For the last few years, the midwifery service has been collaborating with the Kanesatake Health Center in providing pregnancy follow-up for women from the Kanyen'kehà:ga community of Kanesatake.  Over the last year, the Center acquired land and modified one of the buildings to create a multigenerational space for women, the Tekondaderièn:tare. In this space, there are rooms set up for deliveries. 

The first birth in Tekondarièn:tare occurred on August 19, 2025.  Louise-Hélène Côté, Nazha Estephane and Sabrina Desbiens were the midwives assisting the birth, in addition to the presence of doulas, friends, mothers and children.

This birth was the first on the territory in several decades and is a testament to an extraordinary collaboration between Indigenous people and allies. 

 

Students from the Mohawk community of Kanesatake were welcomed in December 2024 to the medicine unit of the CMSSS d’Argenteuil. The goal of this project was to enable future orderlies (PAB) to develop skills in a real work environment so that they can practise within their community. The experience was a first for the care unit, receiving English-speaking interns from an Indigenous community.

For Rosalie Béland, Acting Area Manager, it was a very enriching experience: “We had the privilege of sharing our stories, working together and discovering extraordinary people. We all benefitted from this experience.”

This inspiring initiative is the fruit of a collaboration among several partners and demonstrates the positive impact a project can have when it’s based on sharing knowledge and experience.

⇒ Read the press release (in French only)

Suicide prevention among First Nations communities is part of both Québec’s Strategy (in French only) and our Regional Suicide Prevention Plan (in French only).

Reducing access to firearms by securing them gains precious minutes for saving lives. Every minute counts.

In collaboration with the Kanesatake Health Center team:

• The tools developed with the Centre de prévention suicide Faubourg, Écoute Agricole and the Sûreté du Québec to raise awareness among people who hunt or farm were translated and adapted for the Kanesatake community.
• An explanatory video was produced in English and Mohawk.
• 500 free gun trigger locks will be distributed in the community.

This project, funded by Québec’s Strategy for Preventing Suicide (in French only), is a testament to a wonderful collaboration and will have a concrete impact for the Kanesatake community!