pdf download - First Nations Health Council
pdf download - First Nations Health Council pdf download - First Nations Health Council
Second Annual Forum Vancouver, BC • May 20 - 21, 2008 II SUMMARY DOCUMENT
- Page 3: CONTENTS Gathering Wisdom for a Sha
- Page 6 and 7: BACKGROUND 2 In march 2005, the Pro
- Page 8 and 9: DAY ONE: WEDNESDAY, MAY 21, 2008 Op
- Page 10 and 11: 6 A historical overview of the Trip
- Page 12 and 13: 8 In her concluding remarks, ms. Sc
- Page 14 and 15: 10 federal and provincial governmen
- Page 16 and 17: 12 the experience of First Nations
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- Page 22 and 23: HEALTH PROMOTION, DISEASE AND INJUR
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- Page 26 and 27: 22 • Need to identify policies an
- Page 28 and 29: PERFORMANCE TRACKING 24 The intent
- Page 30 and 31: GOVERNANCE, RELATIONSHIPS AND ACCOU
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- Page 34 and 35: APPENDIX B: FEEDBACK “Some of the
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- Page 40 and 41: APPENDIX C: LIST OF PARTICIPANTS Re
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- Page 44 and 45: Delegate Moore, James Board Directo
- Page 46 and 47: 42 Delegate Walker, Jennie Director
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- Page 51: A publication of the First Nations
Second Annual Forum<br />
Vancouver, BC • May 20 - 21, 2008<br />
II<br />
SUMMARY DOCUMENT
CONTENTS<br />
Gathering Wisdom<br />
for a Shared Journey<br />
GATHERING WISDOM FOR A SHARED JOURNEY<br />
Introduction ...........................................................................................................1<br />
Background ............................................................................................................2<br />
Report on the Forum .............................................................................................3<br />
GATHERING THE COLLECTIVE WISDOM: DISCUSSION SUMMARY<br />
Day One ..................................................................................................................4<br />
<strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong> <strong>Health</strong> Governance ...........................................................................8<br />
Day Two ................................................................................................................11<br />
Gathering the Collective Wisdom .......................................................................16<br />
Appendix A: World Cafe Summaries ................................................................... 17<br />
Professional Development Workshops ...........................................27<br />
Appendix B: Feedback Charts ..............................................................................30<br />
Appendix C: Participants .....................................................................................36
INTRODUCTION<br />
On may 20 th - 21 st- , 2008 the second annual<br />
“Gathering Wisdom” forum convened at the Coast<br />
Plaza Hotel in Vancouver, BC. The annual forum has<br />
become an important opportunity for <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong><br />
leadership and health professionals, as well as their<br />
provincial and federal counterparts, to discuss the<br />
significant progress made in the implementation of<br />
the 29 action areas of the Tripartite <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong><br />
<strong>Health</strong> Plan. As well, participants were invited to<br />
continue the conversation on <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong> health<br />
that was initiated at the 1st Annual Forum, to<br />
share ideas and experiences, to provide feedback<br />
on the work that has taken place so far, and to<br />
solicit suggestions for additional items to be taken<br />
into consideration as work continues to refine and<br />
implement the Tripartite <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong> <strong>Health</strong> Plan.<br />
This second annual forum also offered participants<br />
working for <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong> the opportunity<br />
to participate in professional development<br />
workshops focused on physical activity, personal<br />
nutrition, traditional medicine, cultural inclusion<br />
and youth engagement. Overall the forum sought<br />
to celebrate and re-energize current efforts, to<br />
provide new tools to be taken home to <strong>First</strong><br />
<strong>Nations</strong> communities, and to inspire new ideas for<br />
improving the health of <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong> people in BC.<br />
1<br />
VANCOUVER, bC • mAY 20 - 21 , 2008
BACKGROUND<br />
2<br />
In march 2005, the Province of british Columbia<br />
and the <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong> leaders agreed to enter into<br />
a “New Relationship” guided by principles of trust,<br />
recognition and respect for Aboriginal rights and<br />
title. The “New Relationship” focused on closing<br />
the gaps in the quality of life between <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong><br />
and other British Columbians.<br />
In November 2005, the Province of british<br />
Columbia, the <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong> Leadership <strong>Council</strong><br />
(a working partnership between the UBCIC, <strong>First</strong><br />
<strong>Nations</strong> and the BCAFN) and the Government of<br />
Canada signed a historic agreement entitled the<br />
Transformative Change Accord which recognized<br />
the need to strengthen relationships on a<br />
government-to-government basis, and affirms<br />
the parties’ commitment to close social and<br />
economic gaps in health, education, housing<br />
and infrastructure, and economic opportunities<br />
through a comprehensive ten-year implementation<br />
strategy.<br />
As per the Accord, the <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong> Leadership<br />
<strong>Council</strong> and the Province developed a ten-year plan<br />
for heath, the Transformative Change Accord: <strong>First</strong><br />
<strong>Nations</strong> <strong>Health</strong> Plan, in late 2006. The Government<br />
of Canada, through <strong>Health</strong> Canada, entered into<br />
a <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong> <strong>Health</strong> Plan Memorandum of<br />
Understanding with the <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong> Leadership<br />
<strong>Council</strong> and the Province of British Columbia on<br />
November 27, 2006.<br />
Two key documents, the Transformative<br />
Change Accord: <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong> <strong>Health</strong> Plan and<br />
the <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong> <strong>Health</strong> Plan Memorandum of<br />
Understanding, identified priorities for action to<br />
close the health gap between <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong> and<br />
other British Columbians and were intended to<br />
guide efforts to address the critical challenges that<br />
must be overcome in order to deliver on the joint<br />
commitments to improve the health and wellbeing<br />
of <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong> peoples and communities.<br />
A key deliverable of the tripartite mOU was the<br />
completion of a tripartite health plan within six<br />
months. A key deliverable for the signing of the tripartite<br />
health plan was the completion of an initial<br />
work plan within six months. The <strong>Health</strong> Plan itself<br />
and the implementation workplan were informed<br />
by the Transformative Change Accord: <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong><br />
<strong>Health</strong> Plan, and by key messages received from<br />
participants at the 1st Annual <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong> Forum:<br />
Gathering Wisdom for a Shared Journey held in<br />
April 2007. A number of challenges, opportunities<br />
and priorities for action were identified including<br />
the establishment of the <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong> <strong>Health</strong><br />
<strong>Council</strong>.<br />
The Tripartite <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong> <strong>Health</strong> Plan was<br />
signed on June 11, 2007. Central to the Plan was a<br />
commitment to create a new governance structure<br />
that would enhance <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong> control of health<br />
services, and promote better integration and<br />
coordination of services to ensure improved access<br />
to quality health care by <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong> living in<br />
British Columbia.<br />
II<br />
SECONd ANNUAl FORUm
THE REPORT ON THE 2008 FORUM<br />
This narrative section of the report on the 2nd<br />
Annual Forum will provide a synopsis of the event,<br />
including:<br />
• Summaries and excerpts from each of the<br />
plenary speakers;<br />
• Thematic results from the group discussions on<br />
Governance, Relationships and Accountability,<br />
the World Café rooms and the table topics, and<br />
the Open Space tables;<br />
• Highlights from the professional development<br />
workshops;<br />
• Summary of priorities for action as identified by<br />
the participants;<br />
• Future steps.<br />
The appendices provide more detailed information<br />
on the discussions in the various small group<br />
sessions and on the participants, speakers and<br />
volunteers who made the forum possible.<br />
Appendix A contains summaries from the topic<br />
tables selected from the Tripartite <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong><br />
<strong>Health</strong> Plan for discussion at the 2008 forum, the<br />
Open Space tables where participants were able<br />
to note any issue of concern to them, and the<br />
summary reports from the Governance Session<br />
and the professional development workshops. The<br />
summary of opportunities and recommendations<br />
contained within this narrative report are drawn<br />
from these more detailed notes.<br />
Appendix B contains participant feedback. Appendix<br />
C contains a list of participants.<br />
The <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong> <strong>Health</strong> <strong>Council</strong>, The ministry<br />
of <strong>Health</strong>, and <strong>Health</strong> Canada would like to thank<br />
all participants for making the 2nd Annual Forum a<br />
success.<br />
FUTURE STEPS<br />
As described in the ‘Year in Review Report’<br />
FNHC has separated the work of implementing<br />
the health plan into two streams both having<br />
opportunities for <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong> participation. In the<br />
<strong>Health</strong> Actions stream the community engagement<br />
hubs, working groups and committees being<br />
developed are key access points, and in the <strong>Health</strong><br />
Governance stream the regional caucuses are the<br />
key mechanism for community engagement.<br />
The FNHC will continue to work with <strong>First</strong><br />
<strong>Nations</strong> communities, government partners and<br />
other stakeholders to shape and implement the<br />
TFNHP in ways that respond to community needs<br />
and circumstances. The information contained in<br />
this report will be provided to both the FNHC staff<br />
and communities in order that it may be used to<br />
identify appropriate modifications to workplans<br />
and contribute to the design of the next Gathering<br />
Wisdom forum.<br />
3<br />
VANCOUVER, bC • mAY 20 - 21 , 2008
DAY ONE: WEDNESDAY, MAY 21, 2008<br />
Opening Speakers: Our Journey So Far - What We’ve Accomplished Since the 2007 Forum<br />
4<br />
Debbie Abbott<br />
Co-Chair, <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong> <strong>Health</strong> <strong>Council</strong><br />
“The purpose of the Tripartite <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong><br />
<strong>Health</strong> Plan is to close the health gap between<br />
<strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong> and other British Columbians.”<br />
“We are all here today because we know that we<br />
can do better, we will measure progress and we will<br />
achieve results. To us, these are not just numbers,<br />
they are our relatives, our friends, and our<br />
coworkers. Our well-being as a whole is intrinsically<br />
connected.”<br />
taking a leadership role, with anticipation that<br />
there would be great feedback towards the<br />
implementation of the Plan in year two, provided<br />
during the World Café breakout sessions.<br />
In appreciation of the front-line community<br />
health service providers in attendance, the<br />
Forum was offering a number of professional<br />
development opportunities, including workshops<br />
on engaging youth, self-care, nutrition, traditional<br />
medicine and physical activity. Recognizing that<br />
the work they did in their communities could<br />
be demanding and stressful she noted that the<br />
workshops and healthy activities were being<br />
offered to participants at the Forum in the hopes<br />
that they would be both energizing and inspiring.<br />
ms. Abbott welcomed participants to the forum<br />
and expressed appreciation to local <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong><br />
for allowing the event to be hosted in their traditional<br />
territory. She then introduced fellow <strong>First</strong><br />
<strong>Nations</strong> <strong>Health</strong> <strong>Council</strong> members in attendance,<br />
and members of the Self-Governance Working<br />
Group. She reviewed the roles of the <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong><br />
<strong>Health</strong> <strong>Council</strong> to provide guidance, lobby support,<br />
and to provide a political accountability framework<br />
to the technicians working to implement the tenyear<br />
Tripartite <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong> <strong>Health</strong> Plan.<br />
ms. Abbott acknowledged the attendance<br />
of many community health professionals at the<br />
Forum, noting that at the 1 st Annual Forum,<br />
government and health industry representatives<br />
had filled nearly half the seats, and had taken a<br />
lead role in guiding the discussion. This year there<br />
were more <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong> health professionals<br />
Dr. Evan Adams<br />
Aboriginal <strong>Health</strong> Physicians Advisor<br />
Office of the BC Provincial <strong>Health</strong> Officer<br />
“I am reminded that our indigenous knowledge<br />
from our homes is something we all need to<br />
constantly renew.”<br />
“The root of <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong> issues lies in historical<br />
and personal trauma, and until those are<br />
addressed, there will be a limited ability to affect<br />
health outcomes.”<br />
“It is only what is good and right to ensure that<br />
<strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong> have health opportunities that are<br />
equal to those of other British Columbians.”<br />
II<br />
SECONd ANNUAl FORUm
Dr. Adams spoke of the importance of<br />
constantly renewing Indigenous knowledge,<br />
through listening to and learning from the Elders.<br />
He shared his recollections of having been taught<br />
at an early age to help and respect others. He<br />
discussed the composition of the Tripartite <strong>First</strong><br />
<strong>Nations</strong> <strong>Health</strong> Plan, the collaboration required,<br />
and the commitment of parties to work in<br />
partnership in the development, testing and<br />
implementation of new ways of planning and<br />
delivering health programs and services for <strong>First</strong><br />
<strong>Nations</strong>.<br />
Dr. Adams offered suggestions for gathering<br />
wisdom, moving plans forward, and getting better<br />
outcomes for clients. He acknowledged that the<br />
parties to the Plan were trying to find better,<br />
clearer, faster and smarter ways to trickle down<br />
