About Us
Onkwata’karitáhtshera (For all the people to be concerned in the area of good health) is Kahnawà:ke’s “one health and social services agency”, mandated by the Mohawk Council of Kahnawà:ke MCR 45/1999-2000 as the body responsible for addressing all global health issues in Kahnawà:ke.
Our mission and responsibility is to plan, maintain and improve global health and social services for Kahnawa’kehró:non.
Onkwata’karitáhtshera consists of members from:
Kahnawà:ke Shakotiia’takéhnhas Community Services (KSCS)
Kateri Memorial Hospital Center (KMHC)
Mohawk Council of Kahnawà:ke (MCK)
Kahnawà:ke Fire Brigade (KFB)
Community Member Positions (vacant)
Mandate & Membership
Mandate
*Mandate link to be added
Membership
Onkwata’karitáhtshera membership is comprised of leaders and staff of the Kateri Memorial Hospital Centre (KMHC), Kahnawà:ke Shakotiia’takéhnhas Community Services (KSCS), Kahnawà:ke Fire Brigade and Ambulance Services (KFB), and Mohawk Council of Kahnawà:ke (MCK).
The members of Onkwata’karitáhtshera meet monthly to discuss global health issues. Our mission is to plan, maintain and improve health and social services for all Kahnawa’kehró:non.
The Onkwata’karitahtshera Executive Committee
The Executive Committee acts in a supervisory capacity in the development of the CHP, ensures its implementation, responsible for the strategic direction of Onkwata'karitáhtshera and ensures the effective functioning of the team.
The current Executive Committee is comprised of:
Derek Montour (Chairperson)
Support Staff
Karonhiaroroks Picard
Andrea Brisebois
Health Programs Liaison for Jordan’s Principle and
Non-insured Health Benefits
Valerie Diabo
(Vice-chairperson)
Vernon Goodleaf (Secretary)
The Onkwata’karitáhtshera Secretariat supports the team and subcommittees in this collaborative work, guided by the Community Health Plan.
Presently, there are 6 support staff:
Manager of Onkwata'karitáhtshera Secretariat
Vivienne Walz
Community Health Plan Liaison
Ravyn Regis
Administrative Assistant
Kiersten Two-Axe Myiow
Health Programs Liaison
Lois Montour
External Projects Coordinator
History
When Kahnawà:ke’s health and social services organizations came into being, they evolved individually with distinct unique mandates.
As these entities developed, situations arose that were not in any specific organization’s mandate and were more global or community-wide in nature. Thus, resulted in a lack of responsibility and accountability for addressing these global issues.
The community then decided to form this agency to specifically address these global issues that transcend any one particular organization’s mandate, as well as to foster collaboration amongst all health and social service organizations in Kahnawake.
Onkwa Orientation Video
Governance
*Organigram, Constitution & By-Laws to be added
Community Health Plan (CHP) 2012-2022
CHP Eval. 2012-2022
Strategic Plan 2017-2022
Kahnawà:ke developed a series of community health plans that have guided health and social services for Kahnawa’kehró:non. In November 2011, Onkwata’karitáhtshera published its third community health plan. The plan’s overarching goals for 2012-2022. (Info to be added)
Based on the consultations during the evaluation a general consensus emerged from the data regarding the health priorities, for the most part, the priorities remained the same however Learning/Developmental Disabilities as a health priority emerged.
The health priorities (in no particular order) are as follows:
Substance Abuse/Addictions
Mental Health Issues
Learning/Development Disabilities
Cardiovascular Disease (hypertension)
CHP Evaluation
Diabetes
Obesity
Cancer
Subcommittees from approximately 2012-2020
Community Wellness Plan (CWP)
One of the recommendations, which was also one of Onkwata'karitáhtshera's strategic goals, was to consolidate both health and social service planning documents into a single document. This work will be carried out in 2023 and will be titled Kahnawà:ke's Community Wellness Plan.
This plan should incorporate all organizations’ plans that speak to the wellness of our community.
Kahnawà:ke Health Portraits
Health Portrait Volume 1
To get an accurate picture of the true state of health within the community health priorities, Onkwata’karitáhtshera developed a first-time health portrait called “Onkwaná:ta/Our Community – Onkwata’karí:te/Our Health.
These portraits will build our community public health capacity and improve health promotion and disease prevention in Kahnawà:ke within the services and projects offered to Kahnawa’kehró:non. This first volume of “Our Community, Our Health” focuses on four (4) subjects;
Diabetes & Diabetes Prevention
Cancer & Cancer Prevention
Tobacco Use & Smoke Exposure
Substance Use & Addictions
Health Portrait Volume 2
Onkwata’karitáhtshera recently published the second volume with a focus on:
Early Childhood and Family Wellness
Mental Wellness and Mental Illness
Injuries and Injury Prevention
Methods and data sources
Kahnawà:ke Health Care Professionals Law
*Copy of the Health Care Professionals Law to be added
This Law (mandated by the Mohawk Council of Kahnawá:ke through MCR #9/2005-2006) is an expression of the wishes of the Kanien’kehá:ka of Kahnawá:ke that persons who are carrying on, or who want to carry on, health care professions within the Territory be regulated in a fair and responsible manner to preserve and promote the highest quality health care services at a reasonable cost within the Territory.
Every person providing professional health care services to patients within the Territory of Kahnawá:ke must hold either a valid Private Permit or be employed or associated with a Community Organization that holds a valid Community Organization Permit issued under this Law.
List of certified Health Care Professionals 2020-2021
Community Organization Permit
Kahnawá:ke Education Center
Kahnawá:ke Fire Brigade
Kateri Memorial Hospital Centre
Kahnawá:ke Shakotiia’takéhnhas Community Services
Step by Step Child and Family Center
Private Permit
Dr. Jean Monat
Dr. Jean-Francois Cusson
Dr. Terry Gehl
Dr. Allan Spector
Kristapore Manoukian
Tiffany Sze Ngar Yeung
Ming Hui Yu
Regional Health Survey (RHS)
OHSSRC
The Onkwata’karitáhtshera Health and Social Services Research Council (OHSSRC) reviews research in regards to health and social services that is proposed from organizations within the community of Kahnawà:ke, as well as from government departments, academic institutions and private firms.
Our Mandate
Our mandate is to ensure that health and social services research is conducted in the Kahnawake territory is accepted and approved by the Onkwata’karitáhtshera Health and Social Services Research Council (OHSSRC).
The OHSSRC receives its authority from Onkwata’karitáhtshera through Mohawk Council Resolution No. 45/1999/2000.
Our Guiding Principles
The OHSSRC operates on Ownership, Control, Accessibility and Possession (OCAP) principles whereby any data collected in the Kahnawake Territory is owned by Kahnawake and kept in Kahnawake.
The OHSSRC are the gatekeepers of any research conducted in Kahnawake in order to guarantee community control of health and social services research.
Research that is proposed for the community of Kahnawà:ke should be conducted respectfully.
Research should not harm the community of Kahnawà:ke or its members.
Research must be beneficial for the community of Kahnawà:ke.
Research must involve community participation.
Our Responsibilities
To thoroughly review research proposals according to our guiding principles.
As representatives for the community, the OHSSRC approves or denies proposed projects based on the guiding principles.
To provide information on any approved research that is ongoing in the community.
To facilitate approved research projects in the community to ensure that a high quality of research will be conducted.
To facilitate a central archive for all health and social services research conducted in the community.
To monitor ongoing research projects.
*Research Projects & Protocol/Handbook/OCAP Principles to be added