Keith Leclaire
Advisory Circle Chair,
PATHWAYS
The PATHWAYS initiative brings Indigenous communities and partners together to address the unmet health care needs of Indigenous Peoples.
Indigenous Peoples in Canada experience higher infant mortality, and greater hospitalization rates for mental illness. These disparities lead to an increase in the prevalence of chronic conditions, which often lead to serious health consequences. Among the most widespread are diabetes and its related complications, heart disease, respiratory diseases like COPD, and tuberculosis.
“The challenges that Indigenous communities face are rooted in persistent health disparities, which are often driven by social determinants like poverty, food insecurity, and inadequate access to housing and education,” says Keith Leclaire, Advisory Circle Chair for PATHWAYS. “These barriers have a compounding effect on health, leading to higher rates of chronic illness and overall lower health outcomes in Indigenous communities across Canada. Isolation and limited health services further restrict access to care, while racism within the health care system only amplifiies the need for a new approach.”
Bridging the gap
PATHWAYS is an innovative health project fund that bridges these gaps by creating sustainable relationships between private entities and Indigenous communities that are led by the community and guided by trust. Created in 2018, PATHWAYS is a partnership between leading biopharmaceutical company Boehringer Ingelheim (Canada) Ltd. and Bimaadzwin (an Indigenous-led consulting and policy group) together with Indigenous health policy leaders.
“Our goal is to empower Indigenous communities to lead the way in identifying and addressing their health needs,” says Leclaire. “PATHWAYS builds on the strength of Indigenous communities and creates relationships that respect and support their priorities.”
PATHWAYS represents a commitment to honouring Indigenous knowledge and practices while addressing the critical health care challenges these communities face.
Co-creating community-driven solutions
This emphasis on building trust and allowing communities to lead initiatives is enabling PATHWAYS to effectively respond to Indigenous health needs and address the disparities Indigenous communities face.
“We’re not looking at it like the federal government or the provincial government to serve everybody,” says Leclaire. “What we’re doing is developing trust so that the community itself can take more control and have the ability to interact using a strong partnership with non-Indigenous entities.”
PATHWAYS has eight pilot programs currently underway, each tailored to specifi c community needs — from preventing and reducing diabetic foot ulcers for the Siksika Nation in Alberta to integrating multi-disciplinary health care practitioners to support people living with type 2 diabetes at the Wagmatcook First Nation in Nova Scotia.
A holistic approach
PATHWAYS’ pilot projects have demonstrated impressive reach so far. “Seventy-four per cent of patients reported the initiative has enhanced their understanding of their condition, and 70 per cent felt their ability to manage their condition has improved,” says Leclaire. “Plus, 100 per cent of project leads reported observing positive behavioural changes and an improvement in the quality of life for participants.”
Leclaire attributes PATHWAYS’ success to its unique, holistic approach. “The initiative bridges Western medical perspectives, where specialists focus on diagnosing and treating the disease, with Indigenous approaches that emphasize viewing the person as a whole,” he says. “The feedback we’ve received from participants is that they’ve gained a new outlook on how to take care of their health.”
“PATHWAYS represents a commitment to honouring Indigenous knowledge and practices while addressing the critical health care challenges these communities face,” says Annie Beauchemin, Head of Market Access at Boehringer Ingelheim Canada. “We’re pleased of the strides made so far, but we recognize that much work remains to be done. We remain dedicated to supporting sustainable, long-term health improvements in Indigenous communities.”
To learn more about PATHWAYS, visit indigenoushealthpathways.ca.
