Innovations on a shoestring: a study of a collaborative community-based Aboriginal mental health service model in rural Canada

Marion Maar, Barbara Erskine, Lorrilee McGregor, Tricia L. Larose, Mariette Sutherland, Douglas Graham, Marjory Shawande, Tammy S. Gordon · 2009 · International Journal of Mental Health Systems

Summary. A mental health team in northern Ontario developed an innovative collaborative model integrating clinical approaches with traditional Aboriginal healing. Despite severe resource constraints, the Knaw Chi Ge Win service improved care quality and cultural safety for Aboriginal clients. The model succeeded through shared information systems, protocols, and ongoing education. Challenges remain around chronic underfunding and limited understanding of traditional healing outcomes. This approach offers a replicable model for other rural Indigenous mental health systems.

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Maar, M., Erskine, B., McGregor, L., Larose, T. L., Sutherland, M., Graham, D., Shawande, M., & Gordon, T. S.. (2009). Innovations on a shoestring: a study of a collaborative community-based Aboriginal mental health service model in rural Canada. International Journal of Mental Health Systems. https://doi.org/10.1186/1752-4458-3-27

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  title   = {Innovations on a shoestring: a study of a collaborative community-based Aboriginal mental health service model in rural Canada},
  author  = {Marion Maar and Barbara Erskine and Lorrilee McGregor and Tricia L. Larose and Mariette Sutherland and Douglas Graham and Marjory Shawande and Tammy S. Gordon},
  journal = {International Journal of Mental Health Systems},
  year    = {2009},
  doi     = {10.1186/1752-4458-3-27},
  url     = {https://doi.org/10.1186/1752-4458-3-27}
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Details

DOI: 10.1186/1752-4458-3-27
Countries: Canada
Regions: North America
Categories: rural-healthcare, indigenous-innovation, regional-innovation-systems
Added: 2026-04-28