resources in an appropriate fashion, and in a<br />
fiscally responsible way.<br />
Dr. Adams acknowledged difficulties expressed<br />
regarding human resources, and assured that the<br />
province would like to assist in this regard. He also<br />
referenced the desire for a complete picture of<br />
wellness that, while holding the <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong> vision<br />
of wellness at the core - with specific aspects of<br />
culture being present in planning and in healing<br />
- still recognizes those areas where western<br />
medicine is particularly effective (such as in pain<br />
control and saving lives).<br />
He recognized that those involved in the<br />
Tripartite <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong> <strong>Health</strong> Plan had heard<br />
the many painful stories that had been shared by<br />
<strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong> about how the health care system<br />
had been insensitive and hurtful in dealing with<br />
<strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong>. He expressed his admiration and<br />
appreciation that many had been able to keep their<br />
hearts open and still wished to try to work with<br />
people in partnership, in a culturally appropriate<br />
way.<br />
Dr. Adams discussed priority areas of action<br />
that would be the focus of discussions at the<br />
2nd Annual Forum relative to: governance,<br />
relationships and accountability; health<br />
promotion/injury and disease prevention;<br />
health services; and performance tracking. He<br />
commented on the need to understand the issues<br />
around <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong> historical and personal<br />
trauma, and for access to interventions with<br />
support from health service professionals, Elders,<br />
and loved ones who were aware of that history.<br />
He reminded participants that during the<br />
Forum they would engage in a dialogue about their<br />
truths and things that they had discovered. Dr.<br />
Adams commented that the framework for health<br />
care had been supplied by academics and experts,<br />
which needed shoring up through the sharing<br />
of ideas and strengths. He also acknowledged<br />
the rationale for a health authority, council, or<br />
ministry, to gather ideas and to work centrally and<br />
collectively. Help was needed in connecting with<br />
health authorities, in delivering programs to <strong>First</strong><br />
Nation constituents.<br />
Dr. Adams emphasized the importance of<br />
passing knowledge amongst each other to plan<br />
for the future, preserve the environment, provide<br />
business opportunities, and set goals for youth.<br />
OPENING REMARKS FROM TRIPARTITE LEADERS<br />
Joe Gallagher<br />
Senior Director<br />
<strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong> <strong>Health</strong> <strong>Council</strong><br />
“An area that we need to bring forward, to focus<br />
on, is our <strong>First</strong> Nation teachings and the value<br />
systems that we have so that the dialogue can be<br />
encouraged to be positive in light of the needs of<br />
the communities.”<br />
mr. Gallagher stated that the 2 nd Annual Forum,<br />
was part of an ongoing ten-year conversation<br />
about the Tripartite <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong> <strong>Health</strong> Plan. He<br />
commented that the 1 st Annual Forum had been<br />
a great success, and that there was even greater<br />
participation in the 2 nd Annual Forum, which<br />
included federal and provincial partners.<br />
5<br />
VANCOUVER, bC • mAY 20 - 21 , 2008
6<br />
A historical overview of the Tripartite <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong><br />
<strong>Health</strong> Plan was provided which reflected the<br />
five key messages and priority activities identified<br />
at the 1 st Annual Forum relative to: a vision of wellness;<br />
the need for a cultural, holistic approach to<br />
health; support for a community driven process;<br />
identification of common challenges; and an emphasis<br />
regarding the need for communication.<br />
mr. Gallagher discussed the composition of<br />
the <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong> <strong>Health</strong> <strong>Council</strong>, which represents<br />
a partnership of the British Columbia Assembly<br />
of <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong>, the <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong> Summit, and<br />
the Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs. He<br />
commented on the role of the <strong>Health</strong> <strong>Council</strong> in<br />
overseeing the implementation of the Tripartite<br />
<strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong> <strong>Health</strong> Plan, and discussed the<br />
formation of a technical team to assist in that<br />
process. It was shared that the <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong><br />
Chiefs <strong>Health</strong> Committee (CHC) had recently<br />
been restructured via resolution of the <strong>First</strong><br />
<strong>Nations</strong> Summit. As a result, CHC staff were now<br />
embedded within the <strong>Health</strong> <strong>Council</strong> to streamline<br />
the process.<br />
The FNHC is working with the National<br />
Collaborating Centre for Aboriginal <strong>Health</strong> to<br />
develop the <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong> ActNow Initiative.<br />
mr. Gallagher noted the importance of the<br />
community driven process embedded in the Plan,<br />
noting the Tripartite <strong>Health</strong> Plan’s focus and the<br />
<strong>Health</strong> <strong>Council</strong>’s desire to support <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong><br />
communities in developing their own or collective<br />
plans, as they chose.<br />
It was shared that the <strong>First</strong> Nation <strong>Health</strong><br />
<strong>Council</strong> had participated in many local dialogues,<br />
and in regional health forums regarding the<br />
development of Aboriginal Service Plans in<br />
the interest of ensuring a community driven<br />
process. mr. Gallagher discussed the common<br />
challenges identified, including a lack of resources<br />
and funding. He noted that there had been<br />
movement forward on a <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong> <strong>Health</strong><br />
Human Resources Strategy. Discussions were also<br />
occurring with <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong> Inuit <strong>Health</strong> and the<br />
provincial government on access to funding, and<br />
the need for greater flexibility in funding received.<br />
It was acknowledged that the need for<br />
communication was extremely important and<br />
was a great challenge. To this end, there was<br />
ongoing work towards establishing community<br />
engagement hubs to support collaborative efforts<br />
in communication and planning, as a means of<br />
finding effective ways of working with everyone.<br />
As well, the <strong>Health</strong> <strong>Council</strong> had recently hired a<br />
Communications Coordinator and would soon have<br />
a revamped website and other communications<br />
tools available.<br />
mr. Gallagher commented that one of the<br />
biggest challenges was to find the path for working<br />
together in a new way. One of the functions of<br />
the <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong> <strong>Health</strong> <strong>Council</strong> was therefore to<br />
encourage a dialogue that was more respectful<br />
for <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong> people. He looked forward to<br />
participating in the 2 nd Annual Forum, and thanked<br />
the <strong>Council</strong> for its work in organizing the event.<br />
Catherine Lappe<br />
Regional Director General<br />
<strong>Health</strong> Canada, BC Region<br />
“The Tripartite <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong> <strong>Health</strong> Plan marks the<br />
beginning of significant change for <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong><br />
health care in British Columbia. It provides an<br />
unprecedented opportunity for Canada, British<br />
Columbia and <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong> to work in partnership<br />
to improve the overall health and well-being of BC<br />
<strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong> people; to close the gaps between<br />
health services provided to <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong>; and to<br />
ensure <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong> are fully involved in decision<br />
making regarding the health of their people.”<br />
“The Tripartite <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong> Help Plan is a<br />
fundamental rethinking and realignment of how<br />
health services will be delivered for <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong><br />
in BC.”<br />
“<strong>Health</strong> Canada will evolve its role of ‘health<br />
program designer and deliverer’ to that of ‘funder<br />
and governance partner’ as <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong> take on<br />
their governance role as laid out in the Tripartite<br />
<strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong> <strong>Health</strong> Plan.”<br />
II<br />
SECONd ANNUAl FORUm
At the 1 st Annual Forum, a number of<br />
challenges and opportunities were identified as<br />
well as priorities for action, which included the<br />
establishment of the <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong> <strong>Health</strong> <strong>Council</strong>,<br />
and informing the completion of the Tripartite <strong>First</strong><br />
<strong>Nations</strong> <strong>Health</strong> Plan, signed on June 11, 2007.<br />
The Tripartite <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong> <strong>Health</strong> Plan marked<br />
the beginning of significant change for <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong><br />
health care in British Columbia. Regional Director<br />
lappe shared that minister Clement had often<br />
said that signing the Plan was one of his proudest<br />
accomplishments. BC was leading the way for<br />
fundamental changes for <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong> health<br />
service delivery, and was being closely observed<br />
by other provinces who were hoping to learn from<br />
BC’s successes.<br />
Regional Director Lappe shared that since<br />
the 1980s, <strong>Health</strong> Canada had been involved in<br />
a process to transfer health services historically<br />
delivered by <strong>Health</strong> Canada to <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong>.<br />
She continued that the Tripartite <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong><br />
<strong>Health</strong> Plan was a fundamental rethinking and<br />
realignment of how health services would be<br />
delivered for <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong> in British Columbia in<br />
a way that made sense for communities, with<br />
evaluation and monitoring by the regional offices<br />
and headquarters.<br />
Central to the Tripartite <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong> <strong>Health</strong><br />
Plan was a commitment to create a new governance<br />
structure that would enhance <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong> control<br />
of services, and promote better integration and<br />
coordination of services, to ensure improved access<br />
to quality health care by all <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong> living<br />
in British Columbia. The significant progress of the<br />
<strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong> <strong>Health</strong> <strong>Council</strong>, which had actively<br />
sought partnership opportunities focused on the<br />
needs of <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong> communities, was acknowledged.<br />
Regional Director Lappe said that change would<br />
not happen overnight and that the transition plan<br />
would be a key component of the agreement to be<br />
reached. meanwhile, within bC Region, opportunities<br />
were being explored for interchanges between<br />
the <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong> and Inuit <strong>Health</strong> Branch and the<br />
<strong>Health</strong> <strong>Council</strong> to help pave the way for a smooth<br />
transition to the new <strong>First</strong> Nation governing body.<br />
As the first year anniversary of the signing of<br />
the Tripartite <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong> <strong>Health</strong> Plan approaches,<br />
there is opportunity to reflect on the successes<br />
achieved thus far, and to confirm the way<br />
forward. Over the past year, <strong>Health</strong> Canada has<br />
worked closely with its partners, building strong<br />
relationships, completing the initial work plan, and<br />
aligning efforts on a number of fronts to ensure a<br />
tripartite approach to program and service design<br />
and delivery. Efforts had also been made to initiate<br />
dialogue for the establishment of a new <strong>First</strong><br />
<strong>Nations</strong> health governing body.<br />
Regional Director Lappe acknowledged that<br />
while this was still the first year of implementation<br />
of the Tripartite <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong> <strong>Health</strong> Plan, change<br />
was already happening. Efforts would continue to<br />
adjust how we are working together as well as on<br />
aligning efforts and resources to make initiatives<br />
much more effective in moving forward. She<br />
concluded by recognizing the exciting linkages<br />
occurring between <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong> and <strong>Health</strong><br />
Authorities within BC. She thanked all parties for<br />
having the courage and energy to participate, and<br />
looked forward to continued collaborative efforts.<br />
Deborah Schwartz<br />
Executive Director, Aboriginal <strong>Health</strong> Branch<br />
BC Ministry of <strong>Health</strong><br />
“It takes tremendous leadership to get into a<br />
canoe and paddle in the same direction as others<br />
in the interest of all.”<br />
ms. Schwartz referenced the photograph on the<br />
cover of the Transformative Change Accord: <strong>First</strong><br />
<strong>Nations</strong> <strong>Health</strong> Plan which depicted three people<br />
paddling a canoe. She acknowledged the visual as<br />
a unifying metaphor about getting into the same<br />
canoe while paddling in the same direction, which<br />
took tremendous leadership in the interest of all.<br />
The excellence of the provincial, federal and <strong>First</strong><br />
<strong>Nations</strong> leadership involved in this initiative was<br />
recognized.<br />
It was shared that <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong> had brought<br />
together three political organizations in British<br />
Columbia to develop a unified vision to inspire,<br />
and that there was need to acknowledge the Chiefs<br />
for that work. ms. Schwartz also recognized the<br />
leadership of the <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong> <strong>Health</strong> <strong>Council</strong>, and<br />
its staff who were responsible for translating the<br />
Plan into actions on a day to day basis. She noted<br />
that it was remarkable for the parties to have made<br />
a commitment to overcome their differences,<br />
and to work together to achieve results guided by<br />
the vision and values set out in the Tripartite <strong>First</strong><br />
<strong>Nations</strong> <strong>Health</strong> Plan.<br />
7<br />
VANCOUVER, bC • mAY 20 - 21 , 2008
8<br />
In her concluding remarks, ms. Schwartz discussed<br />
the importance of each of the partners, their<br />
motivation to try, and their willingness to take risks,<br />
noting that none of the efforts would be successful<br />
if the communications did not continue. In the<br />
spirit of committing to listen and learn together, she<br />
