Indigenous health clinic offers culturally grounded care in Bancroft

December 10, 2025

By Nate Smelle

The Tsi Kanonhkhwatsheríyo Indigenous Interprofessional Primary Care Team has opened the doors to its new Bancroft clinic, marking a significant expansion of culturally grounded health services for Indigenous people in North Hastings and the surrounding region. Backed by a $1.2 million investment from the province through Ontario’s $2.1-billion Primary Care Action Plan, the clinic is now accepting new patients who identify as Indigenous, have an Ontario health card, and do not currently have a primary health-care provider.

Located at 69 Cleak Avenue, the clinic is designed to fill a well-documented gap in access to primary care for Indigenous people, while also creating a welcoming space rooted in cultural safety, trauma-informed practices and holistic wellness. Executive director Tera Osborne says the model is intentionally built to address a long-standing need in the region.

“The clinic provides culturally safe and trauma-informed team-based care to Indigenous Peoples and their families,” she explains. “They also are able to access traditional healing practices such as traditional healers, traditional medicines and land-based healing.”

In the Mohawk language, “Tsi Kanonhkhwatsheríyo” means “The Place of Good Medicine.” Living up to its name, one of the clinic’s defining features is its integration of Indigenous and Western medical approaches. Care teams use a holistic model that considers mental, physical, emotional and spiritual well-being, while supporting patients to choose the practices and pathways that feel right for them. “We braid traditional healing practices with western health-care based on the client’s preferences,” Osborne says. This includes access to traditional medicines, healers and culturally centred land-based programming.

The new Bancroft location also eliminates barriers that have prevented some Indigenous people from seeking care. The Tsi Kanonhkhwatsheríyo Indigenous Interprofessional Primary Care Team operates as a status-blind organization, meaning clients do not need to show a Status Card to access services. Community members can start the intake process by dropping into the clinic for a package or calling 343-478-0196.

Osborne acknowledges the bringing together of these services under one roof as a major step forward for the community. The clinic offers primary care, mental health supports, foot care, prenatal and postnatal services, community development programs and traditional healing options. This interprofessional model reduces the need for patients to travel between multiple offices and providers—a challenge that is particularly acute in rural regions such as North Hastings.

The new clinic also represents an investment in trust and cultural safety. All staff members have completed Indigenous Cultural Safety training, ensuring patients receive care grounded in respect, understanding and lived experience.

As the Bancroft site continues to accept intakes, Osborne encourages Indigenous community members to connect, learn more and explore whether Tsi Kanonhkhwatsheríyo Indigenous Interprofessional Primary Care Team’s approach aligns with their needs.

With its opening, the clinic stands as both a health-care resource and a community-centred space—one that honours Indigenous knowledge, strengthens local wellness and represents an important step toward equitable health-care access in the region.