Inspired by her grandmother and great grandmother, Jennifer Houde is now the health care manager for the seven native bands that make up the Okanagan Nation Alliance (ONA).
She works with a team that does everything from helping seniors who need medical attention to preventing youth suicide.
Houde is from the Penticton Indian Band and is based out of West Kelowna.
She said her passion for the health field came from matriarch mentors within her family.
“My great grandma and grandma are like giants in my mind. They were so fearless and brave to be syilx women just fighting for the wellness of our people,” Houde said.
The Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada released a mammoth report honoring the truth, reconciling the future with 94 calls to action.
“Our program development is based on the actual needs of the people, culture and language and stories as well as a Nation based approach,” Houde said.
ONA health staff provide support to Nation members to assist them when diagnosed with chronic health conditions.
“We have two health advocates, they’re health care advocates and they go into each of our seven member communities and support any Nation member that has a chronic health condition,” she said. “They go to appointments with our people to help them understand what medical professionals are telling them.”
One of the more visible community programs is the Unity Run for Suicide Awareness and Mental Health for Youth. Hood said the program has an impact but the work must continue.
“We still see youth who are attempting suicide. We see our young men and women who feel lost. They feel alone and we’re surrounded by people. And so there’s still a lot of work to do to heal.”
Indigenous youth in Canada is the largest demographic of population growth. The work continues for youth through workshops and education.
“We also run the Our Native Youth Voice program and that’s for ages 13 to 18,” Houde said. “That is focused on building identity, belonging, building coping skills, looking at culture. They also do language.”
ONA health team also provides awareness for their Nation elders.
“It’s about elders wellness, literacy, about isolation, about substance use, about managing their money, about managing their healthcare; like what do they want in their own health care. And I also talked about elder abuse,” she said.
Houde said it’s her own culture and Syilx heritage that makes the difference.
“I see there is beauty. There is so much beauty in our people. When you look at our kids, and our children speak our language, and they know so much and you see all of our community members supporting them. It is so beautiful and it is so full of inspiration and hope.”
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