Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations Chief Bobby Cameron says First Nations elders should never be scared to go to the hospital.

This, after a 53 year old woman from the James Smith Cree Nation has come forward to tell her experience about going into the Victoria Hospital in Prince Albert with a broken ankle and coming out with severe burns to her arm.

Something had been injected while in the emergency room. Janette Sanderson says was told it was potassium. She told the nurse at least three times to stop because it was burning, and although she was crying, the nurse continued.

Sanderson ended up in Saskatoon at Royal University Hospital for 2 weeks and was told when she was discharged that her arm would continue to heal on its own, but she says it kept getting worse, so she went to her family doctor and was told it was a potassium burn.

Sanderson’s arm early on after receiving the injection. (Photo courtesy of the FSIN)

Sanderson would like an investigation into what happened, so it doesn’t happen to anyone else.

James Smith Cree Nation Chief Wally Burns says, “We cannot stand idly by while our First Nations elders are being treated poorly while trying to get medical care.”

FSIN Vice Chief David Pratt adds that they are looking for help from the federal government to develop a health ombudsman office.

The FSIN is also supporting the Prince Albert Grand Council in their efforts to get federal funding for a hospital.

(CJWW)