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CBC
12 hours ago
- Entertainment
- CBC
Here's where Manitobans can celebrate National Indigenous Peoples Day
Social Sharing There are a range of events happening on and ahead of this weekend welcoming Manitobans to celebrate the cultural traditions, heritage and stories of First Nations, Métis and Inuit people, as part of National Indigenous Peoples Day, observed every June 21. Most programming happens on Saturday — from a rooftop musical exhibition at the Winnipeg Art Gallery in Winnipeg to a slate of activities at Brandon's Riverbank Discovery Centre, a street festival in The Pas and much more. Several events in Winnipeg kick things off a day early on Friday, including a sacred fire and pipe ceremony at the University of Manitoba's Mashkiki Gitigaan Medicine Garden at 9 a.m. (or Joe Doupe Concourse in the event of rain). That's followed by a feast at the Brodie Atrium at 11 a.m. on campus, where visitors can take in a variety of vendors, as well as a ceremony recognizing the Indigenous campus community in the afternoon. Also on Friday is a National Indigenous Peoples Day market put on by Shared Health, which co-ordinates health-care delivery in the province. The market is open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the William Avenue Mall at the Health Sciences Centre. Circles for Reconciliation is hosting a free barbecue, children's games, a market, a talking circle and entertainment from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Friday at Sergeant Tommy Prince Place (90 Sinclair St.). On Saturday, The Forks launches " Many Nations, One Heartbeat," which includes 11 days of free, family-friendly cultural and community programming that wraps on Canada Day, July 1. The WAG-Qaumajuq rooftop event runs from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. and includes artists from the Prairies showcasing collaborative hip hop and R&B music. It marks the end of the gallery's Threads of Kin and Belonging: A Trinnipeg Live Mixtape Project, an exhibit celebrating Indigenous and Black voices that kicked off during Black History Month. The Saint-Joseph Métis National Union of Manitoba and Festival du Voyageur host the annual Métis picnic at Fort Gibraltar from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. Winnipeg Goldeyes fans will be treated to live entertainment celebrating Indigenous culture before and during the game Saturday at Blue Cross Park. About 400 people displaced from ongoing wildfires will get free admission and food vouchers, thanks to a Manitoba Blue Cross donation, the team says. Waterways, an Indigenous-led non-profit, is taking members of the public out on the water for a free paddle from the St. Vital boat launch to the Manitoba Canoe and Kayak Club. It ends with a barbecue at the club, a plant walk and music. Spots are limited and registration is required. WATCH | National Indigenous Peoples Day in Manitoba (2023): National Indigenous Peoples Day in Manitoba 2 years ago Duration 1:59 Today is National Indigenous Peoples Day and Manitobans are encouraged to celebrate, learn more about Indigenous culture and reflect on history. Manitoba is home to the Cree, Ojibway, Oji-Cree, Dakota and Dene, Métis and Inuit. Lots of public events are going on today across Manitoba, including a powwow and musical performances at The Forks. Beyond Winnipeg, people in southwestern Manitoba can catch a full day of events at the Riverbank Discovery Centre in Brandon on Saturday, beginning at 10 a.m., including a powwow demo, a puppet show, a talent show, live musical performances and a range of other activities for all ages. Waywayseecappo First Nation, northwest of Brandon, is hosting a powwow at 1 p.m. In the Interlake region, the Manitoba Métis Federation's Selkirk chapter is hosting events in Selkirk Park, also starting with a pancake breakfast. From 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. there will be food, a Red River Métis market, a family tent and live entertainment. Gimli is hosting an afternoon of programming from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Gimli Park Pavilion, with free bannock and refreshments. In northern Manitoba, Thompson has an early morning (4:45 a.m.) pipe ceremony Saturday followed by a pancake breakfast, hot dog lunch, teepee teachings, karaoke — and an air band competition with cash prices for the top three finishers. The Pas Friendship Centre is holding a street festival starting at noon with traditional dancing and drumming, Métis fiddlers, local performers and youth activities.
