This week we're taking a few days off to visit Sioux Lookout, a town in
northwestern Ontario that's been called the "Hub of the North." The
name comes from a nearby mountain. The Municipality of Sioux Lookout,
population 5,600, includes the communities of Alcona, Sioux Lookout and
Hudson. It's located on the traditional lands of the Ojibway.
According to the municipal web site, artifacts have been discovered that
date back 5000-7000 years!

Producer Lara Hindle and I are visiting the Sioux Lookout Zone Family
Physicians, a group of dedicated health professionals who serve the
needs of the townspeople plus more that 20 remote communities -- many of
which can only be reached by plane or boat.

We're going to see up close the day to day struggle of health
professionals to provide care given limited resources and obvious
obstacles, especially geography. We'd also like to learn about the
unique ways that health care providers there meet the needs of First
Nations people.

Check out this space as we keep you posted on our journey. And join us
for a full edition of White Coat, Black Art from Sioux Lookout on December 22 at 1130 am
(noon NT) and replayed on December 27 at 430 pm (5 pm NT) on CBC Radio One.