thanked participants for their participation at the<br />
2 nd Annual Forum.<br />
FIRST NATIONS HEALTH PLAN<br />
- GOVERNANCE<br />
Grand Chief Ed John<br />
<strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong> <strong>Health</strong> <strong>Council</strong> Governance<br />
Subcommittee<br />
“The Tripartite <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong> <strong>Health</strong> Plan is<br />
an integrated, interrelated, and coordinated<br />
approach to dealing with a range of <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong><br />
health issues.”<br />
Grand Chief John acknowledged the Coast<br />
Salish for allowing the 2nd Annual Forum to occur<br />
on their territory, and noted the importance of<br />
always acknowledging the people whose ancestral<br />
lands meetings were held on.<br />
Grand Chief John shared that the work in the<br />
communities was vital, and recalled the signing<br />
of the Tripartite <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong> <strong>Health</strong> Plan the<br />
year prior, which brought <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong>, federal<br />
and provincial governments together on a willing<br />
basis, to address serious health issues in the 203<br />
<strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong> communities within British Columbia.<br />
What made this possible in British Columbia was<br />
the cooperation of the Union of British Columbia<br />
Indian Chiefs, the <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong> Summit and the<br />
BC Assembly of <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong> who were all driven<br />
and mandated to begin to do something about the<br />
many significant health issues that continued to<br />
exist for <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong> in British Columbia.<br />
Grand Chief John discussed a <strong>First</strong> Nation community<br />
in British Columbia where approximately<br />
60% of the housing was affected by serious mould<br />
infestation (Category #1) noting that with that<br />
many houses and people impacted there would be<br />
serious health considerations. He noted that Canada,<br />
British Columbia and <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong> had signed<br />
a memorandum of Understanding on housing and<br />
are committing to work together to address health<br />
issues, including ensuring that good, affordable,<br />
and safe housing was available.<br />
It was shared that on June 11, 2008 another<br />
milestone would be reached relative to the legacy<br />
of the Indian Residential Schools: a <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong><br />
Summit meeting would be one of many venues<br />
where Chiefs could come together and listen<br />
to the Prime minister of Canada make a nation<br />
wide apology. Grand Chief John acknowledged<br />
Chief Charlene Belleau for her work on the<br />
Indian Residential Schools file, and recognized<br />
the leadership of the Alkali Lake community in<br />
addressing the impacts of residential schools.<br />
It was further shared that the Chiefs in British<br />
Columbia had led the charge in the area of<br />
residential schools, having gathered in the early<br />
1980s to ask for an independent inquiry into<br />
what happened in the Indian Residential Schools.<br />
It was not until much later that the Government<br />
of Canada and the churches came to the table<br />
as a result of litigation on behalf of residential<br />
school survivors in Port Alberni, to establish that<br />
Canada and the churches had legal liability for the<br />
damages and abuses that took place. Grand Chief<br />
John continued with a note that the <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong><br />
Leadership <strong>Council</strong> had met the prior week to<br />
discuss creating a dialogue on residential schools<br />
as had been done in Australia. He cautioned that<br />
communities needed to be prepared in the event<br />
that the Prime minister’s June 11, 2008 address<br />
“triggered” survivors.<br />
In health, housing, residential schools, fisheries,<br />
forestry and justice, Grand Chief John advised<br />
that there were extensive plans discussed for a<br />
coordinated approach and strategy. He shared<br />
that on September 13, 2007, the United <strong>Nations</strong><br />
voted to adopt the Declaration on the Rights<br />
of Indigenous Peoples; the articles of which<br />
II<br />
SECONd ANNUAl FORUm
spoke to the minimum standards for the dignity,<br />
survival and wellbeing of indigenous peoples,<br />
and encouraged <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong> to insist on those<br />
standards within all plans.<br />
Grand Chief John noted that in signing the<br />
Tripartite <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong> <strong>Health</strong> Plan the parties had<br />
agreed that the <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong> Inuit <strong>Health</strong> Branch<br />
would not exist as it presently did, and that the<br />
business of delivering health services would be<br />
transitioned to <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong>. A three year horizon<br />
was agreed to, with <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong> being charged to<br />
set up a body to deliver health services throughout<br />
<strong>First</strong> Nation communities.<br />
It was noted that 75% of <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong><br />
communities in British Columbia had health<br />
plans. The driver for health services had to be the<br />
community – working from its health plan in its<br />
relationship with provincial health authorities.<br />
Grand Chief John clarified that an institution would<br />
not be formed that would divert funds from the<br />
communities, and added that the Leadership<br />
<strong>Council</strong> had communicated to government that<br />
there was a period of funding ‘catch up’ that was<br />
required.<br />
Chief Wayne Christian<br />
<strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong> <strong>Health</strong> <strong>Council</strong> Governance<br />
Subcommittee<br />
“The most extraordinary leaders that <strong>First</strong><br />
<strong>Nations</strong> have are ordinary people. Many people<br />
are suffering for the work that they have done for<br />
<strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong> people in the past, and they need to<br />
be acknowledged.”<br />
“There is no one solution or ‘one size fits all’<br />
approach to health or health governance. The<br />
province of British Columbia is dynamic with 203<br />
<strong>First</strong> Nation communities. How people organize<br />
themselves is critical, and will be respected.”<br />
9<br />
Grand Chief Doug Kelly<br />
<strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong> <strong>Health</strong> <strong>Council</strong> Governance<br />
Subcommittee<br />
“<strong>First</strong> Nation health directors are the change<br />
agents responsible for leading the way to make<br />
things better in <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong> communities.”<br />
Grand Chief Kelly in his address referenced<br />
a report by Chandler and Lalonde which related<br />
to the strength of <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong> culture and<br />
communities governing their own affairs. He also<br />
spoke to the issue of <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong> youth suicide.<br />
Grand Chief Kelly shared that it was necessary<br />
for <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong> to have control over the resources<br />
that come into their communities, and that <strong>First</strong><br />
<strong>Nations</strong> have the ability to design programs and<br />
services that are consistent with their culture,<br />
spirituality and traditional teachings, in order to<br />
achieve improved health outcomes. He added that<br />
the role of the <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong> <strong>Health</strong> <strong>Council</strong> was to<br />
create that opportunity, not to create a foreign<br />
institution, but to hear what the communities had<br />
to say, and to use that advice to design something<br />
to address the needs of <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong>.<br />
Chief Christian acknowledged the ancestors<br />
of the territory, and those who had come before,<br />
and spoke of the need to acknowledge the work of<br />
ordinary people.<br />
Chief Christian provided an overview of the <strong>First</strong><br />
<strong>Nations</strong> Interim <strong>Health</strong> Governance Committee.<br />
The Committee was seeking additional at-large<br />
representatives willing to work together, and with<br />
<strong>Health</strong> Canada and ministry of <strong>Health</strong>, to carry<br />
out the Transformative Change Accord mandates,<br />
including the development of a framework for the<br />
203 <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong> in British Columbia. He discussed<br />
the goal of engaging communities to focus on<br />
strengths while making people feel safe and<br />
comfortable about working together.<br />
To date, it was noted that there had been<br />
several meetings which were the beginning of<br />
dialogue to find ways for <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong>, and the<br />
VANCOUVER, bC • mAY 20 - 21 , 2008
10<br />
federal and provincial governments, to work<br />
together to develop a comprehensive and inclusive<br />
<strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong> health governance structure.<br />
Chief Christian recognized that <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong><br />
culture, belief and identity were linked to the land<br />
and resources, and were all interconnected. As<br />
such, issues could not be considered in isolation.<br />
There was a need to start, with an understanding<br />
that the initiative would be to enhance, empower<br />
and seek resources for communities based on their<br />
requests for help.<br />
It was offered that a critical part of<br />
transformation was creating space for British<br />
Columbia <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong> to design and develop their<br />
own standards of governance that supported local<br />
self-government processes. There was a need<br />
to begin to engage communities on a regional<br />
basis, and to complete the <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong> Interim<br />
<strong>Health</strong> Governance Committee membership. The<br />
Committee was seeking additional members, to be<br />
identified by the regions. A political and technical<br />
process needed to be considered for determining<br />
those individuals. A role of the regional caucuses<br />
during the 2nd Annual Forum was to give<br />
voice to that process, and to agree to common<br />
communications language and presentation<br />
materials. This was evidence of an evolving and<br />
respectful relationship.<br />
Chief Christian concluded with reference to<br />
an address by Chief Dan George in 1967, which<br />
recognized the opportunity to focus on changing<br />
the health of <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong> people. He also<br />
acknowledged leadership for putting aside any<br />
differences in the interests of <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong>.<br />
II<br />
SECONd ANNUAl FORUm
DAY TWO: THURSDAY, MAY 22, 2008<br />
OPENING SPEAKER: TINA KEEPER<br />
Tina Keeper<br />
member of Parliament for Churchill, manitoba<br />
“This is not a time of emergence of a new<br />
generation of Indian leaders. We are the<br />
culmination and product of our ancestors.<br />
Canada is now ready to deal with us because<br />
our leaders of the past have been saying for so<br />
long that there is a need for change. We are<br />
seeing the fallout of all the years of policy and<br />
legislation in which Indian people had no selfdetermination.”<br />
“There is opportunity in this partnership model<br />
for <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong> to share their incredible gifts<br />
with the world, and with Canadians, because<br />
they need it too. It is an important piece to<br />
remember in your work.”<br />
“It is despicable that this great country should<br />
be having these failings for any sector of the<br />
population, and in particular for <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong> for<br />
which there are no guiding principles or policies.”<br />
the urgency in Aboriginal health, noting that<br />
Indigenous peoples around the world suffer similar<br />
health and social issues as here. She spoke of the<br />
opportunities she had enjoyed throughout her<br />
career to work with renowned researchers on<br />
the issue of Indigenous peoples and suicide. The<br />
opportunity to seek solutions in a different way, as<br />
with the Tripartite <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong> <strong>Health</strong> Plan, is very<br />
important. What was in place was not working.<br />
ms. Keeper referenced the difficulty of making<br />
systemic changes, noting that this was about the<br />
very life of <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong> people, and the lives of<br />
their cultures, heritage and communities.<br />
ms. Keeper discussed the opportunities she has<br />
as a parliamentarian, and as an actor, to travel the<br />
country meeting people and hearing them speak.<br />
She had found that there is a common myth among<br />
Canadian people, that because of new emerging<br />
leadership <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong> were beginning to work<br />
in partnership with government. It is important to<br />
deconstruct that myth because <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong> are<br />
aware that they have been struggling for decades.<br />
The leaders of today exist because of the strength<br />
of their ancestors. The partnerships of today are<br />
possible because of the work done in the past.<br />
In speaking about health, self-determination is<br />
a critical factor. ms. Keeper shared that she was<br />
raised in the north at a time when there was little<br />
intrusion of Canadian policy and legislation and<br />
when the magnitude of the trauma of residential<br />
schools was unknown. There was no CmHC<br />
housing then. <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong> built their own homes,<br />
had a traditional lifestyle, and spoke their own<br />
language. Being raised as one of a people of the<br />
land, ms. Keeper knew that her way of life was<br />
good, and that people were gentle, kind, strong<br />
and resilient.<br />
11<br />
ms. Keeper expressed how she was honoured<br />
to participate in the conference, and acknowledged<br />
ms. Keeper commented on what had happened<br />
in one generation due to Canadian policy, due to<br />
the intrusion of natural resource development<br />
within communities in manitoba, and because of<br />
VANCOUVER, bC • mAY 20 - 21 , 2008
12<br />
the experience of <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong> having lost control<br />
of their lives. She acknowledged that the history<br />
was different in BC, and that the sense was that<br />
the new way forward was to organize.<br />
She spoke of the impacts of residential school<br />
and the impacts of the loss of land. There was<br />
a need to find a way to care for a group within<br />
the communities of <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong> that was made<br />
ill by what happened historically ... “we all love<br />
somebody who is either living that way, or who has<br />
died that way, someone who has been made very<br />
ill by all this trauma.”<br />
“Gathering Wisdom for a Shared Journey”<br />
speaks to the knowledge that <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong> Elders<br />
hold. One of the greatest gifts <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong> have<br />
is an understanding that manifests in a very loving<br />
and gentle way. <strong>Health</strong> is inextricable from love<br />