Winnipeg Free Press
2 days ago
- Health
- Winnipeg Free Press
Province, nurses must take charge after study finds racism exists in Winnipeg ERs
Opinion If you want to know why we never seem to make progress in battling systemic racism, events this week provide some compelling answers. On Tuesday, a landmark study by Shared Health showed adult African/Black and Indigenous patients wait longer for treatment in Winnipeg emergency rooms than patients of other races and ethnicities. Black patients waited the longest on average at Shared Health-run Health Sciences Centre (5.5 hours) and Indigenous patients waited the second longest (5.3 hours). White patients, as a point of comparison, on average waited 4.1 hours, a full hour less. RUTH BONNEVILLE / FREE PRESS FILES Dr. Marcia Anderson led the race-based ER data project on behalf of Shared Health. As well, 36.5 per cent of adult Indigenous patients, and 30.4 per cent of African/Black patients left the HSC ER without having been examined or treated. About 20 per cent of white patients left before being seen. The report was prepared by Shared Health in collaboration with the University of Manitoba's Ongomiizwin Indigenous Institute of Health and Healing, and the George & Fay Yee Centre for Healthcare Innovation. It was based on analysis of more than 600,000 patients who agreed to self-identify their race and ethnicity. The findings are not necessarily seismic in their essence; research into the racial bias in the health-care system has been going on for decades. This is, however, one of the most precise studies of its kind. Report author Dr. Marcia Anderson correctly noted the report contains 'hard truths.' Although not mentioned in the report, among those hard truths is the undeniable fact that the health-care system is horrible at responding to the issue of systemic racism. Health Minister Uzoma Asagwara greeted the report with a recommendation that all emergency department staff undergo cultural safety and anti-racism training. However, the minister declined to say which training, when it would start and did not indicate whether the affected personnel would be allowed to undertake it during normal working hours. That drew immediate criticism from the Manitoba Nurses Union. MNU president Darlene Jackson said the collective agreement clearly says that nurses must be given time off from normal duties to undergo any required educational programming. Jackson warned that because Asagwara's comments were only a recommendation, there is an implication the nurses should do the training on their own time. She said she was concerned about consequences for those who don't. If we take a hard look at what both Asagwara and Jackson are saying, a rather unflattering picture comes into focus. If the minister takes no issue with the findings, and agrees that the issue is fundamentally important, then why wasn't more done to formulate an actual plan to address gaps in anti-racism training? And why wouldn't Asagwara make this kind of training mandatory, even if the fine details of delivering it have yet to be worked out? It should be said that 'how' and 'when' and 'paid for by whom' are all good questions. However, Jackson and the MNU need to ensure their concerns do not obscure their commitment to combating systemic racism. Right now, the union has created the impression it is only interested in building a list of reasons why they shouldn't get involved. If, for example, the collective agreement guarantees that nurses would be paid to undertake any compulsory training, Overall, it's a bad look for a health-care system that had the courage to, at the very least, dig into patient data to uncover the hard truths. But the mad dash for details, and lack of any sense of collaboration between the province, the health authorities and groups like the MNU, makes everyone look rather incompetent. There is also a renewed concern about whether this is just another provincial directive unleashed upon nurses without adequate negotiation. The former Progressive Conservative government rattled the very foundations of Winnipeg's hospital system by force-feeding nurses a major restructuring of emergency rooms and specialty surgical programs. Apparently unaware, or unconcerned, that nurses had fought long and hard to have some control over where and when they worked, the PC government changed the entire structure of Winnipeg's hospital network. Nurses that had worked in departments and programs in hospitals for years were suddenly told they were relocating. Tuesdays A weekly look at politics close to home and around the world. Nurses at suburban hospitals were suddenly faced with the prospect of moving to one of the larger, core-area hospitals. Carefully structured family lives were thrown into chaos. Not surprising, then, that the nurses refused to get with the Tory program. Older nurses retired early; younger nurses fled the public system for private nursing agencies where they were paid better and had total control over where and when they worked. The same agencies that provide staff back to an understaffed public system at a premium rate. Premier Wab Kinew and his health minister have repeatedly promised they would manage health care differently. Although more details need to come out, the haphazard response to the issue of systemic racism and the conflict with the MNU suggest the New Democrats may be repeating tragic history. The province and its unions have acknowledged that this is a real and important issue. What Manitobans need now is someone to take charge and show real progress, not just acknowledgement. Dan LettColumnist Dan Lett is a columnist for the Free Press, providing opinion and commentary on politics in Winnipeg and beyond. Born and raised in Toronto, Dan joined the Free Press in 1986. Read more about Dan. Dan's columns are built on facts and reactions, but offer his personal views through arguments and analysis. The Free Press' editing team reviews Dan's columns before they are posted online or published in print — part of the our tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
