Cree Board of Health and Social Services of James Bay facts for kids

The Cree Board of Health and Social Services of James Bay (CBHSSJB) helps people in the Cree territory of Northern Quebec, Canada, stay healthy. They provide important health and social services to the Cree people. The Cree are one of Canada's First Nations, which are the original peoples of this land.

The CBHSSJB was created because of an important agreement called the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement. This agreement was made between the Cree, the Inuit, the Quebec government, and the Canadian federal government. It helped set up how the Cree would manage their own health care.

The CBHSSJB runs a main hospital and nine clinics across a huge area, about the size of France. These clinics are called Community Miyupimaatisiiun Centres. They offer emergency care and family medicine. Miyupimaatisiiun is a Cree word that means "being alive well," which is their way of saying "health." All these centres have doctors and nurses working there all the time.

Helping the Community Stay Healthy

The CBHSSJB has a special team called the Public Health Department. Their job is to stop illnesses from spreading, protect people's health, and teach everyone how to live healthier lives.

Fighting Diabetes and Obesity

One big challenge for the Cree community is dealing with many cases of obesity (being very overweight) and diabetes (a condition where your body has trouble controlling blood sugar). This is sometimes called an epidemic because it affects so many people.

To help with this, the CBHSSJB works with scientists and other groups to do research. For example, they study how traditional Cree foods can help keep people healthy. Some research has even found a special substance called Awashishinic Acid in traditional Cree foods. This substance might help prevent diabetes!

Support for Young People

The CBHSSJB also helps young people. They run group homes in Chisasibi and Mistissini. These homes provide a safe and supportive place for young people who need extra help. There's also a special centre in Mistissini that helps young people get back on track if they've had difficulties.

Sharing Health Information

The CBHSSJB even publishes books and pamphlets about health. These materials focus on Indigenous health and are written to help people understand important health topics, like diabetes. For example, they've published books like The Sweet Bloods of the Eeyou Istchee: Stories of Diabetes and the James Bay Cree.

History of Cree Health Services

The Cree Health Board started in 1978. This was a few years after the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement was signed in 1975. This agreement was a land claim deal that included important parts about health care for the Cree.

Under this agreement, the Cree people were supposed to get the same health services as other people in Quebec and Canada. But the Cree wanted to manage their own health services. They wanted to do it in their own language and in a way that included their traditional values and culture. This is why the CBHSSJB was created – to provide health care that truly fits the Cree way of life.