Kootenay Boundary’s Aboriginal Community Health Team is integral to the cultivation of culturally safe care within our region. Each team member holds knowledge, experience, and teachings to support both patients and health care practitioners.

Held by the Circle of Indigenous Nations Society (COINS), in partnership with the KB Primary Care Network and Interior Heath, the work of this passionate team is offered in alignment with the COINS mission – to provide programs rooted in Indigenous practices that strengthen cultural connection and support holistic healing and learning.

With regional  Aboriginal Health Coordinators and a Patient Navigator, the team directly supports Aboriginal peoples across the region to navigate the health care system in various supportive and practical ways, alongside helping people to connect with traditional and cultural wellness supports.

The team is also here as an allied resource for Kootenay Boundary practitioners, within the personal and collective journey to deliver culturally safe and relational health care to all Indigenous peoples in Kootenay Boundary.

Aboriginal Health Coordinators support Aboriginal people to access the health services they need and to navigate the health care system in various supportive and practical ways. These services are available to anyone in the region who self-identifies as Indigenous – First Nations (status and non-status), Inuit, and Métis – and their family. Referrals are welcomed by health care practitioners, community partners, and by self-referral. Explore the details below to learn more about services.

Kootenay Boundary’s Aboriginal Patient Navigator works collaboratively within the circle of care to provide a respectful and safe health care journey for Indigenous individuals who are in hospital. This support is available to anyone in the region who self-identifies as Indigenous – First Nations (status and non-status), Inuit, and Métis – and their family. Referrals are welcomed by health care practitioners, community partners, and by self-referral. Explore the details below to find out more about services.

Practitioner referrals can also be placed within meditech, please follow up with a quick phone call or email.

The team is an allied resource for Kootenay Boundary practitioners within the journey to deliver culturally safe and relational health care to all Indigenous peoples in Kootenay Boundary.

Culture Keeper & Human Resource Professional

Tansi, I am a Métis culture keeper for the Métis Nation British Columbia Nelson Chapter and I myself belong to the lands of Fishing Lake Métis Settlement located in North-Central Alberta (near Cold Lake, Alberta). My Indigenous name is Kheetoo. I moved to Winlaw, BC from my Indigenous community in May of 2014.

I am very pleased to be working with the Circle of Indigenous Nations Society (COINS) as Aboriginal Health Coordinator. I have been in the human services field for over 26 years holding roles in social work, child & youth care, youth mentorship, youth justice, and supporting the health & wellbeing of families and community. I have 8 years of public service with Alberta and British Columbia governments in roles specific to the Indigenous milieu.

I’m actively involved in supporting my Cree and Metis communities wherever I can. Culture, language, and traditions are the foundations of identity. I strongly encourage cultural participation vs cultural observing as the strongest expression of cultural pride.

I have been extremely fortunate in being able to contribute to some important work over my career as a professional and in providing cultural perspectives to professionals who work with Indigenous children & families. I have a deep connection to my traditional worldviews, customs, and practise them daily. I am grateful to my ancestors who laid this path for me to continue and I am in gratitude for the fellowship and guidance I receive today from those in my life.

~ Kheetoo

I am originally from the Coast Salish Territory of Tsawwassen/Ladner B.C where I worked on reserve for a number of years immersing myself in culture and language.

My educational background is Early Childhood Education, Infant & Toddler development, Trauma Informed Practice, and Mental Health and Addictions.

I work with many Indigenous clients who need support navigating the health care system, coordinating community support, and creating a culturally safe experience working with patients and practitioners. I offer one on one training or group training for health care staff and other community support staff around cultural safety, cultural supports, elder involvement and ceremonial practices.

Working on reserve opened my eyes to the challenges Indigenous people face associated with intergenerational trauma, residential schools, systemic racism, colonization, and more. This led me back to school to further my education in Mental Health and Addictions, Trauma Informed Practice, and Cultural Safety.

I feel very passionate about being an advocate for Indigenous rights. There is a lot of work to be done to reach reconciliation and I’m grateful to be a part of bringing awareness to our medical systems and supporting our indigenous clients using two eyed-seeing.

~ Ashley

Atelihai!, I am the Aboriginal Patient Navigator (APN) for the West Kootenay and the Boundary region. I am originally from Northern Newfoundland with strong ties to Labrador. I have mixed ancestry and identify as Inuit on my father’s side. Our traditional Territory would be NunatuKavut from southern Labrador.

NunatuKavut means ‘Our Ancient Land’.

I hold many of my traditions and culture close to my heart. One of my most recent adventures is to learn the Inuttitut language, traditionally spoken by Inuit people.

We moved to the West Kootenays from Newfoundland a little over 5 years ago. Prior to moving, I had completed my educational studies in Respiratory Therapy. I worked as a Cardiac Critical Care Registered Respiratory Therapist for 4 years. Shortly after Respiratory school, I began my Bachelor of Health Science through Thompson Rivers University in Kamloops via distance education. While I love science and the medical field, I felt something was missing.

I joined COINS in January of 2022 and strongly feel that I found the missing piece, which was culture. As Aboriginal Patient Navigator, I am privileged to connect my interests of the medical field with supporting our Indigenous relatives with culture. In my work, I work with people to bridge aspects of the Western medical world and a holistic approach to health healing.

~ Nakummek, Katie