Bridging Cultures Through Language and Care: ECHO Epilepsy Ontario Celebrates National Indigenous Peoples Day

ECHO Epilepsy Ontario was recently awarded GOLD in the Spring 2025 Digital Health Awards for its video series:
“Ojibwe Language in Epilepsy Care: A Creative Medical Translation Project for Enhancing Cultural Competency.”

This innovative series was first shared during our Epilepsy Care Essentials Event in Sudbury, hosted at Laurentian University and the Indigenous Sharing and Learning Centre. The project was created by the ECHO Epilepsy team, led by Digital Design Specialist Deiren Masterson, and produced in collaboration with community educators, with special thanks to the following:

• Access Alliance Multicultural Health & Community Services
• Thunder Bay Multicultural Association – Interpreting Services
• Meno Ya Win Health Centre

Using the Ojibwe Medical Dictionary published by Sioux Lookout Meno Ya Win Health Centre (SLMHC) as a key reference, the team translated essential epilepsy-related terms—like “brain,” “doctor,” “epilepsy,” and “neurologist”—into Ojibwe. But this wasn’t just about words. Each translation was paired with cultural context, offering a deeper understanding of how language shapes care, identity, and trust.

This project is a powerful example of how culturally grounded communication can open doors in healthcare—making care more accessible, respectful, and empowering for Indigenous patients and families.

Special thanks to the collaborating team:

• Riley Featherston, Interprofessional Education Specialist, ECHO Epilepsy and ECHO Paediatrics, SickKids
• Alicia Hayes, Interprofessional Education Specialist, SickKids
• Olivia Davison, Indigenous Health Program Manager, SickKids
• Ashley Gaagige Kagige, Indigenous Health Navigator,  SickKids
• Kelly Warmington, Manager, Learning Institute, SickKids
• Ashley Graham, Clinical Manager, Digital & Virtual Care Ambulatory Operations, SickKids

*Inspired by the work of Dominic Beaudry, Associate Vice-President, Academic and Indigenous Programs, Laurentian University

The Ojibwe Language project was also recently recognized at the SickKids EDI Recognition Ceremony, which celebrated Champions advancing equity, diversity, and inclusion across the organization.

During the event, Annie Jiwan, Program Manager of ECHO Epilepsy, presented the video series as part of the “EDI Quick Hits: Champion Edition.” In her talk, she reflected on how the project emerged from a desire to better serve Indigenous communities. As quoted in a MySickKids News article, Jiwan shared that:

“One of the missions of the ECHO Epilepsy program is to disseminate best practices in epilepsy care management to the community. One of the gaps we noticed was a lot of Indigenous communities were absent,” said Annie. “We did an in-person event in Sudbury and engaged with these communities to get an understanding: ‘Is this education a need for your community?’ ‘What can we do better to partner with you?’”

The result was a collaborative tool that supports the goals of cultural competency, serving the needs and aspirations of care teams and patients to communicate more effectively and respectfully. It’s a living example of EDI in action—where listening leads to learning, and learning leads to change.