KLEIN: Imagine making Naawi-Oodena a beacon of health-care innovation

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In the heart of Winnipeg sits Naawi-Oodena — formerly known as Kapyong Barracks — an expanse of land filled with untapped potential. What if we dared to think differently about how to use this land? What if Treaty One transformed it into a world-class medical village, providing innovative health care options, economic sustainability, and opportunities for Indigenous youth to excel in the medical field?

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Imagine a Treaty One-owned and operated medical village — an entire area dedicated to health-care innovation. It wouldn’t be just another development but a health-care hub designed to meet the needs of Manitobans and beyond, offering faster access to services such as MRIs, CT scans, blood tests, and specialized surgeries.

For those willing to pay a fee, it could mean the difference between waiting months or getting help now. And the beauty of this idea? It is not private health care as we traditionally think of it, but a new model provided by Indigenous governments on their land.

The health-care system in Canada is strained. Wait times for vital services like MRIs or joint replacements are painfully long, and that doesn’t even touch the growing need for mental health and addiction services. We need new ideas, and we need them fast. A Treaty One-run medical village could provide a range of medical services, from preventative medicine to dental care, mental health treatment, and even specialized surgical units for procedures like hip and knee replacements. Think of it as a “shopping mall” of medical services, where people could come for care, education, and treatment — all in one place.

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The impact could be immense, not just for Treaty One but for all Manitobans. With federal, provincial, and Indigenous governments working together, the medical village could become a sustainable enterprise, providing income for generations. Treaty One citizens would benefit economically and socially, while all Manitobans could access care faster than what is currently available under the public system.

This village wouldn’t just be a place for patients, it would be a place for education and growth. Imagine Indigenous youth being able to train in world-class research and medical facilities, learning from the best in the field. This project could offer scholarships and mentorship programs to encourage Indigenous students to pursue careers in health care. The village could house research facilities and partner with educational institutions to ensure the next generation of Indigenous healthcare professionals is trained right here at home.

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It would be a step towards closing the gap in health-care access for Indigenous people, while at the same time empowering Indigenous communities to take control of their own futures. This would be a source of pride and opportunity for Treaty One, setting a precedent for other First Nations across the country.

Centres of excellence don’t just appear overnight — they grow out of collaboration, vision, and dedication. The Mayo Clinic in the United States is a prime example of how one facility can attract people from all over the world. People fly and drive to get there because they know they are getting the best care available. Why can’t we create the same draw here in Winnipeg? With a state-of-the-art medical village, we could attract the best doctors, researchers, and health-care professionals from across Canada and beyond.

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This partnership would bring in private sector health professionals, creating a blend of public and private resources that enhances, rather than replaces, our current health-care system. And the land itself — owned by Treaty One — would be the foundation. Indigenous governments have the right to develop their land as they see fit, and building a medical village that provides both care and economic sustainability seems like an ideal use.

Some will say this is private health care. But is it really? If the medical village is owned and operated by Indigenous governments, how can it be considered the same as the private, for-profit health care we see in other countries? This would be a public service, run by First Nations, with the power to provide care on their terms. The land is theirs — they have the right to use it to benefit their communities and others in a way that ensures long-term sustainability.

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There’s no reason we can’t have both a robust public health-care system and a Treaty One-owned medical village. This wouldn’t replace our health-care system — it would supplement it, giving Manitobans another option and reducing the burden on public resources. Those who can afford to pay for faster service can do so, while the current system remains intact for those who prefer or need to access it.

The biggest challenge won’t be the logistics of building such a facility. It won’t be finding partners, either; medical corporations and health-care professionals would likely jump at the chance to work in a facility that offers the latest technology and the opportunity to be part of something new and innovative.

No, the biggest challenge will be changing how we think about health care in this country. Too often, we get stuck in debates about public versus private care. But this idea doesn’t fit neatly into those boxes. It’s about creating a new model, one that empowers Indigenous governments to offer a service that benefits everyone.

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We desperately need new ways to deliver health care in Manitoba. Our current system is overburdened, and solutions seem out of reach. But they aren’t. This is a bold idea, but it’s also a win-win-win: for Treaty One, for health care, and for Manitobans.

Let’s dare to think outside the box. Naawi-Oodena could become a beacon of health-care innovation, a centre of excellence that draws people from across the country — and the world — to Winnipeg. It’s time to take that leap.

— Kevin Klein is a former Tory cabinet minister, a former city councillor and President & CEO of Klein Group Ltd.

Have thoughts on what’s going on in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada or across the world? Send us a letter to the editor at wpgsun.letters@kleinmedia.ca

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