Indigenous Support Line expands care provincewide

Putting a face to a grateful voice See the full story here.

When 24-year-old Colby Meguinis from Tsuut’ina Nation needed help navigating the health system, his mom handed him the number for the Indigenous Support Line.

Meguinis required an ultrasound, but when he went to his appointment, he was told he had to pay for it because he didn’t have an Alberta Health Care number and wasn’t in the system. He had no idea that, when he turned 22, he needed to apply for his own number. He didn’t know where to start.

That’s when he called the Indigenous Support Line and spoke with listener Shantelle Malley, who guided him through the process and made sure he felt heard along the way. This week, Colby and his mom, Janil, met Malley in person to say thank you and celebrate the expansion of the line to the entire province.

“It helps being able to speak to someone who understands where we're coming from, and who we are as people,” says Janil.

Staffed by clinically trained Indigenous listeners, the line is available Monday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. It offers support with wayfinding, translation and transportation services, access to ceremony and more.

The Indigenous Support Line is operated by Health Link through Primary Care Alberta in partnership with the Indigenous Wellness Core. To access the line, call 1-844-944-4744 or 811. For more information, visit Indigenous Support Line | Alberta Health Services