Keewaytinook Okimakanak (KO) Tribal Council Health department serves the communities of Deer Lake First Nation, Fort Severn First Nation, Keewaywin First Nation, McDowell Lake First Nation, North Spirit Lake First Nation, and Poplar Hill First Nation. The communities are all remote, isolated, and fly in only with the population of approximately 3300 First Nation people living on reserve.

KO Health works in collaboration with other departments within KO, the community health directors, health authorities, district health unit, and neighboring Tribal Councils.

KO health has been working proactively on health transformation of the clinical processes and systems across care settings through Nishnawbe Aski Nation health transformation initiative to enable a high-quality equitable access to health services for its community members. The three values that guide what we do at KO Health are – we care for our communities, we are always learning, and we strive for better health outcomes and quality of life for our people.

Health Director – McDowell Lake

Caden Cockcroft

Health Director – Poplar Hill

Barbara Strang

Health Director – Deer Lake

Leslie Beardy

Health Director – North Spirit Lake

Eddie Meekis
Ida Rae

Health Director – Keewaywin

Karen Kakekapetum

Health Director – Fort Severn

Connie Thomas

KO Health Mandate

It is to plan, deliver, monitor, and report on health services, which includes high quality community-based health care and support services as well as improved productivity and performance.

We offer a range of services including:

Health Services

  • Electronic Medical Record and Privacy Coordination
  • Community Wellbeing (ACW)

Mental Health Services

  • Mental Health Counselling
  • Choose Life Mental Wellness Counselling
  • Mental Wellness Elders/Teams
  • Indian Residential School – Resolution Health Support
  • Indian Day School – Health and Cultural Support
  • Opioid Agonist Therapy – North Spirit Lake
  • NAN Hope Virtual Care and Crisis Response

Social Emergency Management

  • NAN Regional Crisis Coordination
  • Crisis Intervention

Nursing

  • Primary Care Nursing – Deer Lake

Home and Community Care (HCC)

  • Public Health
  • Palliative Care
  • Diabetes Education
  • Indigenous Transitions Facilitation

Jordan’s Principle

  • Physiotherapy
  • Speech and Language Pathology
  • Occupational Therapy
  • Behavioural Therapy

KO Health has a total of 81 staff located in urban and in community locations. Our teams and services will continue to grow based on the needs of the communities. KO Health is led by the guidance of our Chiefs and community leadership as well as by the Executive Director.

Director of Health – Armanda Parkinson
Assistant Director – Joshua Taylor
Health Administration Assistant – VACANT
cEMR/Privacy Coordinator – Atika Bibi
Health Travel Coordinator – Keira Kakekapetum