What are Aboriginal Health Access Centres
Aboriginal Health Access Centres (AHACs) are Aboriginal community-led, primary health care organizations. They provide a combination of traditional healing, primary care, cultural programs, health promotion programs, community development initiatives, and social support services to First Nations, Métis and Inuit communities. There are currently ten AHACs in Ontario, providing services both on and off-reserve, in urban, rural and northern locations.
First announced in 1995, AHACs were closely modelled after Ontario’s Community Health Centres (CHCs), whose wide basket of services and supports had become the preferred mechanism to improve the health and well-being of communities in Ontario facing various barriers in accessing health care. In fact, two CHCs had already been established, one in Toronto and another in Timmins, with a mandate to apply this CHC model as the framework for services to local Aboriginal community members.
Ontario’s experience with CHCs, including these two Aboriginal CHCs — Anishnawbe Health Toronto CHC and Misiway Milopemahtesewin CHC in Timmins — provided strong evidence that such organizations could play a powerful role in improving the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal communities throughout Ontario. Currently, there are three Aboriginal CHCs in Ontario: Anishnawbe Health Toronto, Misiway Milopemahtesewin in Timmins and Chigamik in Midland.
That’s why, in 1994, when the province implemented its Aboriginal Health Policy – developed in the largest ever consultation with First Nations, Metis, and Inuit communities - through the Aboriginal Healing and Wellness Strategy, Aboriginal community-led primary health care was identified as a key pillar of the vision for the future. Beginning the following year, AHACs started to open their doors. By 2000, all ten were operational. And so were born Ontario’s Aboriginal Health Access Centres. Since then, AHACs have made a powerful contribution to health and wellbeing in Ontario, helping to bring tens of thousands of Aboriginal community members into the circle of care and support.
From clinical care to integrated chronic disease prevention and management, family-focused maternal/child health care, addictions counselling, traditional healing, mental health care, youth empowerment and other programs, AHACs continue to serve as a key entry point to overall family and community health and development.
Resources
Members
Anishnawbe Mushkiki
1260 Golf Links Road – 3rd Floor
Thunder Bay, ON P7B 0A1
Tel: 807-623-0383
Fax: 807-623-0135
Website: www.mushkiki.com
De dwa da dehs nye>s Aboriginal Health Centre
678 Main Street East
Hamilton, ON L8M 1K2
Tel: 905-544-4320
Fax: 905-544-4247
Website: www.aboriginalhealthcentre.com
Brantford Site
36 King Street
Brantford, ON N3T 3C5
Tel: 519-752-4340
Fax: 519-752-6096
Gizhewaadiziwin Health Access Centre
1460 Idylwild Drive P.O. Box 686
RMB2004 RR #2
Fort Frances, ON P9A 3M9
Tel: 807-274-3131
Fax: 807-274-6280
Website: www.gizhac.com
Mamaway Wiidokdaadwin Primary Health Care Team
64 Cedar Point Dr. Unit 1405
Barrie, ON L4N 5R7
Tel: 705-734-1818
Mohawk Council of Akwesasne
P.O. Box 579
Cornwall ON K6H 5T3
Tel: 613-575-2341
Fax: 613-575-133
Website: www.akwesasne.ca
N’Mninoeyaa Health Access Centre
P.O. Box 28, 473B Hwy #17W
Cutler, ON P0P 1B0
Tel: 705-844-2021
Fax: 705-844-2844
Website: www.mamaweswen.ca
Noojmowin Teg Health Centre
Hwy 540, Postal Bag 2002
48 Hillside Road
Aundeck Omni Kaning
Little Current, ON P0P 1K0
Tel: 705-368-2182
Fax: 705-368-2229
Website: www.noojmowin-teg.ca
Shkagamik-Kwe Health Centre
161 Applegrove Street
Sudbury, ON P3C 1N2
Tel: 705-675-1596
Fax: 705-675-8040
Website: www.skhc.ca
Southwest Ontario Aboriginal Health Access Centre - London Site
425-427 William Street
London, ON N6B 3E1
Tel: 519-672-4079
Fax: 519-672-6945
Website: www.soahac.on.ca
Southwest Ontario Aboriginal Health Access Centre - Chippewas of the Thames Site
77 Anishinaabeg Drive
Muncey, ON N0L 1Y0
Tel: 519-289-0352
Southwest Ontario Aboriginal Health Access Centre - Owen Sound Site
#3-733 9th Avenue East
Owen Sound, ON N4K 3E6
Tel: 519-376-5508
Southwest Ontario Aboriginal Health Access Centre - Windsor Site
2-1405 Tecumseh Rd W.
Windsor, ON N9B 1T7
Tel: 519-916-1755
Temiskaming Native Women’s Support Group
121 Scott Street
P0J 1P0 New Liskeard, Ontario
Tel: 705-567-6177
Wabano Centre for Aboriginal Health
299 Montreal Road
Ottawa, ON K1L 6B8
Tel: 613-748-5999
Fax: 613-748-9364
Website: www.wabano.com
Waasegiizhig Nanaandawe’iyewigamig
212 4th Ave. South
Kenora, ON P9N 1Y9
Tel: 807-467-2453
Fax: 807-467-2666
Website: www.wnhac.org
Head Office
Obashkaandagaang First Nation
P.O. Box 320
Keewatin, ON P0X 1C0