Eskasoni First Nation Long Term Care “Kiknu” Project

completed

Eskasoni First Nation is seeking funding to construct a long-term care facility for elders and disabled in a unique and culturally sensitive approach to providing health care services. Eskasoni First Nation, the largest in Nova Scotia and Atlantic Canada with a population of over 4,500, has for several years been working diligently on development of the 48 bed Kiknu Long Term Care facility (Kiknu). As a means to providing the much needed service of long term care Kiknu will provide a culturally unique model of care for both Indigenous and Non-indigenous guests. Kiknu is a necessary expansion of health infrastructure and would be a significant addition to the overall community infrastructure of Eskasoni, Cape Breton and Nova Scotia as a feasibility study completed indicated the high waiting list for homes. This project will provide permanent employment to 60 to 70 people from Eskasoni and surrounding area, provide required services to Indigenous (on and off reserve) and non-Indigenous Nova Scotians and therefore be an important symbol of the province acting upon its reconciliation agenda with its Indigenous peoples. To date Eskasoni has: commenced a detailed design phase in anticipation of a construction in request for proposal in the first half of 2019-20; estimated capital costs of approximately $20 million; identified the site for Kiknu; developed a detailed business plan that would see 60 to 70 people employed; entered final stages of negotiation on a 20 year contract with the province for provision of long-term care services; and partnered with Shannex Inc. a well-known private sector company specializing in the sector to manage the facility while Eskasoni would retain full ownership. The project directly addresses Truth and Reconciliation Commission calls to action and Kiknu does so, specifically under the areas of health, language and culture and business and reconciliation.