Site a welcoming place for First Nations and Métis vaccination
Creating a safe, welcoming environment for Indigenous people to get their COVID-19 shots is the intent behind the immunization clinics at the Gathering Place in Regina.
“It’s the whole experience,” said Heather Sinclair-Birns, manager of Saskatchewan Health Authority’s (SHA’s) Four Directions Health Centre. “Two wonderful greeters who work for RTSIS (Regina Treaty Status Indian Services) open the door. They assist people in getting into and out of vehicles if they have mobility issues.”
Sinclair-Birns added, “Our (SHA’s) staff have done an excellent job, too. There’s a sense that people are welcome to have conversations. Staff take their time to answer questions. That’s a huge piece of it.”
Knowledge Keeper Cheryl Littletent attends each clinic day and blesses the vaccine before it’s used.
The clinics are the product of a partnership involving RTSIS, Métis Nation Saskatchewan, First Nations and Métis community leaders, the Wellness Wheel and the SHA.
The clinics, which began on March 3, were launched a week prior with a pipe ceremony to bless the collaboration and partnerships that support the clinics.
Since then, there have been 36 clinics, providing between 100 and 250 doses per clinic, for a total of more than 5,000 doses.
Sinclair-Birns said people from First Nations, Métis and even Inuit communities from across Canada have been immunized at the site.
The need for Indigenous immunization clinics is rooted in our past.
“This relates back to the historical context between Indigenous people and health care,” said Sinclair-Birns. “Creating those engaging spaces where we work together with community partners so people are safe to come is all part of our commitment to truth and reconciliation.”
Added Dr. Shain Thakrar, vaccine co-lead for Regina’s Integrated Health Incident Command Centre, “Establishing and prioritizing an environment where Indigenous people feel comfortable is part of the SHA’s commitment to address systemic barriers to health care and is an essential step towards achieving health equity.”
The Gathering Place was the preferred location because it’s a well-recognized safe environment for First Nation and Métis people.
Christina Swan, from Muskowekwan First Nation, brought her 13-year old son to a clinic because appointments were easy to book for his age group. She was pleased with the site choice because she’d been there before for functions and events. “It’s the perfect place to come. It’s more familiar.”
Attending a Gathering Place clinic was often a family affair, where relatives were vaccinated together.
Chelsea Low brought her children, Isabelle and Jack.
For Isabelle, getting vaccinated was “quick and easy. People were super nice and it wasn’t as scary as I thought.”
For Jack, the experience meant “Lots of friends were encouraging me and the needle was small and didn’t hurt.”
