Health Center provides yearly update

The Kanesatake Health Center (KHC) presented a rosy financial outlook at its Annual General Assembly (AGA) on Wednesday, which also saw the re-election of one board member, leaving two vacancies remaining.

“The AGA went really well,” said KHC executive director Teiawenhniseráhte Tomlinson. “The staff got to present to the membership, and the atmosphere was good. The key takeaways are that the KHC is in a solid and healthy financial position, while not only maintaining a high standard in our service delivery but expanding program offers.”

The budget for the fiscal year ending March 2025 looked different than projections due to the farm acquisition, which came with a special funding grant from Indigenous Services Canada (ISC), according to Tomlinson, for a total of nearly $15 million flowing to the KHC from the department.

The KHC finished the year with net financial assets of nearly $6.6 million, an increase of almost $2 million.

Reriahsiio Isaiah Bonspille, who had been serving a one-year term on the board of directors, was re-elected by acclamation. With Bonspille the only candidate for three vacant positions, there are still two openings. These may be filled by appointment or by-election, depending on the discretion of the board of directors and the number of candidates available, according to Rola Helou, who was tasked with administering this AGA as well as last year’s.

Gordon Oke and Sohenrise Paul Nicholas, both of whom were elected to three-year terms at last year’s AGA, continue to sit on the board.

Helou said the AGA is an important occasion for the KHC to connect with Kanehsata’kehró:non.

“Besides being a legal requirement, it’s an opportunity for the organization to speak with its members, to hear its members, to share information with its members, and the members are the entire community,” said Helou.

Around 35 people attended the AGA, most of whom took part as regular members. Also in attendance was the board of directors’ new administrative assistant, Kanehsata’kehró:non Emma Sawyer, who was learning from Helou how to coordinate next year’s AGA.

“It was a great experience,” said Sawyer, who took on the new role in August and also works as an administrative assistant at the Kahnawake Education Center.

Helou pointed out that the financial statements are available online for anyone who was unable to attend and said the KHC’s financials are doing very well. She also praised the centre’s programming.

“There are lots of really good things happening at the Health Center,” said Helou. “I think there are more programs and services to meet the needs of the community. The Health Center is really taking a cultural perspective and a holistic approach to health, and that really came out clear at the AGA.”

The annual activity report, also presented at the meeting, contains statistics on the KHC’s services, ranging from primary care appointments, immunizations, home and community care, maternal child health, child and family support services, mental health and wellness, and more.

Nearly 9,000 primary care appointments were scheduled during the fiscal year, serving more than 1,200 clients.

A snapshot of childhood vaccination rates shows 100 percent coverage at 12-18 months but room for improvement at other ages, including only 66 percent coverage in the grade four category.

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Marcus Bankuti, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter