New mental health van aims to support First Nations people in Thunder Bay, Ont.

Thunder Bay, Ont., is a service hub for members of dozens of surrounding First Nations who travel hundreds of kilometres to access health and social services.

But for those coming from a small, remote community, navigating the northwestern Ontario city can be daunting.

That’s why the Independent First Nations Alliance (IFNA) is launching a new service to help direct its members to the right resources.

IFNA represents five First Nations in the region: Pikangikum, Muskrat Dam, Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug, Lac Seul and Whitesand. Of these, the first three are fly-in communities, which means they’re inaccessible by road. 

"We are looking to offer services for community members from the IFNA communities through a variety of stops," said Jessica Laesser, IFNA's mental health and addictions manager.

"We've been in conversations with some of the local hotels that our community members often stay at when they're in town, as well as learning from local services who are already really doing good work in the city in this area."

Community leaders with IFNA have been working with MoveMobility, which builds and renovates accessible vehicles and mobile medical vans, to create a mobile mental outreach van based in Thunder Bay.

The van will serve as a central touchpoint for IFNA members who have travelled to Thunder Bay for care.

The van is wheelchair-accessible and has space for people to access services inside, as well as an awning that will allow it to be used for pop-up events.

“We put a lot of thought into those types of things to make sure that it really was functional for all seasons,” Laesser said.

Many community members have reported feeling isolated while in the city and experiencing communication breakdowns, said Laesser, which the van also aims to address. 

“To be able to offer that communication from urban to rural where there's sometimes a gap between services — that allows the increased continuity of care when away from home,” she said.

It will also help community leaders support their members from afar, she added.

“If they are worried about somebody in the city, if they're unsure how to navigate certain complex situations, we want to be able to step in and provide that additional support in between.”

‘It's more than a van, it's a safe space’

While the van’s launch date has yet to be determined, Laesser said those involved with the project have been busy building connections with local service providers and gathering feedback from IFNA members about what kind of services should be offered.

“We're just going to make sure that everything there is up and running and get a plan in order and our location pathways set out,” said Laesser. 

IFNA leaders worked alongside artist Storm Angeconeb, a member of Lac Seul First Nation who lives in Red Lake, on the van’s exterior design.

The imagery features animals that represent IFNA’s five communities as well as the four seasons.

“It's more than a van, it's a safe space,” Angeconeb said. “I really wanted to reflect that in my artwork.”

“It's better than looking at a plain-white van. It's inviting, you're attracted to it,” she continued. “What my goal is with my art is just to inspire others and make them feel welcome, because art tells stories and stories are important.”

As the team prepares to get the van on the road, Laesser said she looks forward to creating a program that’s flexible and meets people’s needs.

IFNA will post on its website to let members know when the van is officially operating, she said.

“We're really looking forward to the conversations and opportunities with providers and community members and people here in the city to make an impact that can help not only the individual who's receiving our service, but the families and communities that are close to that person.”