Love Yourself First Breast Screening Project Spreads Awareness, Education, and Action Across Ontario

 

The Love Yourself First project began in 2022 after Métis Nation of Ontario (MNO) Community Council Women’s Representatives recognized the disproportionately high number of Indigenous women diagnosed with breast cancer. Low screening rates across Ontario — particularly among Métis women — underscored the urgent need for action.

 

Project Manager Luanne Cunningham, Region 8 Women’s Representative and Vice-Chair of the MNO Women’s Council, launched the initiative by connecting with Eleeyah Uri, Regional Program Manager with Ontario Health’s Indigenous Cancer Care Unit, as well as the MNO Healing and Wellness Branch and Les Femmes Michif Otipemisiwak. Planning soon began in collaboration with local MNO Community Councils and Indigenous Cancer Care providers.

 

Since its launch, the project has hosted 10 Love Yourself First events in communities across the province, from Toronto and Kingston to Geraldton and North Bay. Each session features a panel of local healthcare professionals and includes testimony from a breast cancer survivor from the region. MNO President Margaret Froh has also shared her own survivor story at several events.

 

Sessions open with a prayer led by a local Senator, followed by a traditional meal, a meaningful craft activity, and opportunities for participants to ask health-related questions. The goal is to create a welcoming, supportive space where women feel informed and encouraged to book a mammogram. Appointments are typically arranged within 10 days of the session for those who are interested.

 

To ensure women feel supported and safe during screening, an Indigenous Patient Navigator or program director is present on mammogram day to offer smudging, light snacks, emotional support, and reassurance. The program aims to address the two biggest barriers to screening — fear and discrimination within the healthcare system — by providing culturally grounded, compassionate care.

 

To date, more than 240 women have attended the screening and information sessions, and five Métis women have received early breast cancer diagnoses as a result of the program’s outreach and follow-up.

 

“Most women put everyone else first. We hope to help our sisters ‘love themselves first’ by getting screened, so they can stay healthy and continue caring for those they love,” Luanne shares.

 

Maarsii to everyone involved in making this project possible, including Luanne Cunningham, the Ontario Indigenous Cancer Care Team, Eleeyah Uri, Shelley Cripps and the MNO Healing and Wellness Branch, Les Femmes Michif Otipemisiwak, MNO President Margaret Froh, MNO Community Councils, and the Women’s Representatives on Council.