Program Report: Nîsohkamâtowak—Helping Patients and Families Living With Kidney Disease in Northern Saskatchewan

• Published in: Canadian Journal of Kidney Health and Disease
• Main Authors: Blair, Tiffany, Babyn, Paul, Kewistep, Gilbert, Kappel, Joanne, Stryker, Rod, Ramsden, Vivian R., Neudorf, Cory, Levandoski, Carmen
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: SAGE Publications 2022
• Subjects: Program Report; First Nations
• Online Access: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8753229/; https://doi.org/10.1177/20543581211067071

PURPOSE OF THE PROGRAM: Nîsohkamâtowak, the Cree word for Helping Each Other, is an initiative to close gaps in kidney health care for First Nations and Métis patients, their families, and communities in northern Saskatchewan. Nîsohkamâtowak emerged from a collaboration between the Kidney Health Community Program and First Nations and Métis Health Services to find ways to deliver better care and education to First Nations and Métis people living with kidney disease while acknowledging Truth and Reconciliation and the Calls to Action. SOURCES OF INFORMATION: This article describes how traditional Indigenous protocols and storytelling were woven into the Nîsohkamâtowak events, gathering of patient and family voices in writing and video format, and how this work led to a collaborative co-designed process that incorporates the Truth and Reconciliation: Calls to Action into kidney care and the benefits we have seen so far. The teachings of the 4 Rs—respect, reciprocity, responsibility, and relevance, were critical to ensuring that Nîsohkamâtowak reports and learning were shared with participants and the communities represented in this initiative. METHODS: Group discussions and sharing circles were facilitated in several locations throughout northern and central Saskatchewan. Main topics of discussion were traditional medicines, residential schools impact, community and peer supports for kidney disease patients, and cultural safety education for health care providers. KEY FINDINGS: The general themes selected for improvement were education, support within the local community, traditional practices and cultural competency, and delivery of services. To address these gaps in kidney care, the following objectives were co-created with First Nations and Métis patients, families, and communities for Kidney Health to provide culturally appropriate education and resources, to ensure appropriate follow-up support to include strengthening connections to communities and other health authorities, to incorporate traditional ...