Photo of Elder on Hospital Floor in Thunder Bay Sparks Concerns Over Indigenous Healthcare

A recent photo appearing to show an Indigenous elder lying in the hallway of a Thunder Bay, Ontario, hospital has sparked renewed concerns about the treatment of Indigenous patients within the region’s health-care system. The image, initially posted online but later removed, has raised alarms about the quality of care First Nations, Inuit, and Métis patients receive. While the family has requested privacy, and CBC News has chosen not to publish the photo, the situation highlights deep-seated issues within the system.

The Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre (TBRHSC) declined to comment on the specific case due to privacy laws. However, the incident comes just after the Canadian Medical Association publicly apologized for the historic and ongoing discrimination faced by Indigenous patients and health-care providers. This apology acknowledges the systemic racism embedded in Canada's medical systems.

Dr. Alexa Lesperance, an Anishinaabe family physician and vice-president of the Indigenous Physicians Association of Canada, underscored the frustration many Indigenous people feel when accessing care. "Indigenous people enter the health-care system expecting the worst," she said, reflecting on the frequent experiences of discrimination and neglect. Many similar incidents go undocumented due to the shame and stigma attached to seeking care.

TBRHSC’s policies around bed shortages involve prioritizing patients based on illness severity and injury emergence, according to hospital spokesperson Marcello Bernardo. However, for many Indigenous patients, the image in Thunder Bay underscores the broader inequities and challenges they continue to face within Canada's health-care system.

Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre (TBRHSC) has highlighted the role of Indigenous care coordinators (ICCs), who assist Indigenous patients in navigating hospital services and ensuring they receive culturally appropriate care. Spokesperson Marcello Bernardo acknowledged that while patients sometimes face delays in receiving treatment, the hospital continues to collaborate with various partners, including the Ministry of Health, to improve care for all patients in northwestern Ontario. He noted that while even brief waits can be challenging, TBRHSC is actively working to find resources that enhance patient care.

In response to concerns about bed shortages, the Ministry of Health provided an update on hospital infrastructure, mentioning that over 3,500 beds have been added across Ontario since 2020. This includes an addition of 34 beds at TBRHSC, announced by Minister Sylvia Jones and MPP Kevin Holland last year. However, it remains unclear whether those beds are currently in place.

To address patient concerns, First Nations, Inuit, and Métis patients and caregivers have access to the Early Resolution Specialist – Indigenous Experiences program through Ontario’s patient ombudsman. This program allows patients to resolve issues and submit formal complaints about their care.

Thunder Bay—Superior North MPP Lise Vaugeois expressed concerns about the province's health-care funding, particularly regarding the diversion of resources from the public health system to private care. This ongoing debate highlights the challenges of ensuring equitable and accessible health services for Indigenous communities and all patients in Ontario.

Earlier this month, MPP Lise Vaugeois attended a virtual town hall hosted by the Ontario Medical Association, addressing the growing concerns over long wait times and doctor shortages, particularly in northern communities. Following the release of a photo showing an Indigenous elder lying in a Thunder Bay hospital hallway, Vaugeois remarked on the immense stress people are feeling about the healthcare system, stating, “The image of this elder really represents in a very tangible way the fact that our system is not able to keep up with people’s needs.”

In response to the incident, Grand Council Treaty #3 expressed deep concern over the treatment of the patient, a member of Treaty #3, and criticized the care approach of Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre (TBRHSC). The statement underscored the broader issue of the colonial healthcare system's failure to uphold the treaty rights to health and well-being for Indigenous people. Many individuals from remote First Nations travel to medical hubs like Sioux Lookout and Thunder Bay for care, further highlighting the limited access to essential healthcare in the north.

Kiiwetinoong MPP Sol Mamakwa, from Kingfisher Lake First Nation, emphasized the need for improved care closer to home, pointing out that northern communities have outgrown their nursing stations and lack essential services like paramedics. Mamakwa explained that the nurses and physicians in these areas are not equipped with the necessary tools to provide adequate care, highlighting the disparity between northern and southern Ontario.

Dr. Alexa Lesperance, an Anishinaabe family physician and member of Rocky Bay First Nation, said the Canadian Medical Association’s recent acknowledgment of discrimination in healthcare is a positive first step but needs to be followed by concrete actions. She called for more cultural safety training and real-time reporting of discriminatory practices, with mechanisms for public accountability, to improve the treatment of Indigenous patients in the healthcare system.

What I didn’t hear mentioned in the CMA’s official response were crucial concepts such as white privilege, white fragility, and white supremacy," remarked Dr. Alexa Lesperance. She emphasized that "medical violence is deeply rooted in white supremacy" and highlighted the responsibility of non-Indigenous individuals in the effort to dismantle these systemic issues. Lesperance underscored that the burden of this work should not fall on racialized patients or physicians who are struggling to navigate a healthcare system that was not designed for them and continues to inflict harm.

Sarah Law, a reporter for CBC News based in Thunder Bay, Ontario, has covered various stories related to this topic and invites anyone with story tips to reach out to her at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. As part of its commitment to accessibility, CBC aims to produce content that is inclusive for all Canadians, including those with visual, hearing, motor, and cognitive challenges. Many CBC shows available on CBC Gem offer closed captioning and described video services.