Photo caption: Member of Ogichidaa Onaakonigewin, Elder Ernie Kwandibens
By: Paul Francis Jr., Vice President N’doo’owe Binesi, Indigenous Health, Wellness and Partnerships
In Animkii Wiikwedoong, Thunder Bay, Ontario, a quiet but significant shift is taking place in health care governance—one guided by traditional knowledge, rooted in community, and led by the wisdom of Elders.
Ogichidaa Onaakonigewin (Elders Council) is an Anishinaabe governance body providing strategic and cultural guidance to N’doo’owe Binesi, the Indigenous Health Division of St. Joseph’s Care Group (SJCG). Ogichidaa Onaakonigewin, loosely translated from Anishinaabemowin as ‘Elders’ Law,’ honours Anishinaabe tradition and respect for lived experience as sources of history and wisdom that guide present responsibilities and shape the future.
Formed in response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada: Calls to Action and in alignment with SJCG’s reconciliation commitment, Wiidosem Dabasendizowin Walking With Humility, the Ogichidaa Onaakonigewin represents an innovative model of Indigenous-led health system design. It centres Indigenous ways of knowing, being, and decision-making at the highest levels of strategy and service planning.
Ogichidaa Onaakonigewin is comprised of six respected Elders, two Indigenous youth representatives, and one Indigenous member of SJCG’s Board of Directors. This unique composition applies the Anishinaabe principle of Seven Generations thinking, ensuring that decisions consider those who came before, those living now, and those yet to come. Including youth alongside Elders supports continuity of knowledge and mentorship of the next generation of leaders.
Meeting quarterly or seasonally in full-day sessions, the Ogichidaa Onaakonigewin provides cultural and strategic direction to both the Vice President of N’doo’owe Binesi and the President & CEO of SJCG. Discussions blend the sharing of traditional knowledge with efforts to preserve and strengthen culture, focusing on topics such as Indigenous healing practices, culturally safe care models, language revitalization, and community engagement. At the heart of each gathering is ceremony, an expression of Anishinaabe spiritual law and cultural responsibility.
What distinguishes the Ogichidaa Onaakonigewin is not only who sits in the Circle, but also how decisions are made. The Council’s process is grounded in consensus-building, storytelling, ceremony, and relational accountability—principles that challenge conventional Western governance norms. Rather than seeking rapid solutions, the Council invites deep listening, humility, and a collective sense of responsibility to community.
Most recently, members of the SJCG Board of Directors—including the Chair, Vice Chair, and Past Chair—took part in a Sharing Circle held at the Spiritual Gathering Lodge at St. Joseph’s Hospital. It was an important first step in building relationships with Ogichidaa Onaakonigewin.
Reflecting on the experience, one board member shared, “My time with the Elders Council was both moving and enlightening. The ongoing learning and conversations continue to strengthen these important relationships.”
The strong foundation and guidance of the Elders is the root from which all action grows and thrives. Their influence is already shaping meaningful change across SJCG. Programs within N’doo’owe Binesi are increasingly grounded in Indigenous knowledge systems, staff are engaging more deeply with Indigenous cultural safety practices, and leadership is embracing a shared governance model that honours and upholds Indigenous rights.
Important lessons for Health System Partners:
- Indigenous governance is not an advisory role—it is a structural shift requiring time, humility, resources, and ceremony.
- Indigenous communities already hold the knowledge needed to transform health care; what is needed is space, respect, and partnership.
- Reconciliation is not linear—it is a circle. And in that circle, every voice matters.
As Elder Ernie Kwandibens said during the closing ceremony of a 4-day Sacred Fire in honour of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (2023) in Thunder Bay: “Let’s walk as one People.”
As organizations across Ontario strive to decolonize health care and honour their reconciliation commitments, Ogichidaa Onaakonigewin offers a living model—rooted in Anishinaabe law, community strength, and the guidance of the Grandmothers and Grandfathers.