizing that it is a privilege to hear the words which are a gift from him to me. It means helping him connect with our nurse practitioner and our clinic so that a disfiguring infection on his face can be treated and eventually cured. It means walking with him as a brother would, encouraging him to not let small-minded people steal his peace with racist comments, and walk calmly on his path. It means advocat-ing with employers and landlords until he is gainfully employed and housed in a clean and decent apartment in a good neighbourhood.

It means encouraging him as he looks at colleges and their entry requirements as he considers environmental sciences as a career path. His name is Trent Mackay and he is from the Carrier First Nation.

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To learn more about Wabano’s housing support, and mobile health and addictions outreach, please contact the homelessness director at 613-748-0657 ext. 208.

618 homeless clients served by mobile health and addictions outreach

117 homeless clients bridged to housing

257 homeless clients who accessed counselling

541 homeless clients who accessed health care

1305 participants in community kitchen

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Leaders in the communityWabano works with health organizations, community service agencies and schools to help them better understand our values and traditions, and the challenges our client population faces.

To meet growing community demand for cultural awareness and to better co-ordinate cultural activities within the centre, Wabano recently created a Culture Department. The department leads tours and presentations with schools and universities; cultural sensitivity training with community partners like the Ottawa Police Services; and coordinates Elder services in partnership with the Kumik Lodge at Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada. It also leads Wabano’s symposiums and cultural events.

Walking in Beauty – An Aboriginal Perspective on Mental Health and Addictions Last February, Wabano hosted a “Culture as Treatment” symposium on mental health and addictions. The symposium brought together Elders, leading aca-

demics, health professionals and policy experts to discuss the ongoing mental health impacts of residential schools, and the healing power of culture in restoring the health of individuals and communities. Speakers included Truth and Reconciliation Commissioner Marie Wilson, Elder Jan Longboat, Dr. Cynthia Wesley-Esquimaux, Dr. Lawrence J. Kirmayer, and Madeleine Dion Stout, among others. More than 200 professionals and community members participated in the symposium, which was organized in partnership with the Champlain Local Health

Integration Network.

Director of Mental Health Services Marianna Shturman, Elder Jan Longboat, Executive Director Allison Fisher and Madeleine Dion Stout take in a presenta-tion at the Culture as Treatment – Walking in Beauty Symposium in February 2012.

We believe that sharing the wisdom of First Nations, Inuit and Métis cultures with the broader community through public education and professional development opportunities will inspire them to join us in our circle.

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Working with and for the community— Wabano’s volunteersWabano relies on the generosity of volunteers to assist with our various programs and events. Our volunteers help with program activities, fundraising, event coordination, office work, and research.

“Each person has a gift and a role to play in the community”

—Ojibway Elder, Liza Mosher

Be a leader—get involved!Through the Volunteer Program, we help you find a placement that suits your skills, and we offer training and team-building activities.

To learn about current volunteer opportunities, visit wabano.com or contact our volunteer coordinator at 613-748-0657 ext. 317.

Volunteer Program Coordinator Kim Brown and Executive Director Allison Fisher recog-nize Nancy Longdale for her outstanding volunteerism.

Over the cold winter months, Wabano’s clinic was temporarily housed at Montfort Hospital due to construction at 299 Montreal Road. Three days a week, Nancy Longdale greeted Wabano clients with a smile at the entrance of the Montfort Hospital—and guided them towards our temporary clinic. Nancy is among the many dedicated and caring volunteers whose work at the centre is appreciated and honoured.

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Holistic, quality careIn the past year, Wabano’s primary health care clinic delivered holistic, quality care to more than 5,400 clients. Clients can see a family physician or nurse prac-titioner by appointment or through the walk-in clinic. They can also access one of our many health promotion programs.

Wabano’s approach to diabetes: a circle of careAs with all our programs, Wabano takes a circle-of-care approach to diabetes care and management—we meet clients where they are and surround them with the supports they need to be well. Clients can access diabetes screening and treatment through our clinic. They can also access nutrition counselling, foot care, and a variety of health and fitness activities through the Wabano Diabetes Program. The program takes a cultural approach to diabetes care, incorporating traditional teachings to educate clients on self-care and healthy living.

Since its launch in 2010, the Wabano Diabetes Program has served nearly 4,500 clients. The team, made up of nurses and a registered dietician, reaches out to Wabano’s youth, seniors and mental health programs, and to the broader community—including monthly visits to Centre 510, Oshki Kizis Lodge and the Biindaghen lunch program at the Sandy Hill Community Health Centre.

Beyond diabetes-specific care, Wabano offers a variety of healthy living programs and initiatives, including com-munity kitchens, a community garden, participation in the

Ottawa Good Food Box program, and a suite of fitness activities from running groups and yoga to Aboriginal “Booty Camp.”

“Through the community garden, we teach community members how to feed themselves and their families in a sustainable and cost-efficient way.” —Cindy Peltier, FASD program coordinator and community garden lead.

Primary health care clients

32 per cent of Wabano’s clients are 25 years-old or younger.

