Thunder Bay, Ont., is a health-care hub for members of dozens of surrounding First Nations who travel to the city for medical appointments that aren’t available at home.

For years, community members relied on the city’s Wequedong Lodge for accommodation and transportation — but a lack of secure, stable funding from Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) resulted in a significant cutback in its services in April 2024.

That’s when the Sioux Lookout First Nations Health Authority (SLFNHA) stepped up to help fill the gap by launching its own medical transportation program in town.

SLFNHA supports 33 First Nations, 28 of which are remote. Since April 2024, it’s provided about 38,000 rides to patients and their family members in Thunder Bay.

But the program is ending as of April 1.

“It's been very upsetting for us because we know this program is good. We know that it's working. We know that we're transporting people in the way that they need to be transported,” said Monica Hemeon, SLFNHA’s vice president of regional services.