and care.<br />
ms. Keeper commented that proposal-driven<br />
funding does not work because most often the<br />
people that need the funding the most do not have<br />
the capacity to write proposals. Legal obligations<br />
aside, she noted that there was a moral obligation<br />
to deal with this. <strong>Health</strong> practitioners and<br />
politicians need to discuss the issues of love and<br />
caring as a way to move forward. She did not want<br />
to look forward to a future where <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong><br />
were giving up their collective rights and identity<br />
as Aboriginal peoples.<br />
ms. Keeper added that <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong> were at<br />
a turning point. Dialogue was begun and needs<br />
to be driven by the knowledge acquired from the<br />
grassroots level - particularly the Elders. She spoke<br />
of a colleague in Aboriginal <strong>Health</strong> working with<br />
<strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong> in the north who was not allowed<br />
to speak Cree because she was not hired as an<br />
interpreter. This is a concrete example of the<br />
constrictions that continue to exist within the<br />
current system. She emphasized the need to think<br />
outside of the box, and to challenge the system.<br />
Working in television ms Keeper had met many<br />
non-native Canadians who felt that they knew her<br />
because they knew her television character. She’d<br />
had the opportunity to speak to many people who<br />
shared what they thought about the show, <strong>First</strong><br />
<strong>Nations</strong> people, or Canadians and their relationship<br />
to <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong>. She had learned that people<br />
really were good at heart; that colonial rule was<br />
a tradition of the British which they imposed on<br />
others as ‘part of their way‘.<br />
ms. Keeper recalled the story of a Cree<br />
character created out of the experience of<br />
starvation, called the Windigo, which represented<br />
the spirit of greed or rage. She had felt like a<br />
Windigo during her first years on Parliament Hill.<br />
She had grown up in a privileged life on the land,<br />
but was shocked by the level of privilege that<br />
non-<strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong> people enjoyed in Canada. <strong>First</strong><br />
<strong>Nations</strong> had the ability to speak together and<br />
needed to speak in a good way. <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong> had<br />
to insist on what they wanted in moving forward.<br />
In response to a question, ms. Keeper<br />
confirmed that she was part of the parliamentary<br />
Aboriginal Affairs Committee and worked closely<br />
with the <strong>Health</strong> Committee. A driving force that<br />
encouraged her to get into politics was <strong>First</strong> Nation<br />
health issues and the reality that there was no<br />
legislation for <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong> health in Canada. There<br />
continued to be a significant discrepancy and lack<br />
of jurisdictional clarity surrounding Aboriginal<br />
health issues. There were human rights violations<br />
in terms of delivering health services for <strong>First</strong><br />
<strong>Nations</strong>. Some of her opportunities as a <strong>First</strong><br />
Nation member of Parliament included becoming<br />
aware of the issues; making her caucus members<br />
aware of the issues; inviting people to present<br />
at Standing Committees; and participating in the<br />
introduction of private members bills and motions.<br />
ms. Keeper concluded with a note that the<br />
Tripartite <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong> <strong>Health</strong> Plan model was<br />
very exciting because there was a whole new<br />
generation of Aboriginal youth, the fastest growing<br />
sector of the population - there was a need to<br />
find a way to take care of them. She wished<br />
participants the best, and thanked the forum for<br />
the opportunity to speak.<br />
II<br />
SECONd ANNUAl FORUm
CLOSING KEYNOTE SPEAKER<br />
Dr. Martin Brokenleg, Professor of <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong><br />
Ministry and Theology,<br />
Vancouver School of Technology<br />
“If we plan to be whole we have to stop<br />
looking at woundedness and instead focus on<br />
wholeness.”<br />
“<strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong> include spirituality in everything<br />
that they do. Most groups back away from<br />
spirituality, but not Native people, because<br />
spirituality is their fundamental strength.”<br />
“Belonging is so powerful that it will heal any<br />
wounds you’ve been carrying with you and will<br />
give you the courage to walk through fire if<br />
necessary. All of us feel on the inside the power<br />
that belonging has – it creates strength and<br />
energy.”<br />
“Mastery creates strength of spirit. It is not just<br />
getting something done, but discovering what<br />
you can do.”<br />
Dr. Brokenleg shared that the median age in<br />
native communities was typically between the ages<br />
of 12 and 14 years old, with 50% of the population<br />
being older and 50% of the population being<br />
younger. In Saskatoon and Regina public schools,<br />
60% of the children were Aboriginal.<br />
Dr. Brokenleg discussed the Circle of Courage<br />
psychology for dealing with youth and adults,<br />
noting that in order to be whole, it was necessary<br />
to stop looking at woundedness and to instead<br />
focus on wholeness. He shared that fundamentally,<br />
culture was in place not lost, although it could<br />
take some work to find it and dig it out again. He<br />
emphasized that in looking at the <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong>’<br />
wellness legacy over thousands of years, the last<br />
200 years lost their importance.<br />
An overview of an Aboriginal childcare<br />
philosophy taken from the green book “Reclaiming<br />
Youth at Risk” provided best practices for working<br />
with kids, using four spiritual strengths that existed<br />
in all Aboriginal communities: belonging, mastery,<br />
independence, and generosity.<br />
Belonging was the need to be significant<br />
and important – like the killer whales that were<br />
always in pods. In Sioux culture there were no<br />
clans or crests, but there were relatives that did<br />
everything together. For example, Dr. Brokenleg<br />
shared that hospitals in South Dakota dropped<br />
the requirement for native patients to limit their<br />
number of visitors. He spoke of the reality that a<br />
baby crawling on the floor in a room of strangers<br />
would crawl directly to its mother. Babies were<br />
designed to belong. In fact, regardless of their age,<br />
everyone wanted to belong.<br />
Dr. Brokenleg discussed his icons of belonging,<br />
which were his mother and father who married on<br />
may 1, 1937. To celebrate 60 years together, they<br />
invited the community to witness them renew<br />
their vows. They fed 4,000 people and asked for<br />
no gifts or money. Five months later on a Friday<br />
afternoon, Dr. Brokenleg was beside his father<br />
when he suffered a stroke and right side paralysis.<br />
When his mother arrived and called his father<br />
by her special name for him he smiled, and then<br />
closed his eyes. He lingered six more days. There<br />
were 70 people there when he took his last breath.<br />
Dr. Brokenleg shared that when a parent died,<br />
the whole world seemed to change. Two hours<br />
after his father died, his mother said that she was<br />
also ready to go. She was miserable for five more<br />
months and then they buried her as well.<br />
It was observed that schools typically<br />
responded to those in difficulty with “unbelonging”<br />
or “time outs”. Other groups however,<br />
accepted people when they were ‘going down in<br />
flames’, because they knew that nothing happened<br />
13<br />
VANCOUVER, bC • mAY 20 - 21 , 2008
14<br />
until belonging happened. That’s true for youth<br />
and adults. Dr. Brokenleg added that if it was<br />
possible to make belonging happen, it was possible<br />
to make anything happen. Canada was in major<br />
danger, as Canadian families were coming apart<br />
-belonging was more necessary than anything<br />
else. In times of crisis, it was important to tell the<br />
person in crisis that nothing they could do would<br />
break their love for them.<br />
Belonging remained one of the greatest<br />
strengths that Aboriginal communities possessed.<br />
It was a gift that could be given to the world. Doing<br />
so would strengthen people and help see them<br />
through any crisis.<br />
Mastery was the second theme discussed,<br />
depicted by ravens. Dr. Brokenleg shared that<br />
ravens were an appropriate reference when<br />
considering the story of a hotel doorman who<br />
would toss acorns near the entrance to attract<br />
squirrels, which entertained the hotel guests.<br />
Ravens would pick up the acorns and drop them<br />
from high above so they would break open on the<br />
sidewalk.<br />
Dr. Brokenleg noted that many reserves gazed<br />
at problems and had forgotten what they could do.<br />
Instead they should glance at problems and gaze at<br />
solutions, to create resiliency. He spoke of a school<br />
where the kids were not getting an afternoon<br />
recess because they were taking too long to eat<br />
lunch. The kids were challenged to come up with<br />
a solution. They determined that if there were<br />
condiments on each table it would make lunch go<br />
faster. As such, they held a fundraiser and used the<br />
money earned to buy condiments for each table.<br />
The kids learned through this process that if they<br />
had a problem they could fix it.<br />
He explained that most arguments with a three<br />
year old were about whether or not they would<br />
be allowed to do something themselves. This was<br />
exactly what a 16 year old argued for, and the<br />
same thing that a nursing home resident wanted.<br />
There was a universal need for people to have<br />
mastery.<br />
Independence was the third theme that Dr.<br />
Brokenleg discussed, which was represented by the<br />
image of an eagle. Independence was not about<br />
being alone and self-sufficient, it was about being<br />
responsible for oneself - about empowerment.<br />
He shared the story of his son, who at the age of<br />
five had a fever and needed to take medication.<br />
While he took the first dose willingly, he had to<br />
be forced to take the second dose because of<br />
the terrible flavour. For the third dose, his father<br />
offered him the choice of taking the medication on<br />
a fancy spoon or a plain one. The child chose the<br />
fancy spoon and then willingly took the medicine.<br />
The story illustrated that providing choices was<br />
effective, although care was needed in considering<br />
the choices offered.<br />
Dr. Brokenleg shared that discipline was<br />
empowering as it taught people to be responsible<br />
at one level so they could go on to the next. He<br />
noted that empowerment was the experience of<br />
one’s own power, achieved through discipline and<br />
allowing a child more and more responsibility,<br />
similar to the old potlatch tradition of borrowing<br />
blankets and paying back one or two more than<br />
were borrowed.<br />
Dr. Brokenleg discussed the fourth theme of<br />
Generosity, which fulfilled the human need to<br />
know one’s own goodness and was represented by<br />
the wolf, who did not eat alone. He added that the<br />
first thing a person lost in a crisis was the sense of<br />
their own goodness.<br />
In conclusion, Dr. Brokenleg explained that the<br />
four themes depicted by the killer whale, wolf,<br />
eagle and raven, comprised the major <strong>First</strong> Nation<br />
crests. Addressing all four themes created a person<br />
whose strength was on the inside, so that they<br />
did not have to be controlled from the outside.<br />
Anyone could face life with these four themes. Dr.<br />
Brokenleg offered that the job of <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong> was<br />
to teach children to be strong on the inside, and to<br />
know that adults needed these experiences as well.<br />
In his first book “Dancing Healers”, Dr. Brokenleg<br />
wrote about coming from a non-native world<br />
to dealing with native clients. “Theft of the Spirit”<br />
was an account of caring about children. He emphasized<br />
that the Circle of Courage psychology<br />
would create strong youth, as it was the wisdom of<br />
<strong>First</strong> Nation ancestors, verified even by science as<br />
a best practice. Children were acknowledged as a<br />
reward and the promise of what was yet to come.<br />
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SECONd ANNUAl FORUm
FINAL WRAP-UP<br />
Dr. Evan Adams, Aboriginal <strong>Health</strong> Physician<br />
Advisor<br />
Dr. Adams expressed hope that participants<br />
recognized <strong>First</strong> Nation logic and their ways of<br />
feeling needed were the centre of <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong><br />
work. Through participation at the 2 nd Annual<br />
Forum he felt energized and filled with wisdom to<br />
carry through to the next year. He hoped that the<br />
participants felt the same way.<br />
He referenced his admiration for the tripartite<br />
leadership who had spoken passionately and<br />
acknowledged the diversity of the teams that were<br />
working together and committing to each other to<br />
achieve change. Dr. Adams acknowledged the keen<br />
interest for there to be more opportunity to talk<br />
about governance at a community level, including<br />
determining how communities would organize<br />
themselves in order to have input and to lead a<br />
community driven process. methods to further<br />
discuss this interest were referenced, including<br />
through the upcoming regional caucuses in the<br />
summer and the possibility that a province-wide<br />
gathering on the subject of governance alone could<br />
be convened as early as the fall of 2008.<br />
Dr. Adams shared that he had attended<br />
a number of different workshops during<br />
the 2 nd Annual Forum, and appreciated the<br />
different approaches of presenters in their<br />
work. He concluded with acknowledgement of<br />
the contributions of presenters and thanked<br />
participants for opening their hearts, for their<br />
generous and kind attention and good work.<br />
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VANCOUVER, bC • mAY 20 - 21 , 2008
GATHERING THE COLLECTIVE WISDOM<br />
16<br />
The Tripartite <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong> <strong>Health</strong> Plan contains<br />
29 action items divided into four key areas of<br />
action: <strong>Health</strong> Promotion, Disease and Injury<br />
Prevention; <strong>Health</strong> Services; Performance Tracking;<br />
and Governance, Relationships and Accountability.<br />
Participants were invited to engage in a<br />
dialogue through a collaborative World Café<br />
discussion process that enabled them to provide<br />
input and share their ideas on up to sixteen of the<br />
specific action items within the <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong> <strong>Health</strong><br />
Plan Through these conversations, participants<br />
discussed how to move forward in <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong><br />
health. What follows is some of the wisdom that<br />
was harvested during those sessions.<br />
OPEN SPACE<br />
Open Space tables provided participants with<br />
an opportunity to record any issue they wished to<br />
raise. The Open Space flip charts also encouraged<br />
people to identify issues they wanted to discuss<br />
and the follow-up they felt could address that<br />
issue. There were four Open Space opportunities<br />
provided during the Gathering, one in each of the<br />
world café breakout rooms. many of the comments<br />
added emphasis to issues already raised in other<br />
