FormalPara Key Points

  • Métis Nation–Saskatchewan identified a need for culturally relevant information about cancer.

  • Your Guide to Help You Understand Cancer & Heal includes culturally responsive information about cancer, treatment, and living with cancer.

  • A Journal and Planner for Métis Cancer Patients provides opportunities for patients and their carers to track medical information and notes from appointments and record experiences.

During community engagement sessions and interviews with Métis cancer patients, survivors, and caregivers, the Métis Nation–Saskatchewan (MN–S) Department of Health identified a need for better and more culturally relevant information about the cancer journey and for information to help Métis citizens navigate the cancer system.

The Department developed two Métis-specific cancer patient resources (see Fig. 18.1):

  1. 1.

    Toon Liivr chi Nishitoohtamun li Kaansayr (Your Guide to Help You Understand Cancer & Heal) [1].

  2. 2.

    Aen Ooshipayhaamihk aen Pchi Liivr pi aen Kalaandriyii poor aniki kaa Aahkooshichik avik li Kaansayr (A Journal and Planner for Métis Cancer Patients) [2].

Fig. 18.1
2 postures have a colorful painting of a side view of a woman's head and a circle with 12 sections of shades on the left and right, respectively. The text reads, your guide to help you understand cancer and heal on the left, and journal and planner for metis cancer patients on the right.

Covers of the two cancer patient resources. (Cover illustrations by Victoria Beahm)

Full size image

These two resources support Métis cancer patients in Saskatchewan by providing culturally relevant and accessible information about cancer and the cancer experience to Métis citizens in one place for easy reference. The educational guide begins with a written opening prayer by Elder Norman Fleury and includes Métis stories and culturally responsive information about cancer, treatment, living with cancer, and available programs and services. Examples of culturally responsive information include sharing traditional medicines and options for healing, changing language to say “wanting to leave this world sooner” instead of “wanting to die sooner,” and referring to “cancer in your body” rather than “your cancer.” The journal and planner provide space for people to record their medical information; take notes during appointments; track their medicines, treatment plans, and side effects; and record their experiences throughout their cancer journey. It also contains Métis art, poetry, stories, and humor to offer comfort and laughter to patients while they wait during their medical appointments.

Both resources include quotes from Métis citizens that come from one-on-one interviews with Métis cancer patients, survivors, and caregivers. Citizens gave consent for their comments to be included. The two resources were designed to be complementary, but also to stand alone.

These booklets are available in print at Saskatchewan Cancer Centres and MN–S Regional Offices. They are also available online through the MN–S website (https://metisnationsk.com/).

These quotes are examples of those included in the resources:

My grandma and others were doctors in our culture, in our own way. … The medicines are land-based. They were life-giving and involved lifelong learning. Today, there’s Western medicine and there’s Traditional medicine so how do we infuse them? I think that’s what we’re trying to do here. (Michif Elder Norman Fleury) [1, p. 38]

Stay positive, ask questions if you don’t understand. Don’t just say “yes.” If you don’t understand, ask questions. Have a support person with you to help you decipher that conversation afterwards, and just stay positive. There’s lots of help, lots of things out there. You’re not the only person going through it. And we’re a strong group of people. (Anita N Smith, Métis cancer patient) [1, p. 44–45]

If you can try to have a strong mind and think that you’re gonna beat it or gonna tackle it, your frame of mind kinda changes. He had the idea he was gonna beat it and he was gonna be cured. But as he went into the hospital he said, “Well, we’re in this together and we’ll come through. I’m gonna sing again.” And three weeks later he was at Batoche. He wasn’t a real good singer, but he sang two or three songs. (Lorna Arcand, Métis caregiver) [1, p. 71]