Pimicikimak (Cross Lake) Cree Nation

Monday afternoon, we spent at Pimicikimak Cree Nation. Though we met briefly with Chief John Muswagon and his council, much of the time was spent on health care issues with Councillor Donnie McKay and Harold Halcrow. We also visited the nursing station to see conditions there first hand and talked to a number of people in the community.

One of the major issues at the moment is the level of nursing staff. There should be the equivalent of twelve and a half nurses. Intead, there were three at the nursing station when we visited. That morning clinics had to be cancelled because of the shortage of nursing staff. This apparently is a frequent occurence. Indeed, we were told by one community member that his wife had had six appointments cancelled. It is difficult to get good medical care and be sure appropriate medications are being used when so many appointments are cancelled. This needs to be addressed urgently.

There is also a clear need for a health centre or hospital in the community. Cross Lake with about 6,000 people, is apparently one of the largest if not the largest community without a hospital in or near the community in Canada. Residents have to be flown out for ailments (or for laboratory tests) that could be done locally if there were a hospital. As an example of the situation, one day recently there were three people on stretchers in bays in the emergency room of the nursing station, one person was in the obstetrics bay, and two people were forced to wait in ambulances because there was no room inside. As well there were three people in the clinic waiting in wheel chairs.

I have been pushing for a health centre or hospital for Cross Lake for some time. There appears to be some movement recently, but the situation clearly needs to be addressed with urgency. It is very expensive to be flying so many people out of the community when more could be done within the community. It will also be better for people in the community to be able to get care in the community.

In the top photo I am with Councillor McKay and Harold Halcrow. In the bottom photo, I am with Jackson Osborne in front of the nursing station.