parts of the forum (e.g. dentists, on/off reserve,<br />
isolated communities, traditional interventions).<br />
You will find Open Space responses at the end of<br />
each topic.<br />
BREAKOUT GROUP TOPICS<br />
<strong>Health</strong> Promotion, Disease and Injury Prevention<br />
• Holistic <strong>Health</strong> Programs<br />
• ActNow – General<br />
• ActNow - Physical Activity<br />
• ActNow – Nutrition<br />
• Injury Prevention<br />
• Traditional medicine<br />
• Food Security<br />
• Open Space<br />
<strong>Health</strong> Services<br />
• Aboriginal <strong>Health</strong> Human Resources<br />
• E-<strong>Health</strong><br />
• mental <strong>Health</strong><br />
• Access for People with Disabilities<br />
• Universal ECD supports<br />
• Dental<br />
• Open Space<br />
Performance Tracking<br />
• Research Infrastructure<br />
• Indicators<br />
• Regional <strong>Health</strong> Survey<br />
• Community <strong>Health</strong> Plans<br />
• Open Space<br />
Governance, Relationships and Accountability<br />
(This topic was the subject of a separate breakout<br />
session.)<br />
In each of the rooms the Room Host provided<br />
an overall summary of the key messages emerging<br />
from the individual topic discussions. Table Hosts<br />
provided summary notes for the discussions at<br />
each table.<br />
COMMON THEMES<br />
In the conversations it is immediately apparent<br />
that the action items in the health plan are interrelated.<br />
Themes that emerged throughout the<br />
Forum included:<br />
• more must be done to ensure the long<br />
term sustainability of this effort and various<br />
strategies, initiatives and programs.<br />
• There is a need and desire for significant<br />
enhancements to resources in order to expand<br />
the reach of existing programs, including<br />
funding and coordinated/holistic approaches.<br />
• Develop opportunities and materials to support<br />
training and capacity, particularly in response<br />
to needs at the community/front line.<br />
• Leadership needs to continually demonstrate<br />
its commitment and priorities in this area,<br />
including serving as health role models.<br />
• The approach to implementing the TFNHP and<br />
responses to various health needs must be of<br />
practical use at the community level/front line.<br />
• Increase efforts and supports for building cross<br />
cultural understanding between <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong><br />
and their non-Aboriginal counterparts and<br />
colleagues.<br />
• Provide adequate support to the critically<br />
important area of education and awareness<br />
within <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong>, Aboriginal and non-<br />
Aboriginal communities.<br />
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APPENDIX A: BREAKOUT GROUP DISCUSSION SUMMARY<br />
During the breakout group discussions the<br />
following key themes about issues and actions<br />
emerged from the topic tables:<br />
• Training for leadership related to Tripartite<br />
<strong>Health</strong> Plan.<br />
• Create initial and ongoing training to support<br />
new governance structure.<br />
• Lack of education around substance users,<br />
homosexuality/“two spirit peoples”, and HIV.<br />
• Educate/train community leaders and elders<br />
in order to foster community acceptance and<br />
knowledge.<br />
• Needs to be more knowledge about arthritis in<br />
<strong>First</strong> Nation communities.<br />
• Create an arthritis initiative.<br />
• <strong>Health</strong> delivery lacking cultural awareness,<br />
cultural safety and cultural competency.<br />
• Provide cross-cultural training,<br />
acknowledgement and incorporation of<br />
traditional health delivery methods.<br />
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VANCOUVER, bC • mAY 20 - 21 , 2008
HEALTH PROMOTION, DISEASE AND INJURY PREVENTION<br />
18<br />
Community-based health programs are<br />
being developed to assist <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong> to deal<br />
with health promotion and disease and injury<br />
prevention issues affecting their communities, so<br />
that the incidence of preventable diseases and<br />
injuries in the <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong> population becomes<br />
comparable to that of other British Columbians.<br />
Key to the strategy is: Increasing access to<br />
traditional foods and medicines, improving food<br />
security, and developing culturally appropriate<br />
health promotion and prevention tools.<br />
Holistic <strong>Health</strong> Programs<br />
Although the TFNHP does not have an action<br />
item entitled ‘Holistic <strong>Health</strong>’ it is clear from<br />
the various actions and strategies contained<br />
within it that the <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong> priority for holistic<br />
approaches is an underlying principle. This<br />
discussion table was convened in order to provide<br />
guidance to how holistic approaches could be more<br />
effectively intertwined with the activities within<br />
the TFNHP.<br />
Question 1: What does holistic health mean to<br />
you?<br />
• Depends on individual, family and community.<br />
• Holistic – integration of all elements of health.<br />
Question 2: What does a holistic health program<br />
look like?<br />
• Include traditional approaches.<br />
• Support ability of Aboriginal frontline staff to<br />
take this message into the homes.<br />
• Provide training on traditional practices.<br />
Question 3: How would we pursue a holistic<br />
health program within the tripartite process?<br />
• Advocate for holistic approaches within<br />
tripartite processes.<br />
ActNow: General<br />
As described in the TFNHP and the <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong><br />
<strong>Health</strong> <strong>Council</strong>’s “Year in Review 2007-2008”<br />
participation in ActNow BC was initiated through<br />
the University of Northern British Columbia,<br />
and is being implemented through <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong><br />
ActNow specific projects (e.g. Community Tool<br />
Kits), collaborations with other health initiatives<br />
(e.g. Aboriginal Diabetes Initiative, <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong><br />
Education Steering Committee), and partnerships<br />
with other ActNow BC programs (e.g. Action<br />
Schools BC) to expand <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong> access to<br />
as many ActNow BC programs as possible. In<br />
commenting on how the ActNow Initiative could<br />
respond to <strong>Health</strong> Promotion and Chronic Disease<br />
prevention issues the participants noted that:<br />
• Community role models/mentors need to be<br />
recognized.<br />
• Community dialogues should take place in<br />
order to identify strategies and plans.<br />
• There needs to be more training on <strong>Health</strong><br />
Promotion for community health workers –<br />
needs to be access to <strong>Health</strong> Promotion tools.<br />
• Leadership needs to put Chronic Disease<br />
Prevention and <strong>Health</strong> Promotion on their<br />
agendas.<br />
• Leadership needs to live healthy lives since they<br />
are role models.<br />
• mental health should be included in the Action<br />
<strong>Health</strong> Promotion strategy.<br />
• Provincial <strong>First</strong> Nation Centre of Excellence<br />
for Chronic Disease Prevention should be<br />
established.<br />
• Research, literature, and health promotion<br />
resources need to be developed at the<br />
community to community level.<br />
• Funding needs to be larger and sustainable for<br />
<strong>Health</strong> Promotion strategies.<br />
ActNow: Physical Activity<br />
Within the four pillars of ActNow (i.e. Tobacco<br />
Cessation, <strong>Health</strong>y Choices in Pregnancy,<br />
Nutrition, and Physical Activity) <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong> have<br />
emphasized Physical Activity and Nutrition as<br />
priorities for action that have the most potential<br />
for improving health outcomes and impacting<br />
on the other pillars of ActNow. During the 2007<br />
Gathering Wisdom forum the physical activity and<br />
nutrition elements were addressed at one table.<br />
For this 2008 Gathering separate table discussions<br />
were convened. In summary the participants<br />
encouraged:<br />
• Validate and include physical activity as an<br />
essential cornerstone to improve health by<br />
including it in the Accord.<br />
• Provide more youth activities that are longterm<br />
not just project based (e.g. Boys Clubs).<br />
Also need Girls Clubs for adolescent girls that<br />
are driven by young women rolemodels. These<br />
clubs can build self-esteem, leaders in training,<br />
activities, etc.<br />
• Community has individual needs and resources<br />
– develop strategic plans suited for community<br />
and to assist in making physical activity a<br />
priority (i.e., needs assessments to know<br />
challenges, weather, respond to community<br />
feedback, generate community support, etc.)<br />
• Ideas to reduce barriers included consideration<br />
of a universal BC passcard to help you go to<br />
II<br />
SECONd ANNUAl FORUm
any event/access (i.e., leisure access card, golf<br />
course access, etc.), lowering gas prices<br />
• Determine what are the Best Practices and<br />
promote them (e.g. How do other <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong><br />
communities succeed? more training that is<br />
culturally appropriate - e.g. FKC)<br />
• Increase awareness of mainstream funding and<br />
grants<br />
• Provide promotional materials (e.g. brochures,<br />
DVDs, and “cool stuff” for kids)<br />
• A number of ideas suggest the need to develop<br />
a broader strategy around physical activity that<br />
includes:<br />
• famous athletes and speakers in materials (i.e.,<br />
NHL)<br />
• all-native hockey tournament<br />
• women’s soccer players highlighted<br />
• support for organized sport-paid coaches for<br />
soccer and basketball<br />
• update facilities and equipment<br />
• help with wildlife programs<br />
ActNow: Nutrition<br />
Nutrition and physical activity are seen to<br />
go hand in hand in many respects, and this is<br />
particularly true in terms of work within the<br />
Aboriginal Diabetes Initiative. When asked<br />
to provide guidance on how best to promote<br />
healthy eating in <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong> communities the<br />
participants stressed that it will be important to<br />
address issues and actions in the areas of access,<br />
traditional foods, education/awareness, and school<br />
based approaches:<br />
Access:<br />
• Lack of resources to purchase healthy foods.<br />
• Cost (isolated communities).<br />
• Traditional Food Promotion:<br />
• Seasonal traditional food preparation.<br />
• Researching nutritional value (i.e. Ca2+).<br />
• Food security.<br />
• Food safety preparation (legislation).<br />
• School-based Policies and Promotion:<br />
• <strong>Health</strong>y menu development.<br />
• Serving traditional foods.<br />
• Serving healthy foods.<br />
• Education:<br />
• Small, gradual steps to sustainability.<br />
• multi-media.<br />
• Practical activity sheets.<br />
• Community-based training.<br />
Injury Prevention<br />
The TFNHP sets as one of its goals the<br />
establishment of appropriate programs to assist<br />
<strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong> to deal with the most pressing health<br />
promotion and disease and injury prevention<br />
issues affecting their communities, so that the<br />
incidence of preventable diseases and injuries in<br />
the <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong> population becomes comparable<br />
to that of other British Columbians. The input<br />
from the 2007 Gathering encouraged that ‘injury<br />
prevention’ be reframed to include a wider<br />
number of injuries than the initial items identified<br />
in the TFNHP. Consistent with that, the participants<br />
at the 2008 Gathering defined effective injury<br />
prevention within a tripartite process in broader<br />
terms focusing on a wide variety of ‘risks’:<br />
Injury prevention is seen to include:<br />
Suicide:<br />
• Alcohol, copycats, bullying, self-harm, intent to<br />
self-injure.<br />
• motor Vehicle:<br />
• Car seat, booster seat, drugs, alcohol.<br />
Alcohol:<br />
• Water safety, domestic violence, family<br />
violence.<br />
• Home Safety:<br />
• Access to cleaning agents, fire, electrical.<br />
Child Safety:<br />
• Young age drinking.<br />
• Trapped in old fridges and cars.<br />
• Playground equipment.<br />
• Bike safety.<br />
Effective Strategies include:<br />
• NAYSPS/ASCIRT/FAST.<br />
• Education.<br />
• media.<br />
• Enforcement.<br />
• Community ownership.<br />
• Holistic approach – include arts, contemporary,<br />
traditional.<br />
• Traditional intergenerational teaching.<br />
• Community based activities such as clean-ups,<br />
and funding workshops.<br />
FNHC can address injury prevention within the<br />
TFNHP by emphasizing:<br />
• Culture.<br />
• Dedicated funding.<br />
• Surveillance.<br />
• Database.<br />
• Getting funding where needed.<br />
• Youth involvement at tripartite level.<br />
• more human resources.<br />
• Offering solutions rather than just presenting<br />
statistics.<br />
• Experiential messages from people who<br />
survived.<br />
• media campaign.<br />
Traditional Medicine<br />
Reduced access to traditional lifestyles, food<br />
and medicine has contributed directly to the<br />
diabetes epidemic in <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong> communities.<br />
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VANCOUVER, bC • mAY 20 - 21 , 2008
20<br />
Though often overlooked by the health care<br />
system <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong> have consistently worked to<br />
maintain, and where necessary, rebuild traditional<br />
medicine knowledge and practices. Efforts<br />
continue to integrate traditional medicine into<br />
the health care system. The <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong> <strong>Health</strong><br />
<strong>Council</strong> is pursuing several strategies to ensure that<br />
traditional medicine is an integral part of efforts to<br />
improve the health and wellbeing of <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong><br />
(e.g. data base of traditional healers and centres,<br />
discussion groups, surveys, etc.). Participants<br />
in this table discussion examined the critical<br />
role of the philosophy, protocols and impact of<br />
traditional medicine and the ‘knowledge keepers’<br />
in their communities, practical ways of weaving<br />
traditional and western practices (e.g. Cowichan,<br />
Alert Bay), and policy and program changes that<br />
demonstrate respect for traditional medicines,<br />
support its practitioners and engage a broader<br />
audience (e.g. youth, community exchanges). The<br />
ideas highlighted from the discussion notes provide<br />
advice on how the FNHC might modify its current<br />
activities in this area:<br />
• Limited awareness in the community of<br />
traditional medicines.<br />
• Knowledge is held by individual families.<br />
• Some commercialization happening (individuals<br />
selling medicines).<br />
• Forums for both traditional/alternative<br />
practitioners, and conventional doctors.<br />
• Teaching the community traditional/alternative<br />
medicines – focus on youth programs, and<br />
summer camps, etc.<br />
• Documentation/database/book/Elders<br />
(recordings of them speaking) – some<br />
concerns about knowledge ownership (i.e.<br />
pharmaceuticals).<br />
• Community must drive policy change.<br />
• Options: providing choice.<br />
• Traditional healer forums – recognition.<br />
• Liability issues regarding traditional medicine<br />
in health centres – funding for training in<br />
traditional medicine.<br />
• Environmental protection (including financial<br />
support to maintain plants).<br />
• Integrating traditional knowledge into school<br />
system.<br />
Food Security<br />
