Local vaccination clinics for First Nations, Métis and Inuit
Waterloo Region, Ontario – This week, thanks to a close partnership with The Healing of the Seven Generations, the KW Urban Native Wigwam Project, the Southwest Ontario Aboriginal Health Access Centre, Ontario Health West and the Region of Waterloo, members of the First Nations, Métis and Inuit community are getting the vaccine against COVID-19 at a pop-up vaccination clinic at 150 Frederick Street (Regional Headquarters) in Kitchener.
First Nations, Métis and Inuit residents who indicated they would prefer vaccination in partnership with an Indigenous organization have been offered the opportunity to attend the vaccination clinic at 150 Frederick Street on March 24-25. An Indigenous elder will be available to support members of the community.
“The Healing of the Seven Generations is a trusted healing and wellness organization that has been serving the Waterloo Region for over 20 years. The Healing of the Seven Generations works with First Nations, Métis and Inuit community members and their families to deal with the effects of the residential school, through traditional approaches of healing,” said Donna Dubie, Executive Director for The Healing of the Seven Generations. “The Healing of the Seven Generations has partnered with KW Urban Native Wigwam Project, the Southwest Ontario Aboriginal Health Access Centre and Ontario Health West. The community can be assured that we are providing a safe place for our community to add something to help prevent COVID. To help alleviate any stress any community member might be experiencing, there will be individuals there with traditional medicines to smudge, there will be hand drumming and a lot of warm smiles.”
Indigenous organizations have come together to get the word out to First Nation, Métis and Inuit adults that they are a priority group to be vaccinated against COVID-19. All First Nations, Métis and Inuit adults, and their immediate 18+ family members, can book an appointment to get the vaccine at a pop-up vaccination clinic like the one being held at 150 Frederick Street or at any vaccination clinic across Waterloo Region.
“In response to the need for culturally safe and appropriate health care in the community, we are happy to partner and provide access to the COVID vaccine. We are not here to force anyone to participate, but we are making sure that we have a say on how this happens in our community. Keeping in mind the historical atrocities that have happened in the past with government vaccines and medicine, we want people to feel safe and heard when they have concerns,” said Lee Ann Hundt, Housing Administrator for KW Urban Native Wigwam Project. “To be vaccinated or not is a choice we all have to make. We are just here to provide this in a way that looks after the individual in a wholistic way; considering their mental, spiritual, emotional and physical wellbeing. Call the office at 519-743-5868 for information and/or to book your appointment. Jessica will be happy to take your call, answer any questions you might have or to book a date and time that works for you.”
First Nations, Métis and Inuit residents can also contact the KW Urban Native Wigwam Project at 519-743-5868.
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Media Contact:
Sharon Ord
Acting Vaccine Communications Lead
General Inquiries: publichealth@regionofwaterloo.ca or 519-575-4400