Partnering with First Nations

The words “palliative care” often evoke images of echoing corridors and stark white walls. This is especially the case in Canada’s First Nations communities where people with serious illnesses are regularly transferred to hospitals far from home.

“There is a lot of guilt because Indigenous Peoples want to care for their own, but there aren’t enough health care resources available in their communities,” explains internationally recognized researcher Holly Prince. “Many are Elders who were forcibly removed from their communities to attend residential schools and suddenly they’re being removed again.”

Holly is a Lakehead University alumna, PhD student, and a Project Manager at the University’s Centre for Education and Research on Aging & Health (CERAH). She is an Anishinaabekwe from the Red Rock Indian Band, Lake Helen Reserve.

She defines palliative care as tending to the physical, spiritual, social, psychological, and emotional needs of people with chronic and terminal illnesses and the needs of their families. “Its holistic nature resonates with me as a First Nations woman,” she says.

Holly’s palliative care journey began 16 years ago when a 24-year-old friend died of cancer. “I saw him go through radiation, chemotherapy, and surgery and at no point were the words ‘death, dying, or end of life’ mentioned.”

She’d been about to start a Master of Social Work degree focusing on addictions and mental health when she changed her specialization.

“I knew that the Creator had put me on a path to make meaning not only from his life, but also from his death.”

Holly approached social work professor Dr. Mary Lou Kelley and they began to work together to improve the end-of-life care in Indigenous communities by developing community-based education and palliative care programs.

Postsecondary education was a radical departure from the future Holly had envisioned for herself.

“After high school, I didn’t know what I wanted to do. Going to college or university seemed so far out of reach for me. All I knew was that I wanted to travel the world.”

She rethought this decision when an Elder encouraged her to enrol in Confederation College’s Native Mental Health Worker program.

Since entering the palliative care field, Holly has partnered with many First Nations communities to advocate for resources. “Within the past two years, the federal government has begun providing some palliative care services funding and our research was instrumental in making this happen.”

Equally importantly, she has collaborated with First Nations communities in Ontario, Manitoba, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and PEI to provide culturally relevant palliative care education.

“My story has come full circle,” Holly says. “The little girl from Beardmore, Ontario – the home of 300 people and the world’s largest snowman – has now been all over the world to present her research.”