Global News
3 days ago
- Health
- Global News
Indigenous, Black patients waiting longer to be seen in Winnipeg ERs: report
Race-based data collected in Manitoba's health-care systems suggests Indigenous, African and Black patients are waiting longer in Winnipeg emergency rooms and often leave without seeing a doctor. A report examining visits to emergency rooms and broken down by race says African and Black patients are triaged at the same rate as other racial groups, but are waiting the longest, upwards of five hours in some cases. It also says Indigenous patients are visiting hospitals for similar triage reasons compared with white patients, countering the idea that Indigenous people are using emergency departments inappropriately. Manitoba says it is the first in Canada to collect voluntary race-based data from patients when they register for care as a way to reduce systemic racism within the health-care system. The report looked at the more than 618,000 emergency room visits that occurred between May 2023 and September 2024. Story continues below advertisement Project lead Dr. Marcia Anderson says the initial analysis shows that racism can be a factor affecting wait times and care provided by Manitoba's emergency departments. Get weekly health news Receive the latest medical news and health information delivered to you every Sunday. Sign up for weekly health newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy 'Emergency departments are very stressful environments, and the health system is facing many challenges in these areas,' Anderson told reporters Tuesday. 'Unfortunately, in a system under stress, it is often those who are the most marginalized and who have the fewest resources to draw on who face the most severe impacts.' The report says the vast majority of people who leave against medical advice are Indigenous, accounting for almost two-thirds of all patients who do. More is needed to offer a positive therapeutic environment so patients don't feel the need to leave, said Anderson. It also finds that it is likely Indigenous, African and Black patients who are systemically receiving lower triage scores than white people, suggesting that their concerns may not be taken seriously by hospital staff. Researchers were unable to give an analysis on all populations because for some, like Latin American and Filipino people, the data set was too small. Health Minister Uzoma Asagwara said the initial data shows Indigenous, Black and racialized people experience some level of systemic discrimination. 'We have real data that tells a story about what's happening in our health-care system,' said Asagwara. Story continues below advertisement 'It's an incredible opportunity that we have in Manitoba to be a leader in this space and to really work together to improve the health outcomes and health care experiences for Manitobans.' The data was collected by Shared Health, the provincial health organization, as part of an initiative led by Ongomiizwin, the Indigenous Institute of Health and Healing at the University of Manitoba.
Winnipeg Free Press
3 days ago
- Health
- Winnipeg Free Press
Union demands nurses be paid for anti-racism training
While the Manitoba government has recommended emergency department staff take part in cultural safety and anti-racism training, it stopped short of making it mandatory and gave no indication workers would be paid. 'Fundamentally, we know this is important,' Health Minister Uzoma Asagwara said. 'We also know that health-care workers want access to these opportunities. I can tell you as a health-care worker for many years myself, when you spot a problem that you can be a part of solving, you want to be a part of that.' The recommendation follows the release of preliminary analysis of patient data, which indicates racism may contribute to differences in wait times and quality of care in Manitoba emergency departments. On May 11, 2023, Manitoba became the first province to collect voluntary race-based data during patient registration at hospitals and health centres. The report says Indigenous and Black patients wait the longest to be seen — a pattern consistent with previous research, said project lead, Dr. Marcia Anderson. 'As an immediate step, we have recommended that all emergency department team members be prioritized for participation in the 'We Will Take Good Care of The People Indigenous Cultural Safety and Anti-Racism' training,' Anderson said Tuesday. 'This training was developed by Ongomiizwin in partnership with Shared Health and the health regions.' Delivering the training is up to the province. Darlene Jackson, president of the Manitoba Nurses Union, said nurses need the time and resources to complete it. 