About Noojmawing Sookatagaing

Noojmawing Sookatagaing OHT, which means "Healing Working Together"
Phonetic: Noo-ja-ma-wing Soo-ka-tay-ga-ing

Our Mission: Honouring the land and ways of the Anishinaabek, this OHT brings together partners to create equitable, connected, wholistic, community-centred care across the District and City of Thunder Bay.

About Us

Noojmawing Sookatagaing is one of Ontario’s 58 Ontario Health Teams (OHTs). OHTs are a new way to organize and deliver health services, bringing together multiple health care providers as one collaborative team to provide patients with better connected and more convenient care, closer to home.

We reside on the lands of the Anishinaabek peoples, now known as the District and City of Thunder Bay. Our catchment area spans the Robinson-Superior Treaty of 1850, Treaty 9, Treaty 3, and unceded territory.

We were officially announced in October 2022 and gifted our name through traditional ceremony on May 24, 2023. 'Noojmawing Sookatagaing (Healing Working Together) Ontario Health Team.'

In August 2024, we developed our mission statement: Honouring the land and ways of the Anishinaabek, this OHT brings together partners to create equitable, connected, wholistic, community-centred care across the District and City of Thunder Bay.

Our Priorities

Primary care is central to wellness across Noojmawing Sookatagaing. Through ongoing engagement with patients, families, caregivers, PFAC members, Elders, Knowledge Keepers, and community leaders, we will co-design improvements that ensure timely, culturally safe care close to home.
We will enhance access to family physicians, nurse practitioners, traditional healers, and interprofessional teams, and integrate mental health supports and community-identified healing practices. Co-designed digital and virtual tools will improve continuity and navigation, while respecting Indigenous Data Sovereignty in how information is collected, used, and shared.
Outcome: A more accessible, culturally grounded primary care system shaped by community voice.
Integration will be built through shared planning among PFAC members, Indigenous partners, and community organizations. Together, we will create coordinated pathways that connect primary care, hospitals, mental health supports, community programs, and Indigenous health services.
Cultural safety, trauma-informed approaches, and traditional knowledge will guide this work. Digital tools that strengthen information flow will be developed and used in ways that honour Indigenous Data Sovereignty and community control of information.
Outcome: A connected circle of care where people experience smoother transitions and consistent support across services.
Strong foundations rely on shared governance, trusted relationships, and meaningful engagement that centres community voice, PFAC leadership, and Indigenous participation in planning and decision-making.
We will enhance secure digital infrastructure, virtual care, and data systems that support quality improvement while respecting Indigenous Data Sovereignty. Capacity-building in cultural safety, engagement, and collaborative practice will equip partners to participate fully in co-design and continuous improvement.
Outcome: A resilient, transparent OHT grounded in trust, community leadership, and shared stewardship.

Who We Serve

Our continuous collaboration and implementation reflect our dedication to creating a healthcare system that is respectful of Indigenous peoples, equitable, inclusive, and responsive to the diverse needs of District and City of Thunder Bay’s population. The OHT attributed population includes six Local Health Hubs: Manitouwadge, Marathon, Terrace Bay-Schreiber, Greenstone, Nipigon, and Thunder Bay.

The OHT isn't necessarily defined geographically, but it's defined by the attributed population that is seeking care within that geography.

Geraldton, Long Lake No. 58 First Nation, Ginoogaming First Nation, Aroland First Nation, Animbiigoo Zaagi’igan Anishinaabek (Lake Nipigon)
Manitouwadge
Marathon, Biigtigong Nishnaabeg (Pic River), Netmizaagamig Nishnaabeg (Pic Mobert)
Nipigon, Red Rock, Dorion, Lake Helen First Nation, Biinjitiwaabik Zaaging Anishinaabek (Rocky Bay)
Terrace Bay, Schreiber, Pays Plat First Nation
Thunder Bay, Thunder Bay Unorganized (Armstrong, Fowler), Oliver Paipoonge, Shuniah, Neebing, Fort William First Nation, Conmee, O’Connor, Gillies, Whitesand First Nation, Kiashke Zaaging Anishinaabek, Lac des Milles Lacs First Nation, Bingwi Neyaashi Anishinaabek (Sand Point First Nation), Seine River 22A2