Northern medical patients find support through Edmonton-based non-profit

Medical travel can be stressful for northerners, and it's not just dealing with flights and accommodations. Being sick far from home, without family or a familiar environment, can be overwhelming.

Last week, an Edmonton non-profit named Goba Care toured the N.W.T.'s North and South Slave to raise awareness about how it can help.

Goba, which means "light on the horizon" in K'asho Got'ine Dene, was founded in 2021 by Melinda Laboucan. Originally from Fort Good Hope, N.W.T.,  Laboucan moved to Edmonton with her family in 2018 so her daughter could finish high school there.

Laboucan has seen first-hand the need for assistance for northerners travelling south and she wanted to help.

"In my own experience with my mom and my sister, I saw the gaps we fell through," she said.

"Navigating an unfamiliar health-care system, being far from home, and lacking cultural safe spaces — I started Goba Care to bridge those gaps."

Goba Care provides free support to patients from the North who are in Edmonton for medical treatment. The group offers advocacy, support, and cultural connection. They help clients get to appointments, find comfort, and feel less alone.

Laboucan said the organization works with anyone from the North who needs assistance. That support can include hospital escorts, laundry help, prayer, smudging, and cultural connections.

Yellowknife's Reta Graham, 85, first contacted Goba Care in 2021 when she needed to travel to the University of Alberta Hospital for day surgery. At first, she was unsure if the service was just for Indigenous patients. She said Laboucan went above and beyond to help her while in Edmonton.

"I was terrified, to tell you the truth," said Graham. "I got lost in the hospital. She sat me down, gave me a great big hug, and calmed me right down."

Graham said that after the surgery, Laboucan stayed with her, made sure she got back to the medical boarding home safely, and later brought her a care package with slippers, a blanket, and other small comforts. Graham said Laboucan, who is the heart of the organization, even helped her with laundry.

"From the moment I met Melinda, I had an instant connection," Graham said. "She would hold me if I was crying. She's just that kind of person. She's a very gentle, sweet, lovely lady."

Graham has relied on Goba Care nearly a dozen times since then and she considers it more than a service; it's a vital support system.

Kenny Shae of Fort Smith, N.W.T., had a similar experience after suffering a heart attack in 2022. A residential school survivor, he said he often avoids institutions and doesn't feel comfortable in hospitals.

Unable to navigate a large city and unprepared for travel, Shae said his wife contacted Goba Care to help support him during his hospital stay. 

"[They] asked me what I need, what size t-shirts and all that stuff, and they brought it to me. I was really grateful for that," he said. "They also provide services too, like if you want to smudge."

He also said Goba Care went above and beyond to help him navigate the hospital system. It helped him get his meals and get back to his room and supplied him with all the toiletry items he didn't have the opportunity to pack before he was medivaced.

Shae said the Goba team member he worked with understood Dene Laws, which helped him feel more grounded and understood in a challenging and scary situation.

"They know where we come from," he said.

"I can't say enough about Goba. They've done a really good job, and I'm proud of Melinda," he said. "She's dedicated her life to helping people. For me, that's the meaning of Dene Law."