State of emergency declared due to nursing shortage in northern Manitoba Cree nation

Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation innorthern Manitoba is declaring a health care state of emergency due to a nursing shortage that has forced it to lock the doors of its health centre to everything but emergencies only.

"In some of the worst situations, we've had reports of nurses working around the clock,in a 24-hour period maybe getting 2-3 hours of sleep. That is unacceptable," saidAngela Levasseur, chief of the community based in Nelson House,about 65 kilometres west of Thompson.

"We cannot continue with the current state of affairs. Our people have a right to health care.It is inhumane and an affront to our dignity that, in our land, we are seen as second-class citizens."

Nisichawayasihkhas about 3,500 people living on reserve and another 2,500off reserve. Alarge proportion of those on reserve are infants, eldersand people with chronic health conditions, according to Levasseur, who spoke to reporters in Winnipeg at the office ofManitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak, anadvocacy organization that represents northern ManitobaFirst Nations.

"Our people are suffering as a result and the nurses are also being put under a lot of pressure and stress needlessly," she said.

As a result, since September 2023thenursing stationhas only taken patients on an emergency basis.

That is creating animosity on the part of residents toward the nurses, even though it's not their fault. That results in nurses feeling frustrated and angry and fearful,Levasseursaid.

They've beeninsulted, yelled at and even assaulted. And those nurses, with frayed nerves, will snap back, she says.

"It's a very toxic situation that is happening. Everyone is at their breaking point,"Levasseursaid.

Would never happen in Winnipeg

She listed scenariossuch assomeone wanting to get blood work, someone whose infant has a high fever, or someone with asthma who needs an inhaler in which peoplewould all be turned away because the doorsto the nursing station are locked.

"That would never happen in the city of Winnipeg. You would never ever go to a walk-in clinic [that is] open to emergencies only," Levasseursaid. "Can you imagine the outrage? People would lose their minds."

Rather than receiving aid in their own community, Nisichawayasihkresidents are now being directedto Thompson, according toLevasseur.

That's an hour-longdrive, if they can even go, she said.

"If you or I lived in the city of Winnipeg and we were told, 'OK you have to travel to Portage la Prairie,' most people would be upset but they would get in their car,"Levasseursaid.

"In First Nations communities, the majority of our people live in abject poverty. They do not have access to transportation."

Even if they could, that solution is very problematic because the Thompson General Hospital is always full and cannot handle the added strain, she said.

Nisichawayasihkis the second Manitoba First Nation to make the declaration in the past four months.

Pimicikamak Cree Nation also known as Cross Lakedescribed its nursingshortage in March asa crisis.

The community of 8,000 is supposed to have at least 13nurses working in its nursing station, butthere are only four, according to Chief David Monias.

Levasseurcriticized Indigenous Services Canada and the First Nations and Inuit Health Branch for inadequately funding nurses and health care, despitecountless pleas.

"We cannot function as a community and we cannot continue in this crisis state," she said, calling the health-care system in Manitoba atwo-tiered one that dissects First Nations fromthe rest of Manitobans.

"They are worlds apart," she said."This amounts to racism in the health-care system. Our people matter. Our people have the right to be seen by a nurse or a doctor and yet it's not happening."

Pimicikamak's Monias, who also spoke at Monday's news conference, said governmentsare violating the rights of northern First Nations to effective health care a right enshrined in treaties and legislation.

"We continue to cry out for help, to make sure we can provide health services, medical services for our people," he said.

Public health nurses are paid farless by the government than private agency ones sometimes sent to fill in onFirst Nations. Those poor wages leadto extreme difficulty in retaining and recruiting publicly-funded nurses, Levasseursaid.

"If we can adequately pay our nurses, they're going to want to stay, they're going to want to come to the community."

Jessie Horodecki, the executive director at the personal care home inNisichawayasihk, said that alicensed practical nurse right out of school will earnabout $31 per hour as a permanent staff nurse in Manitoba.That same nurse starts at $45 with a privateagency.

"That's a drastic difference. That's why we have such a shortage of [public health] nurses in the province."

Government data shows that nursing stations in remote First Nations communities in Manitoba were facing a 67 per cent operational vacancy in the last fiscal year.

Lynda Wright, Nisichawayasihk's director of health, said the community needs at least five nurses on any given day to be able to assess and treat people properly, but they typically have two.

Every year since 2015, she has submitted proposals to the government to increase the funding to hire more nurses and pay them better.

"In 2025, it's going to be 10 years," she said. "It's very disheartening."

Nursing shortage in northern Manitoba Cree nation prompts health care state of emergency

1 month ago

Duration 1:47

Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation in northern Manitoba is declaring a health care state of emergency due to a nursing shortage that has forced it to lock the doors of its health centre to everything but emergencies only.