The Indigenous Health Centre of Tio’tia:ke in Montreal offers culturally rooted care, helping rebuild trust in the health system after years of neglect.
A Healing Space Rooted in Culture
Since opening in 2023, the Indigenous Health Centre of Tio’tia:ke in Montreal has rapidly expanded its services to better meet the unique needs of Indigenous patients. The clinic now offers everything from diabetic foot care and physiotherapy to spiritual healing and mental health support—all delivered in a setting that respects traditional practices and Indigenous languages, including Inuktitut and Cree.
Health navigator Shirley Pien-Bérubé says the clinic goes beyond physical care by creating a safe space where patients are finally “being heard.”
Addressing Historical Inequities
The centre was developed in response to one of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s (TRC) 94 Calls to Action: to close the gap in health outcomes between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Canadians. These disparities include higher rates of infant mortality, diabetes, and suicide among Indigenous populations.
According to Statistics Canada, 1 in 5 Indigenous people report facing racism or discrimination in health settings. The Tio’tia:ke centre aims to restore trust and deliver culturally respectful care in contrast to traditional institutions.
A Safe Alternative to Mainstream Health Care
Family violence prevention coordinator Fay Virginia Desjarlais recalls firsthand the discrimination Indigenous patients often face in hospitals. Dismissed by her doctor after one missed appointment and a stereotypical assumption about alcohol use, she says the experience was not unique. “People didn’t feel safe,” she says, but adds that the new clinic is helping to change that reality.
The centre, she believes, is a response to decades of advocacy by elders, organizations, and community leaders.
National Progress Remains Uneven
While the Montreal clinic represents progress, only four of the TRC’s seven health-related calls to action are actively in progress, and none are complete, according to Indigenous Watchdog. Its publisher, Douglas Sinclair, cites a lack of accessible government data and political will as major barriers. “You can’t develop policy in a vacuum,” he warns.
The federal government offers tools like a health inequalities dashboard, but coordinated national action is still lacking.
Building Indigenous-Led Treatment in the North
In Iqaluit, Nunavut, construction is underway on Aqqusariaq, a trauma and addictions treatment centre where services will be delivered in Inuktitut. Kylie Aglukark of Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated says this move helps keep patients connected to language and culture—key components of recovery.
Aglukark hopes this is only the beginning, with long-term goals to establish Inuit-led treatment centres in every region of Nunavut.
A Model That Needs Scaling and Sustained Support
Dr. Terri Aldred of the National Collaborating Centre for Indigenous Health describes current progress on Indigenous health equity as “moderate.” While new models like the Montreal and Iqaluit centres are promising, she emphasizes the need for long-term funding and wider rollout.
“Access to culturally grounded services helps rebuild trust in health care,” she says, “and creates a positive ripple effect throughout Indigenous communities.”
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