The issue of ‘Food Security’ refers to addressing<br />
the barriers that limit or threaten a community’s<br />
access to adequate healthy food sources. In a <strong>First</strong><br />
<strong>Nations</strong> context this often includes consideration<br />
of the shift away from traditional practices to<br />
supermarket foods, access to land, contaminants<br />
and other environmental conditions. BC <strong>First</strong><br />
<strong>Nations</strong> have been very active in addressing food<br />
security issues and participants identified actions<br />
that could be taken to improve <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong><br />
people’s access to, and knowledge about, healthy<br />
food. In summary this includes:<br />
• Diffusion of innovation.<br />
• Community Champions.<br />
• Increase access:<br />
• Community kitchens.<br />
• Community gardens.<br />
• Flexible funding program.<br />
• Food boxes.<br />
• Breakfast school program.<br />
• Community food co-op.<br />
• Increase knowledge:<br />
• Community sharing of traditional and nontraditional<br />
knowledge.<br />
• Peers teaching peers.<br />
• Regional food forums.<br />
• Increase tools:<br />
• Community freezers, stoves, fridges, pots and<br />
pans.<br />
Open Space Responses<br />
• Stigma within the community around substance<br />
users and related sexual issues<br />
• At present, contribution agreements limit use of<br />
traditional models<br />
• Needs to be more attention paid to number of<br />
FN with arthritis, i.e., Arthritis Initiative<br />
• Respect for two spirit peoples health issues/<br />
Homophobia is a main concern in Aboriginal<br />
communities<br />
• Knowledge about HIV, HEPC, STIs needs to be<br />
taught to all people in communities<br />
• Right to clean water!<br />
• Create groups of young girls/teens/women/<br />
elder women to create opportunity for coming<br />
of age education<br />
• Home care centre and detox unit, that are<br />
culturally appropriate, in the northeast<br />
• Leadership must encourage, support and model<br />
real meaningful youth engagement<br />
• C’iiq’ciiga quuquulaca – our languages<br />
• Return to 100% fluency = health<br />
• In community health plans, look at options to<br />
use traditional medical interventions as well as<br />
western interventions<br />
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SECONd ANNUAl FORUm
HEALTH SERVICES<br />
The underlying goal of the <strong>Health</strong> Services<br />
component of the TFNHP is to support the<br />
ability of <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong> to increase their direct<br />
participation in the delivery of health services to<br />
their people and communities.<br />
<strong>Health</strong> Human Resources<br />
The Transformative Change Accord identifies<br />
“Practising, certified, <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong> health<br />
care professionals” as one indicator that will<br />
demonstrate that progress is being made. The <strong>First</strong><br />
<strong>Nations</strong> <strong>Health</strong> <strong>Council</strong> “Year in Review Report”<br />
notes that “…health care professionals are the<br />
gatekeepers to our complex medical system,<br />
<strong>Health</strong> Human Resources is one of the key drivers<br />
to address health…”. It is also clear from some of<br />
the goal and outcome statements in the TFNHP<br />
that increasing the number of people, especially<br />
Aboriginal people, that are pursuing health careers<br />
and securing the required accreditation is a strong<br />
priority and requirement if <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong> are to<br />
administer their own health services delivery.<br />
The FNHC has secured resources for staffing and<br />
projects as part of the Aboriginal <strong>Health</strong> Human<br />
Resource Initiative. Participants were asked to<br />
provide input on how the TFNHP could better<br />
address barriers and priorities for health careers.<br />
Barriers<br />
• Support for students<br />
• Information to students, communities, and<br />
potential employees<br />
• The level of cultural competency in post<br />
secondary schools & institutional racism<br />
• Lack of focus on off-reserve people<br />
• Reduced capacity in remote communities<br />
Priorities<br />
• Focus on the educational system (e.g. cultural<br />
competency for staff and better support for<br />
students when in school)<br />
• Focus on communication/information sharing<br />
(community hubs and connections between<br />
schools and reserves)<br />
• Focus on children & youth (guide them from an<br />
early stage, role modeling, esteem building)<br />
e-<strong>Health</strong><br />
<strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong>, the bC ministry of <strong>Health</strong> and<br />
<strong>Health</strong> Canada are working collaboratively to<br />
implement this area of the TFNHP. This includes<br />
the establishment of a <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong> Centre of<br />
Excellence for e-<strong>Health</strong> and work to continue<br />
the expansion of tele-health infrastructure into<br />
all <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong> communities and <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong><br />
participation in other e-<strong>Health</strong> initiatives, including<br />
a seat on the provincial health Strategy <strong>Council</strong><br />
and a public health surveillance project. The<br />
participants identified ways in which e-<strong>Health</strong> is<br />
supporting the community and look to the TFNHP<br />
to continue to expand access:<br />
How e-<strong>Health</strong> will support the community:<br />
• provide technical assistance in communities<br />
when needed<br />
• assist in training community health workers<br />
• help to reduce patient travel by having clinical<br />
support in the community<br />
How TFNHP can support e-<strong>Health</strong>:<br />
• Ensure communities have high speed internet<br />
that supports video conferencing<br />
Mental <strong>Health</strong><br />
Addressing mental health issues within <strong>First</strong><br />
<strong>Nations</strong> communities in a holistic manner has<br />
been consistently identified as an issue in the<br />
Transformative Change Accord, the TFNHP and<br />
the 2007-2008 Year in Review report. building<br />
on the guidance provided during the 2007<br />
Gathering Wisdom forum work is underway<br />
through the Aboriginal Reference Group to the<br />
ten-year bC mental <strong>Health</strong> and Substance Abuse<br />
Plan to develop and implement the “Aboriginal<br />
mental <strong>Health</strong> and Addictions Plan” called for in<br />
the TFNHP. During this 2008 Gathering Wisdom<br />
forum participants provided guidance about<br />
what communities can do to develop coordinated<br />
mental health approaches and how that would link<br />
to a tripartite mental health plan:<br />
Better Coordination<br />
• A need for children and youth mental health<br />
services to be addressed as one.<br />
21<br />
VANCOUVER, bC • mAY 20 - 21 , 2008
22<br />
• Need to identify policies and regulations in the<br />
system that inhibits creative ways of addressing<br />
mental health and addictions issues (e.g. Folks<br />
on mental health medication cannot enter<br />
addictions treatment programs).<br />
• Needs and capacity of communities vary<br />
greatly and there needs to be the flexibility<br />
for tailoring an approach to mental health<br />
services as well as support to the community<br />
to even develop what they think they need (the<br />
program needs to fit the community not the<br />
community fit the programs).<br />
Key Components<br />
• Need to find a way to capture the wisdom<br />
and traditions of our aging elders, more value<br />
needs to be placed on traditional medicine and<br />
practices (culture/tradition = mental health)<br />
• Need to put in place better process (wrap<br />
around services) for when individuals are<br />
discharged from hospital of treatment<br />
programs.<br />
• Need to address the ability of rural<br />
communities to access qualified mental health<br />
staff and resources.<br />
• Need to address the mental health knowledge/<br />
awareness of family members, community<br />
members and staff from many other social<br />
programs who often end up with mental health<br />
clients (e.g. maternal health staff work with<br />
pregnant mom with a mental health issue).<br />
Access for People with Disabilities<br />
Advocates have consistently urged that<br />
the needs and circumstances of Aboriginal<br />
peoples living with disabilities be included in the<br />
discussions and strategies, in not only health, but<br />
in all aspects of life. A specific discussion table was<br />
convened to examine how to ensure that people<br />
with disabilities aren’t overlooked in the work<br />
to improve the health outcomes of <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong><br />
people.<br />
How to ensure they’re not overlooked?<br />
• Give persons with disabilities a forum to give<br />
input on what they require<br />
• Support/create advocacy and build capacity for<br />
self-advocacy<br />
• Provide more thorough and consistent criteria<br />
– provide better definitions around disabilities<br />
• Create community “hubs” for people to come<br />
together for information on disabilities and<br />
activities<br />
How to incorporate into TFNHP?<br />
• This topic needs to be addressed by chiefs and<br />
council<br />
• Give the disabled a FORmAl voice –someone<br />
at the governance table who specifically speaks<br />
for true disabled community members<br />
Universal ECD Supports<br />
Both the federal and provincial governments<br />
have been engaged in initiatives to support<br />
Aboriginal Early Childhood Development. While<br />
the 2005 and 2006 federal budgets announced<br />
significant investments in <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong> early<br />
learning and child care there has been a consistent<br />
concern that funding and other supports<br />
are inadequate to address the level of need,<br />
particularly for children with special needs, in<br />
on and off-reserve <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong> communities. In<br />
the area of ‘universal ECD supports’ the FNHC is<br />
analyzing current ECD programs and services as<br />
part of determining the minimum standards for<br />
programs and services that are needed to allow<br />
<strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong> children reach their full potential.<br />
Participants examined what aspects of ECD need to<br />
be addressed by the FNHC within the TFNHP:<br />
Issues and Considerations<br />
Status is an issue – some services are not<br />
funded for non-status<br />
• On reserve/off-reserve (e.g. would be good to<br />
be able to amalgamate)<br />
• Training and education for educators, families<br />
and communities<br />
• Reconsider subsidy cutoff level and level of<br />
support<br />
• Cannot only focus on children – need to<br />
support family with basic necessities - need a<br />
variety of programs accessible to families and<br />
kids<br />
How can FNHC support work of universal ECD?<br />
• FNHC could advocate for ECD funding,<br />
especially for smaller communities.<br />
• FNHC could encourage communities and<br />
create awareness of benefits so communities<br />
would include this in health plans and lobby for<br />
programs. Preventative potential is huge.<br />
II<br />
SECONd ANNUAl FORUm
Dental<br />
The <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong> Regional Longitudinal <strong>Health</strong><br />
Survey (RHS) identified that dental treatment is<br />
“The number one reason for day surgeries for<br />
children in B.C. (and that) <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong> Children are<br />
four times more likely to require such treatment<br />
than non-<strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong> children. The TFNHP sets<br />
out to address the financial and access barriers<br />
to dental services, particularly at the community<br />
level, and to ensure that every Aboriginal child on<br />
and off reserve receives dental (as well as vision<br />
and hearing) screening through the province’s<br />
Vision, Hearing and Dental Screening Initiative. The<br />
input provided at both Gathering Wisdom forums<br />
will continue to help shape the roll out of this<br />
initiative.<br />
Priority Areas<br />
• Lack of coverage<br />
• Dentists who do not accept NIHB clients<br />
• Ineffective appeal process<br />
• Administrative process needs improvement.<br />
Currently it results in delayed treatment or<br />
deteriorated oral health<br />
• Need for more oral health education in the<br />
community<br />
Innovative Dental Services<br />
• Increase the <strong>Health</strong> Authority’s ability to<br />
provide public health dental programs and/or<br />
encourage <strong>Health</strong> Authority collaboration with<br />
FNIH<br />
• Utilize patient health advocates<br />
• FNHC advocacy including FNHC setting<br />
standards for claims processing & influence<br />
policy change<br />
• Utilize incentives for dentists to work with <strong>First</strong><br />
<strong>Nations</strong><br />
• Encourage community members to become<br />
oral health practitioners<br />
• mobile dental service<br />
Open Space Responses<br />
• Respectful workplaces for staff and community<br />
members where leadership, administration<br />
and clients are involved and aware of policies,<br />
procedures and consequences<br />
• Better access to crisis funding and support<br />
services such as adequate training – culturally<br />
appropriate and peer support (crisis<br />
intervention)<br />
• Mental health issue – Prime Minister’s apology<br />
- How do we support our people through this?<br />
Common viewing space – food, counseling<br />
• I heard <strong>Health</strong> Canada is going to phase out<br />
CHR positions. So, with all the training we’ve<br />
done, what are we supposed to do? I’m too old<br />
to train to be a LPN<br />
• Include education about homosexuality in all<br />
health policies (in tripartite)<br />
• Please invite Aboriginal nurses to the health<br />
table<br />
• We need to get aboriginal treatment centres to<br />
begin dealing with core issues<br />
o Sexual abuse/historical abuse<br />
o Trauma<br />
o Child sexual abuse and incest<br />
• Need for more Elders services including<br />
reconnecting with youth and respite services in<br />
communities<br />
• Develop partnerships with colleges and<br />
associations to provide respite education<br />
and training needed for frontline workers in<br />
communities<br />
• As I sat at the mental health issues circle – I saw<br />
how close minded the workers were. So hung<br />
up on their titles and trying to “fix” a person<br />
with MENTAL HEALTH problems - Out of this, if<br />
I may, I would like to suggest that the “health<br />
services plan” take away the label “mental<br />
health services” because that title alone slams<br />
the door on a lot of people who want help but<br />
not under that term.<br />
• www.fnwaccb.ca (<strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong> Wellness/<br />
Addictions Counsellor Certification Board<br />
• Harm reduction should be in every community<br />
– needle exchange/free condoms/testing/pipe<br />
exchange.<br />
23<br />
VANCOUVER, bC • mAY 20 - 21 , 2008
PERFORMANCE TRACKING<br />
24<br />
The intent of the performance tracking<br />
component of the TFNHP is to ensure that all<br />
parties have access to data necessary to measuring<br />
progress towards its overall goals and those of the<br />
Transformative Change Accord, namely to improve<br />
health outcomes for <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong> people and close<br />
the gap between <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong> and the rest of the<br />
population in BC.<br />
Research Infrastructure<br />
The 2007-2008 Year in Review Report states<br />
that “because research drives policy, it is important<br />
