Helen Cromarty

Special Advisor for First Nations Health Care

Helen Cromarty, who is a member of Sachigo Lake First Nation, came on board to Meno Ya Win in June 2006 with a wealth of knowledge and years of experience as a Registered Nurse, having specialized in Intensive Care & Coronary Care Nursing and outpost nursing at Big Trout Lake. During her career as a health care provider in different capacities, she continued her education and attained her degree and was honored with many awards for which she has gained respect from many individuals, organizations and communities throughout the country. She is a great role model to many First Nations people in the Nishnawbe Aski Nation. Helen has been in many leadership roles in the development and implementation of health care programs which are delivered throughout the NAN communities.

Amongst her many accomplishments, she was honored by the Aboriginal Nurses Association of Canada as the recipient of the Jean Goodwill Medal in October 1995; was honored by Nishnawbe Aski Nation at the 25th Annual NAN Chiefs Keewaywin Conference in Sachigo Lake on August 3, 2006. Helen has represented Nishnawbe Aski Nation on numerous committees and boards within the northwest region, the province and nationally. In Thunder Bay, Helen is recognized as a founding member of Beendigen, a Native Women's Crisis Home; a member of the Working Group of native nurses for the development of the Native Nurses Entry Program in 1985 at Lakehead University and continued involvement as Advisory Committee member and past chair; a member to the Aboriginal working group in partnership with Ontario ministries developed the Aboriginal Health Policy of Ontario and the Aboriginal Family Healing Strategy which were  implemented as the Aboriginal Healing & Wellness Strategy (AHWS) and continued her involvement through to the third 5-year phase of the AHWS; for her part in the Working Group to form and co-chair the Joint Cancer Care Ontario-Aboriginal Cancer Care Committee (JOACC) to develop and implement the Aboriginal Cancer Care Unit at Cancer Care Ontario; and, for her part to reestablish the Aboriginal Cancer Care Committee at the Thunder Bay Regional Cancer Centre.

Her husband, Dennis Franklin Cromarty, past Grand Chief of Nishnawbe Aski Nation, who passed away February 3, 1993, had encouraged their children to work hard and to excel in their chosen profession in life. The entire family is involved in the Dennis Franklin Cromarty Memorial Fund which provides bursaries to NAN students encouraging them to complete their secondary and post-secondary education. Today, she is extremely proud of their five children and their many accomplishments in their education and independence. She is also a very proud Kookom (grandmother) of two beautiful little girls.