Alyssa Arnott

Background

About Alyssa Arnott

I’m a Harm Reduction Coordinator working alongside Indigenous communities in Northern Ontario, passionate about creating healthcare systems that are accessible, compassionate, and rooted in respect. My work is guided by the belief that care must be culturally safe and community-driven — and that real change happens when we center people’s voices and lived experiences. Currently at Sioux Lookout First Nations Health Authority, I coordinate harm reduction programming across remote First Nations communities. This includes overseeing schedules, budgets, and staff development, as well as designing and delivering community trainings. I’ve trained over 500 people in responding to toxic drug poisoning, always integrating a trauma-informed approach that links addiction with the impacts of colonization and intergenerational trauma. One of the initiatives I’m most proud of is launching a fentanyl test strip program in communities where this service had never before been available — filling a critical gap in harm reduction resources. I’ve also collaborated with regional and provincial partners, developed culturally relevant training materials, and supported frontline staff to deliver care under incredibly complex conditions. Beyond frontline work, I bring a background in project coordination, stakeholder engagement, and strategic planning. I’m comfortable navigating multiple priorities, facilitating meetings, and translating big ideas into actionable steps. My experience spans public health, research support, event coordination, and community programming — all through a lens of equity and empowerment. Through ongoing professional development, I’ve gained additional training in trauma-informed care, Indigenous cultural safety, crisis response, motivational interviewing, and leadership for change. Every opportunity I take is in service of building a more just, responsive, and respectful healthcare system — one where no one is left out of the circle. Always open to connecting with others working in harm reduction, public health, Indigenous health, or healthcare systems change.