to have control over how <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong> data is used<br />
and interpreted. In addition, <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong> need to<br />
be armed with accurate information to effectively<br />
plan and implement programs and services at a<br />
community level.” In discussing the supports and<br />
protocols needed the participants identified the<br />
need to:<br />
• Support community ownership and capacity,<br />
professional database protocols<br />
• Provide supports/tools/resources for<br />
communities to drive their own research<br />
• Ensure a <strong>First</strong> Nation community capacity/<br />
resources to own their data and use it for their<br />
purposes<br />
• Provide training for community members,<br />
community workers, and leadership on purpose<br />
of research, use of research and developing<br />
research capacity<br />
• Share knowledge/information between <strong>First</strong><br />
<strong>Nations</strong>, between <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong> and government<br />
service providers/ministries, and between <strong>First</strong><br />
<strong>Nations</strong> and research grant providers<br />
• Ensure that there is a strong link between<br />
communities and that the research benefits<br />
<strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong><br />
• Develop a professional research database for<br />
<strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong> to use; it would include qualified<br />
professionals trusted by <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong><br />
• Develop and promote protocols for data/<br />
research management and acquisition of <strong>First</strong><br />
Nation individual, families and community<br />
data/research<br />
• Develop a standardized data set, policies and<br />
protocols between all information partners<br />
to use <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong> information to drive<br />
health programming and services in <strong>First</strong><br />
Nation regional health authorities (i.e. ethics<br />
templates)<br />
• Ensure OCAP principles remain intact to<br />
manage data security<br />
• Work together for positive partnerships<br />
<strong>Health</strong> Indicators<br />
Each key area of the TFNHP and TCA (e.g.<br />
<strong>Health</strong> Services; <strong>Health</strong> Promotion, Injury and<br />
Disease Prevention, etc.) identifies what will be<br />
different by 2015. The section entitled ‘measuring<br />
Progress’ identifies targets for seven indicators<br />
initially set out in the Transformative Change<br />
Accord (i.e. life expectancy, mortality, youth<br />
suicide, infant mortality, diabetes, childhood<br />
obesity, and health care professionals). Participants<br />
provided input on what indicators of wellness/<br />
health are being used at the community level; the<br />
information needed to measure progress on these<br />
indicators; and where the needed information<br />
might be located:<br />
• Participants spoke to the importance of a<br />
variety of wellness indicators and variation<br />
from community to community including:<br />
- Culture and language<br />
- Spirituality<br />
- Physical health<br />
- mental health<br />
- Infrastructure<br />
- Social determinants<br />
• Importance of individual stories, gathering<br />
themes from qualitative narratives to develop<br />
indicators.<br />
Regional <strong>Health</strong> Survey<br />
<strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong> in BC have actively participated<br />
in the <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong> Regional Longitudinal <strong>Health</strong><br />
Survey (RHS) and it is identified as one of the<br />
key data sources to be developed and utilized to<br />
measure progress. Data collection for the next<br />
iteration of the RHS is expected to begin shortly<br />
in 77 BC <strong>First</strong> Nation communities. Participants<br />
provided additional input into how the principles<br />
of Ownership, Capacity, Access and Possession<br />
(OCAP) to information is defined and applied, and<br />
how the TFNHP can continue to address OCAP<br />
issues:<br />
II<br />
SECONd ANNUAl FORUm
• Develop our own research policies, programs<br />
and a <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong> Research Centre of<br />
Excellence<br />
• Research must adhere to the principles of OCAP<br />
• Develop <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong> policies and program<br />
development related to <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong> research<br />
• Develop BC <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong> Research Centre of<br />
Excellence<br />
Community <strong>Health</strong> Plans<br />
As a result of current health programming<br />
many <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong> have developed various forms<br />
of Community <strong>Health</strong> Plans. The TFNHP identifies<br />
the need for these community plans to support<br />
better coordination with the Aboriginal <strong>Health</strong><br />
Services Plans that the Regional Provincial <strong>Health</strong><br />
Service Authorities are to develop consistent with<br />
the TFNHP priorities and <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong> involvement<br />
in decision making about health service delivery.<br />
The discussion at the 2008 Gathering Wisdom<br />
forum sought to contribute to clarifying what the<br />
components a ‘community health plan’ are and<br />
whether there is a connection between them and<br />
performance tracking.<br />
• Direction for planning and wants, social<br />
determinants, holistic, cultural foundation that<br />
meets needs<br />
• Does the direction for planning and wants for<br />
communities look at all social determinants of<br />
health?<br />
• It is a holistic approach which has a cultural<br />
foundation that meets the community needs<br />
component<br />
• Definition of “health”, “community” and<br />
“Community <strong>Health</strong> Plans”<br />
• Principles, vision, mission statement<br />
• Evaluation framework<br />
• Statistics from programs/services<br />
• Causal factors<br />
• Traditional and contemporary practices<br />
• Staff retention/mentoring/leadership/<br />
recruitment<br />
• Accountability framework<br />
• Reciprocal accountability<br />
• Knowing when you have been successful<br />
• Evaluation of programs and services<br />
Open Space Responses<br />
• FNIHB provide a summary report of the Pilot<br />
Projects Flexible Transfer Process: report will<br />
include: activities, funding, challenges, positive<br />
impact, and identified new opportunities for<br />
these communities. This report made available<br />
to all <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong> communities.<br />
• Consultation process needs to change,<br />
community members need to be informed at<br />
the community level.<br />
• Recommendation: <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong> <strong>Health</strong> <strong>Council</strong><br />
should apply knowledge management principles<br />
and process to collect, analyze and assimilate<br />
knowledge on aboriginal health topics in an<br />
effective and efficient manner; otherwise, how<br />
can <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong> benefit? We have limited<br />
time and resources. A lot of great work has<br />
been done on indigenous health. Learn what<br />
knowledge management is and how to do it.<br />
Topics as directed by <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong>. Caring for<br />
first <strong>Nations</strong> Children Society of Canada does<br />
knowledge management well – be as good.<br />
25<br />
VANCOUVER, bC • mAY 20 - 21 , 2008
GOVERNANCE, RELATIONSHIPS AND ACCOUNTABILITY<br />
26<br />
Following a presentation by the Co-Chairs of<br />
the FNHC Governance Sub-Committee in plenary<br />
session, a separate breakout was provided<br />
throughout the first afternoon to enable the<br />
participants an opportunity for more extensive<br />
discussion. The breakout session on Governance,<br />
Relationships and Accountability enabled<br />
more discussion of the concept of the <strong>Health</strong><br />
Governance Sub-committee and to look at the<br />
need to add regional representatives, the potential<br />
development of regional caucuses and regional<br />
discussion sessions on health governance. The<br />
breakout session offered additional information<br />
and increased clarity about the governance work,<br />
provided opportunity for participants to discuss<br />
these issues further, and considered the role and<br />
composition of the sub-committee.<br />
Opportunities/Recommendations<br />
• Clarify the plan for moving forward including<br />
the process for communities to be engaged.<br />
• Improve communications, including making the<br />
regional discussions a reality.<br />
• A funding formula needs to be developed. One<br />
area of underfunding is patient transportation,<br />
which cannot be allocated on a per capita basis,<br />
and needs to be allocated as needed.<br />
• Community engagement hubs are an issue for<br />
northern communities that are dealing with<br />
issues relative to participation/access.<br />
• There should be elders, women, youth and<br />
all regions also represented on the Sub-<br />
Committee.<br />
• Steps need to be taken to ensure that the<br />
government’s fiduciary responsibilities remain<br />
in tact following the program transition.<br />
• Suggestion that the transition be in stages:<br />
delegation, management and full authority.<br />
• Culture, traditions and language are an<br />
important component of health and need to be<br />
considered.<br />
Open Space Responses<br />
• Government using legislature to control<br />
these important issues now. TSLs are to limit<br />
traditional resources like they do with salmon<br />
and hunting<br />
• What is the Jordan’s Principle?<br />
• <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong> would access the services of<br />
the <strong>Health</strong> Authorities ending with successful<br />
relationships and TRUST<br />
• Jordan’s Principle: What are the implications for<br />
<strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong> health or child welfare agencies?<br />
How do they honour it? Can the FNHC develop<br />
materials, guides, etc.?<br />
• Host two Provincial conferences similar to the<br />
Provincial diabetes conferences – one targeting<br />
health workers and one targeting people living<br />
with arthritis<br />
• When you form the <strong>Council</strong> have urban as well<br />
as on-reserve representatives<br />
• You cannot give up anymore of our <strong>First</strong> Nation/<br />
indigenous rights that have already been given<br />
up to the federal, I/we are counting on you –<br />
our representatives – to protect these<br />
• How do the regional health authorities (and<br />
provincial health services authority) factor in<br />
with the new governance structure? Most of<br />
the Aboriginal people in our HA live off-reserve<br />
and we must do a better job of providing service<br />
and reducing the inequities and disparities (i.e.<br />
would like to see lines erased for delivery of care<br />
between the on and off-reserve populations).<br />
• How are decisions made at the <strong>First</strong> Nation<br />
Leadership <strong>Council</strong>? Are the reports and<br />
minutes available to the <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong> people?<br />
• Annual conference – next one in Prince<br />
George and then Prince Rupert you need to<br />
accommodate the north<br />
• Not just a shift of system to <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong><br />
control, but a shift in the system itself (i.e.<br />
traditional values, funding agreement, program<br />
criteria, etc.)<br />
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SECONd ANNUAl FORUm
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOPS<br />
TRADITIONAL MEDICINE<br />
“You should be responsible for your health –<br />
know everything you’re putting into your body”.<br />
“Honour who you are”.<br />
Dr. Jeanne Paul, Red Shawl Naturopathic Clinic<br />
presented the workshop focusing on the traditional<br />
medicines she brought with her. Key messages<br />
delivered in the workshop included emphasis on<br />
the importance of:<br />
• Integrating ourselves wholly: emotionally,<br />
spiritually, physically – healing the whole of you<br />
• Involving Spiritual aspects to achieve deep<br />
healing<br />
• Achieving a “cure” means you’re finished your<br />
symptoms<br />
• Being clear about your intention behind why<br />
you are making the medicines – gift in all of us,<br />
just have to know how to tap into it<br />
The participant questions and dialogue focused<br />
in some respects on clarifying the relationship of<br />
nutrition as a part of traditional medicine/.<br />
The participant discussion focused on how and<br />
where they could learn more about nutrition and<br />
good eating habits, the importance of dealing with<br />
healthy eating on both a personal and community<br />
level, and concerns from people who aren’t eating<br />
healthy foods (e.g. lots of salt and little vegetables)<br />
yet don’t seem to have health issues.<br />
GETTING ACTIVE<br />
“It is important to understand the world view<br />
of youth in order to understand how to engage<br />
them.”<br />
27<br />
PERSONAL NUTRITION<br />
“Plan and prepare”<br />
“Enjoy every mouthful - Eat it slowly and savour it”.<br />
Suzanne Johnson, Nutritionist, <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong><br />
<strong>Health</strong> <strong>Council</strong> emphasized the following key<br />
points in her presentation of this workshop:<br />
• Personal nutrition requires a planned approach<br />
• There is a <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong> Food Guide available<br />
that discusses the nutritional values of –<br />
traditional foods and portion sizes<br />
• Choose foods with the brightest/darkest colour<br />
• A part of making changes and sticking with<br />
them involves thinking about our reasons for<br />
change and breaking down the change into<br />
small steps<br />
• It is important that you prepare a plan and that<br />
when shopping you are looking further down<br />
the road than your next shopping trip<br />
Rosalin Hannah, Physical Activity Specialist,<br />
<strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong> <strong>Health</strong> <strong>Council</strong> (pictured above) and<br />
Denise Lecoy, Provincial Coordinator, Honour<br />
Your <strong>Health</strong> Challenge presented this interactive<br />
workshop. A key point of the presentation involved<br />
identifying some of the key challenges confronting<br />
those interested in getting active or encourage<br />
more active lifestyles in the communities including:<br />
• Circular passing of the buck<br />
• System unresponsive to realities of community<br />
• Assistance available is not aligned with need<br />
VANCOUVER, bC • mAY 20 - 21 , 2008
• Workers become paralyzed with fear/burnout<br />
and feeling helpless<br />
• Don’t know their own skills to fix issues<br />
• We discuss problems and never get to solution<br />
Participant discussion highlighted that:<br />
“This workshop really opened my eyes to the<br />
frustrations that our workers go through every<br />
day. I never really understood this before. This<br />
workshop opened my eyes. What you are doing<br />
here today is just great.”<br />
YOUTH ENGAGEMENT<br />
“Community needs to take ownership and stop<br />
depending on government for everything.”<br />
“Are we enabling this attitude or behaviour?<br />
What do workers need to do to elevate the<br />
community members?”<br />
“Somehow <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong> young people are<br />
supposed to grow up and solve all these problems<br />
in the community as though we are supposed to<br />
be saviours of the community.”<br />
• <strong>Health</strong> workers care; see community assets and<br />
want to work from within<br />
• Not enough emphasis on self-responsibility and<br />
