Grand Council Treaty #3 has launched a new program aimed at fighting cancer.

It’s called the Cancer Survivorship Campaign aimed at the main types of the disease affected first nation communities in the region.

“The Cancer Survivorship Campaign was created to bring awareness to key types of cancer that currently impact Treaty #3 communities,” explains Ogichidaa Francis Kavanaugh. “More importantly, this campaign shares the message that people do survive cancer, especially if it is caught in the early stages.”

Treaty 3 partnered with the North West Regional Cancer Program at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre and Upriver Media to produce videos featuring the stories of Treaty #3 survivors who share their  experiences with prostate, colon and breast cancer.

Derek Kelly, a survivor of colon cancer, is one of three people featured.

“Keep up with your doctors appointments.  Early detection is the best way to survive cancer,” Kelly says on the video produced by Upriver Media.

Donald Copenace is also featured in the video and is a survivor of prostate cancer, and has this advice.

“Recognize that you’re not alone.  That you have to  be able to ask for help and find support and for me it was my family.”

“In many First Nation communities in Northwestern Ontario, cancer is often not found early enough. We are pleased to work with Treaty #3 to help share these stories and experiences to promote the importance of cancer awareness, screening and survivorship in First Nation communities,” says David McConnell, Director of the Regional Cancer Care.