CHEO is committed to a collaborative partnership supporting children and youth from the Qikiqtaaluk region of Nunavut with Ottawa Health Services Network Inc. (OHSNI), the Government of Nunavut and other local Ottawa Inuit organizations.
CHEO's partnership
Our partnership acknowledges:
- a shared commitment to the health and well-being of the children and youth living in or from the Qikiqtaaluk region
- a shared goal to provide quality care that is coordinated both in Ottawa and in Nunavut
- a shared respect for the rich Inuit culture and the importance of providing appropriate care and support
- a shared responsibility, led by Nunavut colleagues and service partners, to improve capacity to meet pediatric health and health-care needs both in Ottawa and Qikiqtaaluk
The partnership is grounded in Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit. The values are understood to be: “The Inuit way of doing things - the past, present and future knowledge, experience and values of Inuit society.”
- ᐃᓅᖃᑎᒌᑦᓯᐊᕐᓂᖅ | Inuuqatigiitsiarniq | Respecting others, relationships and caring for people.
- ᑐᙵᓇᕐᓂᖅ | Tunnganarniq | Fostering good spirit by being open, welcoming and inclusive.
- ᐱᔨᑦᓯᕐᓂᖅ | Pijitsirniq | Serving and providing for family and/or community.
- ᐊᔩᖃᑎᒌᓐᓂᖅ | Ajiiqatigiinniq | Decision making through discussion and consensus.
- ᐱᓕᒻᒪᒃᓴᕐᓂᖅ/ᐱᔭᕆᐊᖅᓴᕐᓂᖅ | Pilimmaksarniq/Pijariaqsarniq | Development of skills through observation, mentoring, practice, and effort.
- ᐱᓕᕆᖃᑎᒌᖕᓂᖅ/ᐃᑲᔪᖃᑎᒌᖕᓂᖅ | Piliriqatigiingniq/Ikajuqatigiingniq | Working together for a common cause.
- ᖃᓄᖅᑑᕐᓂᖅ | Qanuqtuurniq | Being innovative and resourceful. ᐊᕙᑎᑦᑎᓐᓂᒃ ᑲᒪᑦᓯᐊᕐᓂᖅ | Avatittinnik Kamatsiarniq | Respect and care for the land, animals and the environment.
Admitting a child to the hospital for inpatient care
If you are a physician looking to admit a child to a pediatric inpatient unit or critical-care inpatient unit, please call CHEO central reception at 613-737-7600 for help connecting to the right admitting physician.
Help with coordinating your next appointment at CHEO
CHEO works closely with Ottawa Health Services Network Inc. (OHSNI) to coordinate care once at CHEO, and community needs at discharge. OHSNI also ensure that all medical travel to and from Ottawa for families that need CHEO care and support is well coordinated.
Please contact Ottawa Health Services Network Inc. (OHSNI) at 613-523-7822 to speak to the referrals coordinator.
Cultural competency modules
At CHEO, our commitment to care includes sensitivity to patients and their families. This including stages of development, lifestyles, language, spirituality and culture.
Inuit children and families come from a different culture, with a different perception of, and access to health care. We recognize these differences and collaborate with the Government of Nunavut, Tungasuvvingat Inuit, the Inuuqatigiit Centre for Inuit Children, Youth and Families and Ottawa Health Services Network Inc. to provide the most culturally competent services. Our team has developed four modules to better support health practitioners provide the best possible care to Inuit and to improve CHEO's cultural competency.
Module One: Welcome to Qikiqtaaluk |
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Module one of the Qikiqtaaluk Cultural Competency series is for anyone interested in learning more about Inuit culture. The module provides viewers with an introductory understanding of the geography, history and demographics of the Qikiqtaaluk region. It also addresses the profound changes Inuit people experienced during the period of forced relocation, the legacy of residential schooling and the loss of mobility and traditional lifestyle that led to an increase in health-care issues for Inuit people. |
Module Two: Inuit culture in Qikiqtaaluk |
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This module explores Inuit values, traditions and way of life, which are deeply ingrained in Inuit communities, as well as how these impact the provision of culturally competent care. The information in this module addresses some of the concerns Inuit people may be experiencing, such as fatigue from long travel times, home sickness and adjusting to the cultural change from being in a large urban setting, among others. |
Module Three: Health care in Qikiqtaaluk |
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This module describes some of the unique challenges of providing health-care services in Nunavut. It also addresses some of the causes of common health problems of Inuit people in Nunavut. Additionally, this module explains how the health-care system is structured in this territory, as well as how the system is working towards Inuit health needs. |
Module Four: Cultural competency in your practice |
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What is cultural competence and how does it affect healthcare? This module explains cultural competency and cultural safety within a health-care system. In Canada, the majority of health-care practitioners treating Inuit patients are not Inuit, which can lead to a lack of understanding, trust and compliance. When a health-care practitioner is culturally competent and acknowledges cultural differences, they are better able to overcome language barriers and social challenges with Inuit patients, ultimately allowing for better health outcomes. |
Download the app
You can also download the cultural competency Health NU' Orientation app for Apple or Android.
Government of Nunavut endorsements
“The modules do a good job of highlighting important aspects of Inuit culture that will be helpful for physicians to know when treating Inuit patients. It also… inform[s] the work of health-care providers too. The modules are culturally appropriate and provide relevant information about Inuit history and culture.” –Tuttarviit Member, Government of Nunavut, Shuvinai Mike
“I find this to be very helpful…the information referred to are from recognized groups such as NAHO, NTI and ITK… so the efforts to make health friendly to me are sufficient to know the Department is serious about culture.” –Tuttarviit Member, Government of Nunavut, Shuvinai Mike