Lakehead signs MOU to train staff for upcoming Grassy Narrows care home

Lakehead University and Grassy Narrows First Nation are partnering to prepare students for roles at a new care home in the community.

The Grassy Narrows Mercury Care Home is scheduled to open November 2027.

“Finally they’re training our people how to care for our people and our community,” said Grassy Narrows Chief Dr. Sherry Ackabee. “Nobody deserves to be away from home. All of our people are shipped into Kenora for Mercury, for care. And there’s been mistreatment in hospitals. Everybody knows about it. But at least at home in Grassy, they’ll be well looked after.”

Lakehead President Dr. Gillian Siddall estimates a need for around 100 full-time staff at the home.

“We are providing access to nursing programs, social work programs, and possibly kinesiology programs as well,” Giddall said. “We’re also looking at offering some of that programming on site in Grassy Narrows so that community members don’t always have to come to Thunder Bay to get that education.”

Members of Grassy Narrows First Nation made the six-hour drive to Lakehead for the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding and the Memorandum of Agreement.

“The Memorandum of Understanding, signed between me and the Chief, is to acknowledge our mutual commitment to working together in various capacities,” Giddall said. “The Memorandum of Agreement is a manifestation of that, where we’ve actually got some concrete actions identified where we can work together and learn from each other.”

Lakehead’s Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences will lead the training of students for the care home.

“Some of our people need constant care,” Ackabee said. “Because of all the years we’ve waited, we’ve lost so many. Our younger generations are getting more sick too. I would just like to try and keep our people as healthy as could be, but we take it one day at a time.”

“November of next year will be an exciting time. Our people get to come home and into our own Mercury Care home.”