Big Horn Health Services (BHS) was established in the late 1980’s to provide health and wellness services to the Big Horn community. The Big Horn community is part of the Stoney Nakoda First Nations (encompassing Goodstoney, Bearspaw First Nation, and Chiniki First Nation) and is located west of Rocky Mountain House, near the eastern slopes of the beautiful Canadian Rocky Mountains. BHS is federally funded through Indigenous Services Canada (ISC).

For the Big Horn community, early healthcare services included access to nursing stations and traveling medical professionals, along with programs provided through Health Canada, which aimed to bridge the gap in services between urban and rural communities. Being one of the more remote communities in Alberta, health services in the area have evolved significantly over time to overcome unique challenges.

In recent years, Big Horn Health Services has exponentially expanded to include community- based healthcare programs focusing on primary care, maternal and child health, mental health, chronic disease management, and more. The services provided today are integrated with modern healthcare infrastructure, including the involvement of Indigenous healthcare providers, telemedicine initiatives, partnerships with provincial and national health authorities, and partnerships with nearby hospitals or clinics such as in Rocky Mountain House. The remote location of Big Horn continues to require innovative solutions for healthcare delivery, including periodic visits from specialists and improved communication networks for health emergencies. BHS is proud to provide many health and wellness services on-reserve, improving accessibility and minimizing the need for travel out of the community.

We are happy to report that we continue to grow the number of staff hired from the community, as well as overall healthcare services and providers, each year.

We are also excited to report that Big Horn Health Services has been approved for funding to construct a new health centre. The new Big Horn Health Centre is currently in the design phase, and we hope to see completion and operations moved to this new building in ~5 years.