First Nations

Inuit

MétisOther

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Women’s health, and maternal and newborn wellness servicesIn addition to annual physical examinations and routine health maintenance appointments, Wabano offers Aboriginal women birth control advice, healthy sexuality counselling, menopause education, and referrals to internal mental health services and health promotion programs.

New and expecting moms can access pre- and postnatal care, nutrition coun-selling, and breast-feeding clinics. Women facing high-risk pregnancies due to addictions or concurrent disorders can seek care from our high-risk OB/GYN.

Once baby has arrived, new moms and dads can connect to social supports—and to one another—through activities organized through our perinatal and cultural programs.

Primary health care and health promotion programs and services available at Wabano:• Doctors and nurse practitioners, including

a high-risk OB/GYN and a pediatric NP• Diabetic outreach and nutrition counselling• Foot care clinic• Referrals to internal mental health services• Smoking cessation program• Lung health testing and education• Well woman care• Pre- and postnatal care• Chronic disease education, counselling and

follow-up• Chiropractic services• Support for families dealing with Fetal

Alcohol Spectrum Disorder

We’re accepting new patients. To register, call 613-748-5999 or visit the walk-in clinic.

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Thank you to our generous funders

Funding for programs and services—2011/12

Total funding for 2011/2012: $5,599,314

Audited financial statements available on request.

Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development CanadaAboriginal Healing and Wellness Strategy, Ministry of Community and Social ServicesCatholic Family ServicesChamplain Local Health Integration NetworkCity of OttawaCommunity Foundation of OttawaHealth CanadaMinistry of Children and Youth ServicesMinistry of Health and Long-Term Care

Ministry of Health PromotionMotivate CanadaMushkegowuk CouncilNational Aboriginal Health OrganizationOntario Federation of Indian Friendship CentresOntario Trillium FoundationPublic Health Agency of CanadaUnited WayUniversity of OttawaUrban Aboriginal Strategy

Provincial 68%

Federal 23%

Foundation/Other 7%Municipal 2%

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Board of Directors

Aboriginal Experiences • Aboriginal Family Festival • Action Lodgement • Addictions and Problem Gambling Services of Ottawa • Algonquin College • Alliance to End Homelessness • Anchorage • Anxiety Association of Ontario • Assembly of First Nations • Boys and Girls Club of Ottawa • CAMH • Canadian Aboriginal AIDS Network • Canadian Cancer Society: Smokers Help Line • Canadian Mental Health Association • Cancer Care Ontario • Carleton University • Catholic Family Services • Centre 454 • Centre 507• Centretown Community Health Centre • Champlain LHIN • CHEO • Children’s Aid Soci-ety of Ottawa • City of Ottawa: Tobacco Unit Community Crime Prevention Program • DIVA Foundation • Eastern Ontario Health Unit • First Peoples Group • Gignul Non-Profit Housing • Hope Recovery • Hospice • House of Hope • Housing Help • IBM • Inuit Housing • Iskotew Lodge • Kumik Lodge • Legacy of Hope Foundation • MAKONSAG • Mamarsavik Healing Centre • Metis Nation of Ontario • Minwaashin Lodge • Montfort Hospital • Mothercraft • Motivate Canada • North Lanark Community Health Centre • Oasis • Odawa Native Friendship Centre • Onen’to: Kon Treatment Centre • Ontario Telehealth Network • Ontario Works • Operation Go Home • Options Bytown Housing • Oshki Kizis Lodge • Ottawa Aboriginal Coalition • Ottawa Catholic School Board • Ottawa Council of Women • Ottawa Inuit Children’s Centre • Ottawa Mission • Ottawa Police Service • Ottawa Public Health • Ottawa Public Health Tobacco Prevention and Control • Ottawa Public Health Tobacco Prevention and Control • Ottawa Social Housing Registry • Ottawa Withdrawal Support Centre (Detox) • Ottawa-Carleton Detention Centre • Ottawa-Carleton Disctrict School Board • Probation & Parole Service • Pure Art Foundation • Quartier Vanier (Vanier BIA) • Queen Mary Elementary School • RCMP • Rideau High School • Rotary Club of Ottawa South • Royal Canadian Legion • Salvation Army • Salvation Army Hospice • Sandy Hill Community Health Centre • Shawenjeagamik Drop-In Centre • Sheperds of Good Hope • Somerset West Com-munity Health Centre • St. Michael Elementary School • Telfer School, University of Ottawa • Tewegan Non-Profit Housing • The Mission • The Well • Tungasuvvingat Inuit • United Way/Centraide Ottawa • University of Ottawa • University of Ottawa Department of Aboriginal Studies • University of Ottawa Department of Aboriginal Studies • Wedding Palace Bridal Show • YMCA-YWAC (National Capital Region) • Yogarific • Youth Services Bureau

Pete Gauthier, PresidentValorie Whetung, Vice-PresidentJohn Francis, Secretary-TreasurerTooneejoulee Kootoo-ChiarelloNaomi Recollet

Brian PelletierPaul SkanksColleen WhiteduckDarin McCorriston

Thank you to our committed partners

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