The Keewatin Tribal Council is one of two Indigenous organizations in Manitoba that’s getting federal investment to increase the number of Indigenous emergency medical responders in Manitoba.

The money is supporting their Emergency Medical Responder and Medical Transportation Initiative, which provides skills and knowledge training for emergency response, management, and support in First Nations communities.

Four Arrows Regional Health Authority, which services the Island Lake area, also received funding.

KTC’s director of health John Spence says the program is the beginning of First Nations creating the capacity and infrastructure at the community level, in addition to the transfer of control of health services which are culturally safe and appropriate.