James Smith Cree Nation (JSCN) celebrated the grand opening of the National Medical Imaging Clinic and Education and Research Centre on Thursday.
The clinic, located in Saskatoon, includes a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), Computer Tomography (CT), X-rays and ultrasound technology.
James Smith Cree Nation is located about 70 kilometres east of Prince Albert and includes three separate bands; James Smith, Peter Chapman, and Chakastapaysin.
James Smith Chief Wally Burns said the purpose of the clinic is to serve everybody in Saskatchewan.
Burns added the clinic will be used as a tool to work with USask and Sask Polytechnic.
“(We’re) trying to make this an interest for the people that are in the university so they can utilize the clinic as a fundamental tool to get in that area as a technician, radiologist, and so on.”
The clinic is four years in the making. Burns said the clinic had to meet Saskatchewan Health Authority guidelines.
He added that JSCN is looking at opening other MRI clinics.
“This is not going to be our last MRI, we’re looking at others too as well not only in the province of Saskatchewan but other provinces too,”
Saskatoon’s clinic was funded by JSCN and is located in Market Mall.
Partners involved include First Nations Bank of Canada, Bank of Montreal, former MP Robert Clarke, and Dragan Racic.
