From left: Ashley Gillies, Recruitment Lead; Dr. Max Boulet, Advancement Lead; Emma Etherington, Mentorship Lead; Tara Hutchison, Outreach Lead; Justice Seidel, Sponsorship Lead; and Tanis Ross, Program Manager.
By: Tara Hutchison and Justice Seidel
kiskinohtahiwewak, derived from the Moose Cree language meaning “they who show the way," is a revolutionary program focused on the recruitment and retention of health care professionals from the western James Bay and Hudson Bay region. Established in 2021, the program, also known as kiskino, is dedicated to increasing the representation of First Nations health care providers working at the Weeneebayko Area Health Authority (WAHA).
The inception of kiskinohtahiwewak dates to 2021 when Dr. Max Boulet, a settler physician, and Justice Seidel, a Moose Cree First Nation member and community-based researcher, discovered their shared vision while working for WAHA. They had both noticed that even with a population of approximately 12,000 people, only two local First Nations members had become physicians and returned to practice medicine in the region. This shared realization spurred the creation of the kiskinohtahiwewak program with the aim to increase the number of local First Nations health care professionals serving their communities.
Recognizing the lack of mentoring resources in rural and remote First Nations communities, kiskinohtahiwewak adopted a unique mentor-mentee model. This approach pairs students from high school through post-secondary and graduate school with mentors from their own communities. These relationships, built on shared cultural understanding, help mentees see that a successful career in health care is achievable. Mentors assist mentees in navigating health care programs often competitive application processes and provide ongoing support throughout the mentees academic journey. Many mentees go on to become mentors themselves, supporting the next generation of students interested in health care careers.
In its first three years, kiskinohtahiwewak has engaged more than 500 students through outreach events that provide hands-on health care experiences, aiming to inspire and guide them towards medical careers. Currently, over 20 individuals are being mentored in fields like nursing, medicine, and physiotherapy. The program has set an ambitious long-term goal: within the next decade, it aims for 50 per cent of all WAHA medical staff to be First Nations community members from the region.
Justice Seidel's journey epitomizes the impact of kiskinohtahiwewak. Initially unaware of her potential for a career in medicine, Seidel's collaboration with Dr. Boulet and subsequent mentorship led to her application and acceptance into the Northern Ontario School of Medicine University (NOSM University). Now a second-year medical student, Seidel has signed a return of service agreement to practice as a family physician with WAHA after graduation.
“The success of kiskinohtahiwewak is a result of passionate community members coming together to support the next generation of health leaders. Our work is led and completed by our leadership circle, comprised of First Nation medical students and WAHA program management. We are also supported and guided by our advisory circle, made up of local Elders and respected community members," says Justice Seidel, kiskino mentor and second-year medical student, NOSM University. “The heart of kiskinohtahiwewak is rooted in community, for community, and by community, which has ultimately led to the strength of our work, and the successes we have achieved as a group."
kiskinohtahiwewak is a pioneering initiative in Canada, driven by First Nations community members for the benefit of their own communities. By fostering local talent and providing culturally relevant mentorship and support, kiskinohtahiwewak is paving the way for a new generation of health care professionals who are deeply connected to and invested in the wellbeing of their communities.