The Brant Community Healthcare System (BCHS) has unveiled its first Indigenous Health Strategy, a three-year plan intended to strengthen culturally safe care for First Nations and Indigenous patients and embed reconciliation into local health services.
The 2025–2028 strategy, announced this week, commits the organization to blending traditional approaches to wellness with Western medical practices.
It is the first time BCHS, which operates Brantford General Hospital and The Willett in Paris, has released a dedicated Indigenous health plan.
Dr. Michelle Bomberry, Manager of Indigenous Health Services at BCHS, called the initiative a milestone for Indigenous staff and communities.
“This strategy is foundational in building a trusting relationship within BCHS,” she said. “More importantly, we want to ensure First Nations and Indigenous people feel safe when receiving health care and stay connected to their culture, language, and traditions.”
The plan is anchored by seven pillars:
- fostering cultural awareness among staff,
- integrating traditional Indigenous medicine,
- optimizing Indigenous patient care,
- expanding holistic wellness programming,
- improving communications,
- recruiting and developing an Indigenous workforce, and
- strengthening engagement with local communities and circles of care.
BCHS President and CEO Bonnie Camm said the strategy reflects principles of the Two Row Wampum treaty, which symbolizes mutual respect and coexistence.
“This marks a meaningful step forward in our commitment to reconciliation and culturally safe care,” Camm said. “It reflects a partnership rooted in trust and shared purpose.”
The strategy was shaped in consultation with Indigenous communities, including Six Nations of the Grand River and the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation, whose leadership and members contributed to its design.
The Indigenous Health Strategy forms a key element of the health system’s broader 2025–2030 Strategic Plan, which pledges to make BCHS a hub for inclusive care and community well-being.
BCHS has described the launch as not just an institutional roadmap, but as a public signal of intent: to acknowledge historic inequities and to work alongside Indigenous communities in reshaping patient care.
