Karen Bannon
Director of Health and Social Services, Fort William First Nation
Karen Bannon is the Director of Health and Social Services for the Fort William First Nation Health Department. She has 15 years of experience in child welfare and health services and experience with early childhood education. She holds a diploma in Early Childhood Education along with many courses in management and human resources and a wide range of training certificates. Karen’s pride and passion is her family. She is married and has three beautiful daughters and is a Kookum of eight wonderful grandchildren. Karen enjoys boating, reminiscing and collecting sunflowers.
Luanne Maki
Health Centre Manager, Fort William First Nation
Luanne Maki is a member of Fort William First Nation and resides in the community. From 2001-2005, Luanne was employed as the Community Health Representative for Fort William First Nation. She was responsible for the coordination, provision and delivery of community health services and education for her community. Luanne was also a member of the Fort William First Nation Project Advisory Committee for the research project. She is a proud mother of two children and enjoys spending time with her two beautiful granddaughters.
Maxine Crow
Community Care Coordinator, & Aboriginal Community Facilitator, Naotkamegwanning First Nation
Boozhoo. Maxine Crow of Naotkamegwanning First Nation has been Community
Care Coordinator since 2007. Prior to that, she was a Personal Support Worker for 2 years. She has lived in the community all her life, only leaving to attend college in Thunder Bay where she received her diploma in Developmental Services. Since the introduction of palliative care into the community, Maxine knew that this was a challenge she wanted to take on as her community has strong traditional values and beliefs. Her goal with this project was to provide services and optimum care for members who wish to stay home for as long as possible, and to provide choices to those who wish to go on
their journey in the comforts of their home and with family. Maxine has 6 sons, 3 daughters and 2 granddaughters.
Jeroline Smith
Home and Community Care Coordinator, Peguis First Nation (Retired 2015)
Jeroline Smith, RN, was the Peguis Home and Community Care Coordinator who retired in 2015. She is from Peguis First Nation, MB. Her Cree name is "Sho – Sho – ni –kah."
Jeroline was an active project advisory lead group member for the project. Jeroline contributed to her area of practice as an educator, presenter and role model in the areas of home care, diabetes and palliative care. In June of 2009 she was presented with the 2009 Professional Nursing Award by the College of Registered Nurses of Manitoba.
Jeroline was replaced as the lead for Peguis by Sharol Kohoko, the new Home and Community Care Coordinator, Peguis First Nation.
Lori Monture
Manager, Long Term Care/Home and Community Care program, Six Nations of the Grand River Territory
Lori Monture graduated from Mohawk College in 1985. She was hired at St.
Joseph’s Hospital in Brantford immediately after graduation and continued to
work there for 12 years. In 1996, she returned to her home community; Six
Nations to work at the Gane Yohs clinic for three years. She received training in "Community Nursing in First Nations" from Lakehead University. In December 1999 until present; she has been the Manager for the Long Term Care/Home and Community Care program. She also has achieved a certificate in Diabetes Education. Lori was the 2012 recipient of the "Award of Excellence in Nursing". Lori is a Mohawk of the wolf clan. Lori has a wonderful husband of 26 years and 2 beautiful children.
Verna Fruch
Part-Time Case Manager, Long Term Care/Home and Community Care program, & Aboriginal Community Facilitator, Six Nations of the Grand River Territory (Retired 2015)
Verna Fruch was born on the Six Nations Reserve. She has eight siblings including her twin sister, Vera. Verna is of the Turtle Clan with a Mohawk Mother and a Delaware Father. From an early age, Verna wanted to work in the medical profession. She attended the University of Western Ontario in London, completing a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology and then attended Mohawk College in Hamilton where she obtained her diploma as a Registered Nurse, being named to the Dean’s Honour List. Her nursing career has spanned over thirty years in many areas of nursing starting with an interest in surgical nursing, working in the operating/recovery room to hospice palliative care. Verna has worked as a Case Manager for the last fifteen years, gaining valuable experience with the Ministry of Health Community Care Access Center and being one of the first dedicated palliative care case managers for the program. In 2003, Verna returned to her roots and commenced working for the Six Nations Long Term Care/Home and Community Care program. She initiated the palliative care committee
there and has remained as a part time case manager in the program to this day. Verna is passionate in her goal to complete her career working to ensure that members of her community can receive compassionate, coordinated hospice palliative care in their community. Verna married her life partner, Alex Fruch and they have two sons.