Our Values and Guiding Principles

The Noojmawing Sookatagaing OHT is guided by the principles of reconciliation, cultural safety, equity and the inherent rights of Indigenous Peoples to self-determination, as outlined in frameworks such as the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action. It emphasizes the importance of incorporating Indigenous knowledge systems, traditions, and values into Health care practices and ensuring that services are accessible, culturally appropriate and responsive to the needs of Indigenous Individuals, families and communities.

OHT members commit to fostering respectful collaboration, transparency, and accountability, ensuring that Indigenous Partners are full and equal participants in the co-creation of health care solutions. Together this partnership strives to address health disparities, enhance community well-being, and build a health care system that reflects and respects the diversity, resilience, and wisdom of Indigenous Peoples.

Guiding Principles

The OHT will be guided by our vision, mission and values in all that we do. In the spirit of Truth and Reconciliation, and with a sincere desire to learn from the gifts of Indigenous peoples, we have embedded Indigenous governance principles in our processes.

Those principles require clear and concise values that guide how we will operate. In consideration for the territory on which we are privileged to live and work, we have adopted the seven traditional values of the Anishinabek which are sometimes referred to as the seven grandfather teachings.

Governance Principles

  • Participatory democracy is a fundamental aspect of many traditional Indigenous governance systems, ensuring all members of the Nation have a direct voice in decision-making processes.  Leaders act as facilitators of consensus rather than holding more power than the people, requiring the confidence of the entire community.

  • Community-led decision making is a crucial component of Indigenous governance, encompassing wholistic health perspectives that view health as mental, spiritual, emotional, and physical well-being.  Engagement with partners and agencies supporting these aspects of health is essential.

  • Wholistic approaches to health are integral to Indigenous governance, emphasizing balance and peace in various dimensions of life.  Investing in partnerships with organizations focused on preventative health and health promotion allows addressing root causes of health issues and reducing burdens on formal healthcare systems.

  • Treaty-based partnerships are essential for Indigenous governance, emphasizing relational agreements and reciprocity.  The establishment of treaty-based partnerships with Indigenous communities by the OHT prioritizes Indigenous self-determination and governance in healthcare decision-making processes, and recognizes the promises made by Canada to First Nations. We recognize that not all First Nations within the OHT are signatories to Treaties.

  • Values articulation serves as a foundation for Indigenous governance, guiding decision-making processes and ensuring alignment with community values.  Embedding values such as the Seven Grandfather Teachings into the By-law provides a framework for ethical and culturally appropriate decision making.

  • Traditional leadership is crucial to respecting Indigenous governance principles within the OHT.  Involvement of Indigenous Elders, Knowledge Keepers, and leaders in healthcare governance structures offers invaluable guidance and cultural perspectives.

  • The Members represent and bring differing backgrounds and perspectives to the OHT.  This diversity is a strength but also creates risk that individual perspectives on the definitions of “wholistic”, “reciprocity”, “treaty relationship”, “relationality” and other concepts related to our governance principles may differ, unless the context is supported by ongoing education, awareness, and training. It is therefore necessary to integrate education, awareness, and training programming and learning opportunities into the onboarding process for all new Member representatives.   

We value bravery which results in advocacy for our local community despite outside pressures, doing the right thing even if it delays the process and even when it isn’t easy. We hold each other accountable and hold space for challenging discussions. We support and protect each other, ensuring everyone’s voice is safely heard.

The OHT will continue to receive teachings and guidance about the values from Anishinaabe Elders and Knowledge-Keepers, recognizing that we are all on a journey of growth. In this way, we will champion a people-centered and equitable approach, prioritizing autonomy and trauma-informed care for all. Our values-driven collaboration will result in an efficient and impactful health system.

Our Values

  • Teaching: ‘Deb’: The heart; ‘We’: Sound through speech; 'Win’: Nominalizer, a way it is done. Truth is the way it is in your heart.

    OHT Value Statement: We value Truth which results in authenticity, transparency, and principled decision-making, always speaking authentically and ensuring our actions align with our vision, mission, and values.

  • Teaching: ‘Dabas’: Low, Lower; ‘End’: pertaining to thought; ‘Izi’: state or condition; ‘Win’: Nominalizer, a way it is done. To think lower of oneself (in relation to all that sustains us. Humility is to know yourself as a sacred part of Creation. In the Anishinaabe language, this word can also mean “compassion”. You are equal to others, but you are not better.

    OHT Value Statement: We value Humility which results in diversity, equity and inclusion. When we acknowledge that our understanding is limited by our experiences, we commit to continuous learning from all voices and perspectives, including the natural world that sustains us. When we acknowledge the interconnectedness of all things, we prioritize the collective over the self.

  • Teaching: ‘Manaaji’: To Go Easy on Someone; ‘Idi’: In a reciprocal way; ‘Win’: Nominalizer, a way it is done. “To go easy on one another”, meaning all of Creation.

    OHT Value Statement: We value Respect which results in the creation of space for disenfranchised voices, considering all viewpoints equally, fostering a non-judgmental environment, and recognizing that we are all at different places in our journeys.

  • Teaching: ‘Zaag’: To emerge naked, to come out, to flow out; ‘Idi’: In a reciprocal way; ‘Win’: Nominalizer, a way it is done. “Unconditional love between one another”, meaning all of creation, including humans and non-humans, seen and unseen, of yesterday, today, and tomorrow. To know love is to know peace. Love must be unconditional. When people are weak, they need love the most. In the Anishinaabe language, this word with the reciprocal theme ‘Idi’ indicates that this form of love is mutual.

    OHT Value Statement: We value Love which means we centre people in our work through compassionate and trauma-informed approaches. As a collective we are responsible for making sure that everyone, regardless of their state, has access to appropriate services.

  • Teaching: ‘Waa’: Pertaining to sight; ‘Kaa’: An abundance; ‘Win’: Nominalizer, a way it is done. “To live with vision”. To cherish knowledge is to know Wisdom. Wisdom is given by the Creator to be used for the good of the people. In the Anishinaabe language, this word expresses not only “wisdom”, but also means “prudence” or “intelligence”.

    OHT Value Statement: We value Wisdom which results in projecting the consequences of our decisions on those seven generations from now. We commit to valuing the knowledge and experience of our partners and those we serve, continually asking who is not at the table and who is/will be impacted, while respecting and preserving the knowledge we are gifted.

  • Teaching: ‘Gwayak’: Correctly, straightly, and rightly. ‘Aadizi’: He/She lives; ‘Win’: Nominalizer, a way it is done. “To live correctly and with virtue”.

    OHT Value Statement: We value Honesty which results in integrity, vulnerability and self-reflection. We ensure transparency with each other and those we serve, actively listening, and respecting autonomy.

  • Teaching: ‘Zoongi’: Solid, strong, unchanging; ‘De’e’: A form of “heart”; ‘Win’: Nominalizer, a way it is done. “To live with a strong, solid heart”, regardless of fear, circumstances or consequences.

    OHT Value Statement:  We value Bravery which results in advocacy for our local community despite outside pressures, doing the right thing even if it delays the process and even when it isn’t easy. We hold each other accountable and hold space for challenging discussions. We support and protect each other, ensuring everyone’s voice is safely heard.