'We're very firm in our collective agreement that any education that the employer expects is funded,' she said. 'Either you do it on a day where you're at work, or you're paid to go in and do it.' 'As an immediate step, we have recommended that all emergency department team members be prioritized for participation.'–Dr. Marcia Anderson Jackson warned that a recommendation, rather than a requirement, shifts the burden to individual nurses to complete it on their own time. She said she's concerned about the consequences for those who don't. Physicians are accustomed to completing training independently, said Dr. Shawn Young, chief operating officer of the Health Sciences Centre. He acknowledged that ideally, the training could happen during working hours, but staffing shortages make that difficult. Both Asagwara and Young emphasized the importance of eventually making such training a required component of medical education or early career development. Anderson said it takes an average of 12 hours to finish the 10-lesson course, and it must be done over a six-month period. There is also a recommendation for three one-on-one coaching sessions, separate from the online module and optional. Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. 'This would likely be true for training on cultural safety and anti-Indigenous racism training, too,' a spokesperson for Doctors Manitoba said. 'We are working closely with the College of Physicians and Surgeons and others to ensure this training can be offered in a flexible way to make it as accessible as possible.' The program involves sessions with trained coaches so workers can apply the lessons to real-life challenges. Additional training options are available, including the First Nations Health and Social Secretariat Anti-Racism Training — part of what Anderson called the lifelong journey of anti-racism education. MIKAELA MACKENZIE / FREE PRESS FILES She said current training could accommodate 3,000 participants over the next year, with the potential to expand. Scott BilleckReporter Scott Billeck is a general assignment reporter for the Free Press. A Creative Communications graduate from Red River College, Scott has more than a decade's worth of experience covering hockey, football and global pandemics. He joined the Free Press in 2024. Read more about Scott. Every piece of reporting Scott produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
Winnipeg Free Press
3 days ago
- Health
- Winnipeg Free Press
Indigenous, Black patients waiting longer to be seen in Winnipeg ERs: report
WINNIPEG – Race-based data collected in Manitoba's health-care systems suggests Indigenous, African and Black patients are waiting longer in Winnipeg emergency rooms and often leave without seeing a doctor. A report examining visits to emergency rooms and broken down by race says African and Black patients are triaged at the same rate as other racial groups, but are waiting the longest, upwards of five hours in some cases. It also says Indigenous patients are visiting hospitals for similar triage reasons compared with white patients, countering the idea that Indigenous people are using emergency departments inappropriately. Manitoba says it is the first in Canada to collect voluntary race-based data from patients when they register for care as a way to reduce systemic racism within the health-care system. The report looked at the more than 618,000 emergency room visits that occurred between May 2023 and September 2024. Project lead Dr. Marcia Anderson says the initial analysis shows that racism can be a factor affecting wait times and care provided by Manitoba's emergency departments. 'Emergency departments are very stressful environments, and the health system is facing many challenges in these areas,' Anderson told reporters Tuesday. 'Unfortunately, in a system under stress, it is often those who are the most marginalized and who have the fewest resources to draw on who face the most severe impacts.' The report says the vast majority of people who leave against medical advice are Indigenous, accounting for almost two-thirds of all patients who do. More is needed to offer a positive therapeutic environment so patients don't feel the need to leave, said Anderson. It also finds that it is likely Indigenous, African and Black patients who are systemically receiving lower triage scores than white people, suggesting that their concerns may not be taken seriously by hospital staff. Researchers were unable to give an analysis on all populations because for some, like Latin American and Filipino people, the data set was too small. Wednesdays Columnist Jen Zoratti looks at what's next in arts, life and pop culture. Health Minister Uzoma Asagwara said the initial data shows Indigenous, Black and racialized people experience some level of systemic discrimination. 'We have real data that tells a story about what's happening in our health-care system,' said Asagwara. 'It's an incredible opportunity that we have in Manitoba to be a leader in this space and to really work together to improve the health outcomes and health care experiences for Manitobans.' The data was collected by Shared Health, the provincial health organization, as part of an initiative led by Ongomiizwin, the Indigenous Institute of Health and Healing at the University of Manitoba. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 17, 2025.
