What is BPSO®?
A Best Practice Spotlight Organization (BPSO®) uses proven guidelines to improve how care is delivered. The Indigenous-focused BPSO® program is run by the Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario (RNAO) with Indigenous ways of knowing, being and doing shaping every step. Sioux Lookout First Nations Health Authority (SLFNHA) is part of a global network of over 1,500 BPSOs® across multiple countries and is 1 of 17 Indigenous-focused BPSOs® in Ontario, as shown on the map.
How SLFNHA Becomes a BPSO®
SLFNHA and our BPSO® Team choose relevant Best Practice Guidelines (BPGs), compare current practices against evidence-informed recommendations, and look for ways to improve. We use Two-Eyed Seeing – Indigenous knowledge and evidence-based practice – to always be guided by Indigenous worldviews. A Cultural Advisory Committee reviews all work for cultural safety. No change moves forward without it.
What are Best Practice Guidelines (BPGs)?
Best Practice Guidelines (BPGs) are evidence-based documents that include recommendations for nurses, interprofessional health teams, educators, leaders and policy makers on how to improve outcomes for people and their support networks. RNAO has developed over 50 BPGs, all available for free download online.
Current Best Practice Guidelines (BPGs) for SLFNHA
- Promoting Smoking Reduction and Cessation with Indigenous Peoples of Reproductive Age and Their Communities
- Engaging Clients Who Use Substances
- People-Centred Care (coming soon)
Why BPSO® for SLFNHA?
SLFNHA started this journey in March 2025. Our mission, vision and values guide every part of this work — respect, relationships, culture, equality, fairness, and the Anishinaabe teachings of love, courage, respect, wisdom, truth, honesty and humility. Every guideline we review is held up against these values first. BPSO® is how our values become action — and how we contribute to all three of SLFNHA’s Strategic Directions: Health Transformation, Community Ownership, and Service Experience.
Best Practice Champions
Best Practice Champions are a key part of BPSO® work. They share their ideas, experiences and input to help guide solutions that encourage best-practice recommendations and improve health outcomes. Everyone who contributes to client health outcomes is welcome — staff, community members, Knowledge Keepers and Elders. A mix of roles and experiences makes this work stronger, no experience needed. As a SLFNHA employee, being a Champion becomes part of your regular duties with support from your manager. To get involved, reach out to BPSO@slfnha.com. Change starts with one person, and it builds with a team.
BPSO® Events!
On June 10 and 11, the 2026 Indigenous-Focused Best Practice Spotlight Organization (BPSO®) Gathering was held in Thunder Bay. This was the third annual gathering, and the theme this year was “Building Bridges Together to Shape a Balanced Path Forward”. The event focused on honouring Indigenous ways of knowing, being and doing to strengthen the work of Indigenous-focused BPSOs® by building bridges between Indigenous and mainstream health systems and walking together in balance.
Over the two days, attendees participated in many different methods of learning. Knowledge-sharing circles explored Indigenous-led approaches to knowledge translation and measurement, presentations highlighted Indigenous methodologies for quality improvement and mental health initiatives, and panel discussions shared lived and living experiences of Indigenous families in health care and the implementation of BPGs. The gathering spotlighted clinical excellence and evidence-informed practices with a focus on learning from and with each other, building relationships, and fostering collaboration and trust between Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities to improve meaningful health outcomes.
Attendees included BPSO® team members from many of the Indigenous-focused BPSOs® shown on the map. Also in attendance were Elder Beatrice Twance-Hynes from Biigtigong Nishnaabeg, Elder John Gagnon from Matawa Health Co-operative’s Cultural Team, Chief Michele Solomon from Fort William First Nation, Melissa Deleary from Ontario Health’s Indigenous Health Unit, Dr. Miranda Lesperance from Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre (TBRHSC), Frances Pine from Chiefs of Ontario, and Dr. Lana Rey from Lakehead University’s Anishinaabe Kendaasiwin Institute (AKI).
Members of SLFNHA’s BPSO® Team who attended from left to right – Shaelyn Leblanc, Carmela Welshman, Leola Penagin, Lindsey Gillett, Janet Gordon, Monica Hemeon, Sam Fugere, Sydney Sneve, Ashley Kettles, Karen Schultz, Karyn Meekis, and Lexxi Saarinen.
Full group photo including representatives from other Indigenous-focused Best Practice Spotlight Organizations (BPSOs®).
Map of all 17 Indigenous-focused BPSOs®.
