Goba is rooted in an unwavering commitment to the care and wellbeing of northerners.
The heart of Goba is community.
The learning.
After the loss of her mother and sister, Melinda was driven to improve the experience of accessing care for individuals and families. Melinda has sat with Elders and teachers to learn about life, death, and the importance of ceremony and traditional medicines.
The care.
When clients need to travel to Edmonton to receive care, Goba is here to support them in their journeys through health system navigation and advocacy, wellness, community connections, and adherence to treatment plans.
The vision.
Goba exists to improve the overall experience of medical travel, contributing to improved health and wellness outcomes and making steps toward addressing the legacy of colonialism in the healthcare system.
About Melinda Laboucan.
Melinda has honed her skills in advocacy, navigation, community-based research, and facilitation. Her widely recognized expertise is rooted in strong community relationships and networks, ongoing training, and an unwavering commitment to the care and wellbeing of others.
As a proud member of the K’ahsho Got’ine First Nation, Melinda’s Dene community of Fort Good Hope encouraged her spirit of volunteerism and social justice from a young age.
She has formal and informal training in end of life care, cancer survivor care, addiction support, and chronic disease management. She incorporates traditional and western knowledge and healing in patient care. Melinda has led numerous community health initiatives, including launching the first community cancer care program in the Northwest Territories.
Since moving to Edmonton, Melinda has nurtured connections to programs and services that are relevant to people from home. People reach out to Melinda because of her reputation for self-care programming, connections to positive and supportive networks, and effective working relationships with professionals and lay-persons alike.
Read our commitment to anti-racism and cultural safety.
The story.
Melinda knows firsthand how challenging medical travel can be.
This video tells the story of why Melinda created Goba in honour of her mother and sister, and for others with similar experiences.