Statement Honouring Heather Winterstein And Standing Against Anti-Indigenous Racism
For Immediate Release
December 10, 2025
Honouring Heather Winterstein and Standing Against Anti-Indigenous Racism
St. Catharines, ON – This week marks four years since the tragic death of Heather Winterstein,
a 24-year-old Anishnawbe Kwe community member. Her passing is a painful reminder to the
Niagara Ontario Health Team – Équipe Santé Ontario Niagara (NOHT-ÉSON) and its partners
of the urgent need to confront anti-Indigenous racism and long-standing inequities in health and
social care.
On December 9, 2021, Heather went to Niagara Health’s St. Catharines site with severe back
pain after a fall. She was discharged home with Tylenol. She returned to the hospital on
December 10, 2021, and later collapsed and died while in the emergency department.
Following her death, an independent Emergency Department Assessment Panel reviewed
Niagara Health’s emergency services and made 10 recommendations to improve care and
experiences for Indigenous Peoples. In response, an Indigenous Health Services Plan was
developed by Niagara Health to improve access, strengthen cultural safety, and support
traditional healing practices within the hospital, including the creation of an Indigenous Health
Services and Reconciliation Team.
The NOHT-ÉSON remains committed to ensuring that health and social care planning in
Niagara supports Indigenous communities and reflects reconciliation efforts, while continuing to
work in allyship with Indigenous-led organizations to improve care in the region. Indigenous
health is one of the six pillars in the NOHT-ÉSON 2024–2027 Strategic Plan, and learning
opportunities, such as Indigenous cultural safety training, are offered to NOHT-ÉSON staff,
volunteers, and partners.
We all have a role to play in making sure Indigenous people receive high-quality, safe, timely,
and culturally-based services that reflect Indigenous traditions.
An inquest into Heather’s death was announced on June 5, 2024. A date and location have not
yet been set. The NOHT-ÉSON is committed to listening and learning from the jury’s
recommendations and working with Indigenous partners to help ensure that what happened to
Heather does not happen again, and that Indigenous voices are prioritized in all aspects of care.
The Niagara Ontario Health Team-Équipe Santé Ontario Niagara is a steadily growing network
of more than 45 health care providers, social service agencies, educational institutions, and
patient/client and family/caregiver representatives. We are committed to working as one
coordinated team to provide exceptional service, support, and care to you, no matter when or
where you need it, now and for our future generations.
For interview requests or additional information, please contact:
Ron Laroche
Manager of Communications and Engagement
Niagara Ontario Health Team-Équipe Santé Ontario Niagara
Mobile: 289-547-7046 | Email: communications@noht-eson.ca