In March, the Listuguj Community Health Services Directorate announced that Dr. Jean-Paul Dedam, M.D., will be joining their team as the new physician in the community. Having a physician in Listuguj is something that Listuguj Community Health Services (LCHS) has been working towards for quite some time. They wanted someone with experience in caring for Indigenous people, with ties to the community and Mi’gmaw culture. Dr. Dedam was a perfect fit for the position.
Dr. Dedam is a Listuguj community member, who grew up in Maine. Prior to taking on this new role, Dr. Dedam was living and working in New Mexico. He is temporarily residing with his uncle, Herbie Martin and Elizabeth Barnaby, and is in the early stages of learning Mi’gmaq. He is hoping to take Mi’gmaw Immersion classes later in the year. Although this will be his first time living in Listuguj, he said, “In the back of my mind, I was always preparing myself to come here.”
He has been a Board-Certified Family Physician since 2009. He went to college, medical school, and did his residency training in New England. He has outstanding work experience having worked in hospital settings, running a non-profit organization in Nicaragua, facilitating a Diabetes Empowerment Group, working on Cancer Center Symptom Management and is a Board-Certified Medical Acupuncturist. Dr. Dedam understands the trauma that Indigenous people face, and how that plays a significant role when it comes to health. He said, “The root of almost all health disparities in Native communities, other than some degree of poverty – varying by community, is trauma. Historical trauma and unfortunately ongoing childhood trauma.”
Dr. Dedam recognizes how cultural healing and practices can be beneficial to individuals. He has taken part in sweat lodge ceremonies and recently attended his first Mi’gmaw sweat lodge in Eel River Bar. He said, “I do think that ceremony and traditional practices have the potential of helping Native communities in that healing journey.” Eventually, Dr. Dedam would love to bring more Indigenous medical staff and students to Listuguj to practice medicine.
LCHS Director, Donna Metallic, spoke about the importance of having a family doctor in the community. She stated that it was a long process for Dr. Dedam, and how exciting it is that it has now become a reality. She said, “It’s very important, because he’s a community member, he’s going to see firsthand, the realities of living in a First Nation community and addressing the colonization and the traumas.” Metallic spoke about the rise of addictions in the community, and how a doctor is needed more than ever.
LCHS recently had a meeting with the Ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux (Ministry of Health and Social Services “MSSS”), Centre intégré de santé et de service sociaux (Integrated health and social services center “CISSS”), plus partners at the Maria hospital, Dr. Dedam and clinic staff at LCHS. LCHS expressed their needs through the Mawlugutijej Cancer project. They stressed that the community needs to feel connected and have access to health care and resources. Dr. Dedam will be working with a family of physicians with the Groupe de médecine de famille (Family Group Medicine “GMF”). There has been an agreement with the MSSS for Listuguj community members to be able to bypass any Medicare card issues they may be dealing with. There will be a Régie de l’assurance maladie du Québec (RAMQ) navigator available at LCHS that will do applications for individuals who currently do not have a Medicare card.
Dr. Dedam will be offering house visits, he’ll be working closely with the Listuguj Community Social Services and the Listuguj Wellness Renewal Initiative, as well as Mawiomi Treatment Centre in Gesgapegiag and the Centre hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal. Metallic said, “Dr. Dedam being here for the past few weeks, it’s been a whirlwind of visits, site visits, meeting with the different stakeholders that we have here, our sister community of Gesgapegiag as well. So that he really gets an understanding and a feel of what the portrait of our community is here.”
Dr. Dedam will begin his role as Physician at LCHS starting May 1st. Over the past few months, LCHS has been asking community members who do not have a family doctor, to contact them with their information. Those community members without a family doctor, will be taken as patients by Dr. Dedam, and will have access to his services. As of right now, Dr. Dedam will have an office at the Waqatasg Elders Facility.
If you have any questions regarding Dr. Dedam’s services, or for any other services offered at Listuguj Community Health Services, please call 418-788-2155.
Welcome Dr. Dedam!
By Ann Marie Jacques
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Formerly titled the Nujignua'tegeg - The Wi'gatign is a multi media community newsletter for Listuguj First Nation.