Eckville's new Akamihk Health Care Services Clinic will be housed at the Eckville Community Health Centre. (94.5 Rewind Radio/Jordan Rein)

By Jordan Rein | 94.5 Rewind Radio News

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Eckville and Montana First Nation formally open new health clinic

Nov 29, 2024 | 4:14 PM

A dozen years after its previous clinic closed, the town of Eckville celebrated the grand opening of a new health care services clinic Friday, developed through a unique partnership with the Montana First Nation.

Officials from the town and Montana First Nation were joined by government, health and community partners on Nov. 29 to mark the occasion. The Akamihk Health Care Services Clinic represents a unique medical collaboration and is the culmination of two years of discussions between Eckville and the Montana First Nation in Maskwacis.

“The lack of accessible health care has been an ongoing challenge for residents of our community since our local doctor’s office closed 12 years ago,” said Eckville Mayor Colleen Ebden.

“Cenovus Energy, who had previously committed financial support to the town for medical services, used their network of contacts to introduce us to the Montana First Nation, which had recently opened a medical clinic in their community. That seemingly simple connection planted the seed to get us where we are today.”

“The Akamihk Health Care Services clinic has been providing Indigenous-led, patient-centred care to the Montana First Nation members and the neighbouring Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities around the Montana First Nation reserve since 2022,” said Montana First Nation Chief Ralph Cattleman.

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He says the goal of the clinics is to provide primary care and radiology and imaging services to Indigenous and rural communities in Alberta.

The clinics were created because of challenges that Indigenous people and many rural communities face when it comes to accessing health care services, said Cattleman.

He add plans are in the works to have many such clinics in different parts of the province.

Ebden hopes this health care model can indeed spread to more areas of the province.

“There’s no reason why people can’t connect with First Nations and vice-versa to get things happening,” says Ebden. “It’s part of reconciliation. It’s people helping people.”

Ebden says the partnership with the First Nation being the successful model after years of various efforts speaks volumes to what can happen when people come together.

The clinic in Eckville is the second rural site following the first which opened north of Ponoka.

Since then, the organization has been working with the Alberta International Medical Graduate Association (AIMGA), Alberta College of Physicians and Surgeons (CPSA) and other professionals on the initiative

Many services are offered at the clinics, including radiology, said Dr. Ravi Bhargava, radiology medical director for Montana First Nation.

Bhargava says efforts are underway to update and upgrade existing radiology equipment to bring it up to 2024 standards.

The clinics were also made possible thanks to efforts and contributions from Cenovus Energy.

“At Cenovus, we are committed to making strategic investments in the communities where our employees live and work, while also fostering resilient communities,” said Mark Nelson, vice-president of conventional operations at Cenovus Energy.

“When the town of Eckville reached out to us regarding the community’s health care challenges, our team recognized the parallels to initiatives the Montana First Nation implemented. We helped connect the two sides to create a partnership. We look forward to seeing the positive outcomes of this new collaboration.”

The clinic opened its doors to patients Nov. 1. Since, Dr. Tersia Lichtenstein has been seeing patients at the clinic every Friday.

Ebden says the town is planning to have a community grand opening celebration in mid-December.

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READ MORE: Eckville to have community health clinic for first time since 2012

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