New Partnership to Support Indigenous Health Equity in Ottawa
June 11, 2025
The Wabano Centre – Indigenous Centre for Excellence in Health and Queensway Carleton Hospital are excited to announce a new partnership agreement to strengthen collaboration and support Indigenous health equity and culturally safe care for First Nations, Métis, Inuit, and urban Indigenous communities in Ottawa.
This partnership is founded on respect and recognizes Wabano’s leadership in advancing Indigenous health and healing in the region. Wabano is a trusted advocate for culturally safe, responsive services that promote holistic well-being. Queensway Carleton Hospital approaches this collaboration with openness, cultural humility, and a commitment to support Indigenous-led priorities through meaningful action.
Representatives reflected on the journey that led to this agreement, emphasizing the importance of partnership, dedication, and the healthcare system’s responsibility to listen to Indigenous voices and support Indigenous leadership in advancing meaningful change.
“This is more than a signing—it is the beginning of a relationship rooted in respect, understanding, and a shared vision for a healthier future,” said Allison Fisher, CEO of Wabano. “We honour this new path forward with these words:
I walk.
With beauty before me may I walk.
With beauty behind me may I walk.
With beauty below me may I walk.
With beauty above me may I walk.
With beauty all around me may I walk."
“Queensway Carleton Hospital and Foundation recognize the critical importance of reconciliation and improving health outcomes for Indigenous communities,” said Dr. Andrew Falconer, President and CEO of Queensway Carleton Hospital. “Our partnership with Wabano is rooted in respect and humility. We acknowledge the historical and ongoing systemic inequities affecting Indigenous Peoples’ health and well-being. Together, we are committed to confronting racism and discrimination, improving access to culturally safe services, supporting Indigenous healing practices, and creating welcoming, respectful spaces for Indigenous patients, families, staff, and physicians.”
The purpose of this partnership is to:
- Work closely with Wabano to better understand and address barriers to healthcare access across First Nations, Métis, Inuit, and urban Indigenous communities in Ottawa. This work is guided by their distinct experiences, priorities, and rights.
- Establish respectful, ongoing mechanisms that centre Indigenous voices and provide safe spaces to discuss sensitive and critical issues faced by Indigenous patients and families.
- Support Indigenous health priorities including mental health, substance use wellness, chronic illness, and the well-being of children, families, and communities—rooted in cultural knowledge, community relationships, and principles of cultural safety and humility.
- Take sustained and intentional action to advance Indigenous-led priorities, promote health equity, and rebuild trust in healthcare systems. We recognize that cultural safety is earned through consistent, respectful engagement.
About Wabano
Wabano Centre is an award-winning, accredited, and internationally recognized Indigenous Health Access Centre with over 25 years of experience. Wabano Centre is seen as a leader and innovator in community-based, holistic health care, bridging Indigenous cultural practices with Western medicine to combat poverty and promote wellness in Ottawa's First Nations, Inuit, and Métis communities.
The Wabano Centre for Indigenous Health is an urban health centre that provides quality, holistic, and culturally relevant health services to First Nations, Inuit, and Métis in Ottawa; engages in clinical, social, economic, and cultural initiatives that promote the health of all Indigenous people; promotes community building through education and advocacy; and serves as an Indigenous Centre for Excellence in Health Services.
About Queensway Carleton Hospital
As the only acute care hospital in West Ottawa, Queensway Carleton Hospital provides quality care to half of the city’s population every year. QCH’s agility and collaborative culture enable it to respond quickly to the most pressing healthcare challenges facing its vibrant and growing communities through advanced programs that reinvent models of patient care. QCH has been named the #1 hospital in Ottawa by Newsweek magazine in 2021 and as a top employer in Canada by Forbes magazine. QCH acknowledges it is located on the traditional and unceded lands of the Anishinabeg Algonquin Nation.
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Media Contacts
Wabano Centre:
Brian Horvath
Communications Specialist
media@wabano.com
Queensway Carleton Hospital:
Natasha Curley
Communications Officer
ncurley@qch.on.ca