Provincial Government Partners with First Light to Establish New Urban Indigenous Health Clinic

Press Release

April 20, 2026

The new Provincial Government is partnering with the First Light Friendship Centre to support an Indigenous-led Health Clinic in St. John’s, which will provide culturally safe health care and improve access to primary care for the urban Indigenous population.

The Honourable Lela Evans, Minister of Health and Community Services, made the announcement today at the Lunar Inn, a First Light-owned social enterprise located adjacent to the site of the new clinic. Minister Evans was joined by Stacey Howse, President and CEO, First Light Friendship Centre.

The interdisciplinary clinic will:

• Increase access to primary health care services.
• Increase access to mental health and addictions services.
• Facilitate improved prevention and screening.
• Provide holistic wrap-around services that embeds Indigenous culture and healing.
• Work closely with other community health and social service organizations, health care providers and NL Health Services.

The Department of Health and Community Services is providing $185,234 in the 2026-27 fiscal year to support the establishment of the clinic, which is expected to begin operations in Fall 2026.

The funding announced today will support staffing for non-medical personnel. Funding for medical staff, including a primary care physician and multiple nurse practitioners, will be provided through MCP and the Nurse Practitioner Funding Pilot.

The clinic will have capacity for up to 3,000 patients to be rostered to either a physician or nurse practitioner and will be accessible to individuals who identify as Indigenous and their family/household members.

Supporting the Indigenous Health Clinic is an important part of the Provincial Government’s commitment to ensuring equity in health care and culturally safe and appropriate primary health care services for all Indigenous people in the province.

Quotes
“We are proud to support First Light as they embark on this new and much-needed Indigenous-led health clinic. For many years First Light has been successfully providing culturally-grounded health, housing, and community programs for the urban Indigenous population in St. John’s. This is major step towards reconciliation – recognizing past harms and trauma experienced by Indigenous people and addressing the health and social inequities that continue to prevail.”
Honourable Lela Evans
Minister of Health and Community Services

“Today’s announcement is a significant milestone on the road to establishing First Light’s long-imagined health clinic. This initial funding will allow urban Indigenous people in the St. John’s Metro Area to begin accessing culturally grounded, trauma-informed care as early as this fall. We look forward to continuing to grow our partnership with the Provincial Government to advance equitable access to essential healthcare services for urban Indigenous people.”
Stacey Howse, President and CEO
First Light Friendship Centre

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