responsibility of families<br />
• Dependency on funding and services vs.<br />
recognizing our own skills and abilities<br />
28<br />
CULTURAL INVOLVEMENT<br />
“Culture is the defining character of Aboriginal<br />
people rather than race.”<br />
“All Aboriginal Youth must be bicultural at<br />
present, in the future all of us must be multicultural…”<br />
Dr. Martin Brokenleg presented during<br />
which he explored the definition of what culture<br />
is (“a pattern of group behavior), how it works<br />
unconsciously such that when you are following<br />
the rules of your culture you think your acting<br />
normal. He stressed that there is a difference of<br />
ethnic cultural and youth culture and subcultures,<br />
and he provided examples of how this is expressed<br />
in the health of Aboriginal people. He also talked<br />
about the ten most common findings in the<br />
published research and noted that culture is<br />
expressed in four areas:<br />
• Artifacts, technology, architecture, clothing,<br />
tools, food, clothing;<br />
• Actions – ceremony, specific ceremonies,<br />
daily ceremonies; Kinetics (internal rhythms of<br />
patterned group behavior)<br />
• Speech – what language is spoken, reality exists<br />
in language (you only will see what you have<br />
words for…)<br />
• Thought – attitudes (words), values (feelings),<br />
ethics, religion, metaphysics<br />
Special recognition is given to the actors: Evan<br />
Adams, Simon Baker, Delana Bowen, Dustin Rivers,<br />
Renae morriseau and Dakota Prince. Particular<br />
admiration is extended to those participants who<br />
provided solutions and special acknowledgement<br />
is given to britannia High School teacher matt<br />
Chenoweth, and the students of the Outreach<br />
Program, who made it possible for student<br />
Dakota Prince to receive course credit for her<br />
participation.<br />
Renae morriseau facilitated Youth Engagement<br />
by using Forum Theatre as a tool to engage<br />
participants in an interactive conversation of<br />
youth issues. Forum Theatre, also described as<br />
‘theatre of the oppressed,’ political theatre, and<br />
guerilla theatre involves the presentation of a<br />
skit that highlights a number of youth issues and<br />
problems encountered by youth, family members,<br />
and community workers. Participants are then<br />
engaged, either by acting out, or discussing<br />
possible solutions and alternative approaches.<br />
In this workshop the skit focused on how youth,<br />
health workers, parents in the community and<br />
<strong>Health</strong> Canada officials deal with a tragic drinking<br />
and driving death of a young gay community<br />
member.<br />
II<br />
SECONd ANNUAl FORUm
This interactive forum theatre facilitated<br />
dialogue about all of the environments that <strong>First</strong><br />
<strong>Nations</strong> youth move through. The issues and<br />
solutions identified during the workshop related<br />
to:<br />
• Workers so focused on funding issues and lack<br />
of resources that they lose sight of the people<br />
in crisis<br />
• No/little on-reserve programming<br />
• Community workers often related to community<br />
and always responding to crisis get burned<br />
out – there is no relief in sight<br />
• When a person comes to you with an issue find<br />
out how that issue is affecting them and help<br />
that person address those as well. Often this is<br />
quite different than the problem they initially<br />
came to speak about.<br />
• Funding formulas do not allow small bands to<br />
get and maintain clinicians to support front line<br />
workers, or to have early response capacity.<br />
• Family and band can get together to support<br />
the people who have suffered loss by making<br />
ceremonial practices part of the response.<br />
• Sharing of a personal stories that were reflected<br />
in the forum theatre skit:<br />
• Those who are struggling in their positions or<br />
with these issues are our teachers and need<br />
to be encouraged to never quit. As a newly<br />
elected band councilor who wasn’t mentored<br />
someone needs to mentor and honour our<br />
young people as they being to deal with these<br />
issues and take these roles in our community.<br />
• Youth have to take it upon themselves to begin<br />
asking for guidance/advice of the Elders.<br />
• Youth just want some adult to take the time to<br />
talk with them.<br />
• Youth engagement has to be meaningful and<br />
real, and this can be accomplished by involving<br />
them from the start and ensuring that they<br />
understand the process they are to be involved<br />
in …otherwise it’s just activities.<br />
• Ensure there is follow-up whenever is an indication<br />
of hopelessness or suicide ideation.<br />
• One person interjected the voice of the youth<br />
that had committed suicide, encouraging those<br />
left behind to go forward with a voice of kindness<br />
not a voice of hurt and anger.<br />
• Utilize education and awareness to help people<br />
understand and know how to deal with their<br />
issues.<br />
• Staff need to demonstrate that they love their<br />
work and are committed to deal with the communities<br />
issues – in order to do this the staff<br />
need to be able to air their concerns and ideas<br />
so they can work on a level playing field.<br />
• Two approaches are in play – dealing with the<br />
problems that exist in the short term; and engaging<br />
in long term prevention work.<br />
• Creating a direct relationship with senior officials<br />
at all levels, especially outside of your<br />
area, so that there is the possibility of a quicker<br />
response.<br />
29<br />
VANCOUVER, bC • mAY 20 - 21 , 2008
APPENDIX B: FEEDBACK<br />
“Some of the things I found useful were:<br />
identifying people who are working on projects<br />
we have prioritized and becoming better<br />
acquainted with the developments in areas I’m<br />
interested in.”<br />
- Gathering Wisdom participant<br />
30<br />
In your work place, what is your primary role?<br />
Other 23%<br />
Community<br />
Member 3%<br />
Government<br />
Employee 3%<br />
Management such<br />
as health director,<br />
band manager, etc.<br />
52%<br />
Political Representative,<br />
(Chief or Band <strong>Council</strong>lor) 9%<br />
Community <strong>Health</strong><br />
Representative 9%<br />
Note: Among the” other” professions listed, 45% served in a managerial mangerial role<br />
in health services delivery.<br />
II<br />
SECONd ANNUAl FORUm
# OF RESPONSES<br />
“Getting a sense of where the process is going<br />
and how important on-going input at the<br />
community level is was valuable to me.”<br />
-Gathering Wisdom participant<br />
What were two key hopes or expectations<br />
for attending the Gathering Wisdom Forum?<br />
80<br />
70<br />
60<br />
31<br />
50<br />
40<br />
30<br />
20<br />
10<br />
Update on Tripartite <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong> <strong>Health</strong> Plan<br />
0<br />
To attend the professional development sessions<br />
To network with other health professionals<br />
To find out what opportunities are available for my community<br />
through the Tripartite <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong> <strong>Health</strong> Plan<br />
To provide feedback to FNHC and/or their Tripartite partners<br />
VANCOUVER, bC • mAY 20 - 21 , 2008
“Clarity of the information and recognition of<br />
the challenges and community driven process is<br />
very important if we want this to work.”<br />
- Gathering Wisdom participant<br />
To what extent has the Gathering<br />
Wisdom Forum met those expectations?<br />
32<br />
Almost all of my needs<br />
have been met 22%<br />
Most of my needs<br />
have been met 48%<br />
Only a few of my<br />
needs have been<br />
met 29%<br />
0 10 20 30 40 50<br />
“The solutions to health problems need to<br />
come from each community - they cannot<br />
be generalized across the province - and<br />
community involvement is the key!”<br />
- Gathering Wisdom participant<br />
II<br />
SECONd ANNUAl FORUm
“The one thing I liked the best was the<br />
cultural involvement- I think this is the<br />
KEY for our people.”<br />
- Gathering Wisdom participant<br />
Did the session(s) provide you with information or tools that were useful?<br />
No, definitely not 0%<br />
No, not really 7%<br />
33<br />
Yes, generally 70%<br />
Yes, definitely 23%<br />
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80<br />
“Very useful to hear that the struggles of<br />
other communities are similar to ours...”<br />
- Gathering Wisdom participant<br />
VANCOUVER, bC • mAY 20 - 21 , 2008
HOW HAS YOUR KNOWLEDGE CHANGED?<br />
About the <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong> <strong>Health</strong> <strong>Council</strong><br />
<strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong> <strong>Health</strong> Plan- Governance<br />
50<br />
61%<br />
35<br />
46%<br />
40<br />
30<br />
30<br />
25<br />
20<br />
28%<br />
20<br />
24%<br />
15<br />
20%<br />
10<br />
5%<br />
10%<br />
10<br />
5<br />
6%<br />
34<br />
0<br />
I’m more confused now than I was before<br />
0<br />
I’m more confused now than I was before<br />
It has not changed<br />
It has not changed<br />
It has improved<br />
It has improved<br />
It has dramatically Improved<br />
It has dramatically Improved<br />
About the Tripartite <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong> <strong>Health</strong> Plan<br />
Cultural Involvement - Dr. Martin Brokenleg<br />
50<br />
40<br />
62%<br />
60<br />
50<br />
74%<br />
30<br />
40<br />
20<br />
18%<br />
30<br />
20<br />
23%<br />
10<br />
10%<br />
11%<br />
10<br />
0<br />
0<br />
1.5% 1.5%<br />
I’m more confused now than I was before<br />
It has not changed<br />
It has improved<br />
It has dramatically Improved<br />
I’m more confused now than I was before<br />
It has not changed<br />
It has improved<br />
It has dramatically Improved<br />
II<br />
SECONd ANNUAl FORUm
“Experimental learning on getting active,<br />
and the importance of cross-cultural<br />
understandings was useful .”<br />
- Gathering Wisdom participants<br />
Overall Forum Evaluation<br />
Design and Content<br />
Aim, objectives/putcomes o were clear<br />
Facilitators were well prepared<br />
Facilitators were knowledgeable<br />
35<br />
Session(s) were interesting<br />
Hotel accommodations<br />
accomodations<br />
Lunches and tea breaks<br />
0 20 40 60 80 100<br />
Poor<br />
Satisfactory<br />
Excellent<br />
What I found helpful was identifying people<br />
who are working on projects we have<br />
prioritized. Becoming better acquainted with<br />
the developments in areas I’m interested in.<br />
- Gathering Wisdom participant<br />
VANCOUVER, bC • mAY 20 - 21 , 2008
APPENDIX C: LIST OF PARTICIPANTS<br />
Registrant<br />
Type<br />
Name Position Organization City/Town Telephone<br />
36<br />
II<br />
SECONd ANNUAl FORUm
Delegate Cross, Nicole<br />
Laxgalts'ap Community <strong>Health</strong> Coordinator & Laxgalts'ap Village<br />
Aspiring Physician<br />
Government<br />
Greenville (250) 6213437<br />
Delegate Crossland, Cindy CHR McLeod Lake Indian Band McLeod Lake (250) 750-4415<br />
Delegate Crouse, Priscilla Community Representative Lake Babine Nation Burns Lake (250) 692-3640<br />
Delegate Cutler, Allison<br />
Executive Director, Primary <strong>Health</strong> Care, Vancouver Island <strong>Health</strong><br />
Population and Family <strong>Health</strong><br />
Authority<br />
Nanaimo (250) 739-5922<br />
Delegate Dale, Lesley Program Manager<br />
<strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong> Agricultural<br />
Association<br />
Kamloops (250) 314-6804<br />
Delegate Daniels, Rain Aboriginal Community Developer<br />
Pathways Aboriginal Centre at<br />
Richmond Youth Service Richmond (604) 271-7600<br />
Agency<br />
Delegate Davidson, Terrie Manager Boothroyd Band Boston Bar (604) 867-9211<br />
Delegate<br />
Dawson, Molly<br />
Administrator, <strong>Health</strong> Representative for <strong>Health</strong><br />
Da'naxda'xw <strong>First</strong> Nation Alert Bay (250) 974-7006<br />
Advisory Committee with Kwakiutl District <strong>Council</strong><br />
Delegate Dean, Karen <strong>Health</strong> Advisor /<br />
Xaaynangaa Naay / Skidegate<br />
Burnaby<br />
<strong>Health</strong> Centre<br />
(604) 817-5673<br />
Delegate Dobmeier, Teresa Injury Prevetion Manager Interior <strong>Health</strong> Kamloops (250) 314-2567<br />
Delegate Doxtator, Luke <strong>Health</strong> Director Toosey Indian Band Riske Creek (250) 659-5655<br />
Delegate Edzerza Fox, Stacey Barrister & Solicitor Morgan & Associates West Vancouver (604) 9269903<br />
Delegate Eichstaedt, Carol M. <strong>Health</strong> Director Hagwilget Village <strong>Council</strong> New Hazelton (250) 842-6258<br />
Delegate Elliott, Andrea Tsartlip <strong>Health</strong> Center Manager Tsartlip <strong>First</strong> Nation Brentwood Bay (250) 652-3988<br />
Delegate Faithful, Laverne Gitxaala Nation <strong>Council</strong> Gitxaala Nation Kitkatla (250) 848 2214<br />
Delegate Fox, Terry Executive Director Inter Tribal <strong>Health</strong> Authority Nanaimo (250) 753-3990<br />
Delegate<br />
Delegate<br />
Fraser, Tina<br />
Froste, Josephine<br />
BC Initiatives Research Manager for Aboriginal<br />
<strong>Health</strong><br />
<strong>Health</strong> Director / Home and Community Care<br />
Coordinator / Community <strong>Health</strong> Representative<br />
BC Initiatives for Aboriginal<br />
<strong>Health</strong><br />
Prince George (250) 960-5294<br />
Ts'kw'aylaxw <strong>First</strong> Nation Lillooet (250) 256 - 1367<br />
Delegate Gagnier, Janine <strong>Health</strong> Care Director Pacheedaht <strong>First</strong> Nation Port Renfrew (250) 647-5521<br />
Delegate Garbitt, Nicole Director of <strong>Health</strong> and Family Services Saulteau <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong> Moberly Lake (250) 788.7282<br />
Delegate Garbitt, Sandra <strong>Health</strong> Administration Services Treaty 8 Tribal Association Fort St. John (250) 785 - 0612<br />
Delegate Genaille, Valerie Acting Executive Director<br />
Association of BC <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong><br />
Vernon<br />
Treatment Programs<br />
(250) 503-1135<br />
Delegate George, Lillian President United Native <strong>Nations</strong> Vancouver (604) 688-1821<br />
Delegate<br />
Girling-Hebert, Aboriginal <strong>Health</strong> and Wellness Strategies<br />
Shannon<br />
Coordinator<br />
Ktunaxa Nation <strong>Health</strong> Cranbrook (250) 489-4563<br />
Delegate Glendale, Joan band delegate Da'naxda'xw <strong>First</strong> Nation Alert Bay (250) 974-2179<br />
Delegate Gohn, Judith <strong>Health</strong> Director<br />
Ts'ewulhtun <strong>Health</strong> Centre of<br />
the Cowichan Tribes<br />
Duncan (250) 746-6184<br />
Delegate Good, Sandra <strong>Health</strong> Administrator Snuneymuxw <strong>First</strong> Nation Nanaimo (250) 740-2336<br />
Delegate Good, Terrilyn Youth Coordinator Gitanyow Human Services Kitwanga (250) 849-5572<br />
Delegate Gottfriedson, Cathy <strong>Health</strong> Manager<br />
Lower SImilkameen Indian<br />
Band<br />
Keremeos (250) 707-0095<br />
Delegate Grant, Teena <strong>Health</strong> Services Administrator<br />
Kitamaat Village <strong>Council</strong> /<br />
(250) 639-9361<br />
Kitamaat Village<br />
Haisla <strong>Health</strong> Centre<br />
ext. 351<br />
Delegate Greene, Sandra Community <strong>Health</strong> Worker<br />
Pacific Association of <strong>First</strong><br />
<strong>Nations</strong> Women<br />
Vancouver (604) 688-1821<br />
Delegate Greenwood, Margo Scientific Director<br />
National Collaborating Centre<br />
for Aboriginal <strong>Health</strong><br />
Prince George (250) 960-5986<br />
Delegate Gregg, Judy <strong>Health</strong> Director Ulkatcho Indian Band Anahim Lake (250) 742-2090<br />
Delegate Groves, Juniper Communication Manager Squamish Nation North Vanocuver (604) 980-4553<br />
Delegate Hamilton, Margaret <strong>Health</strong> Program Manager Soowahlie Indian Band Cultus Lake (604) 858-4603<br />
Delegate Happynook, Tom President Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal <strong>Council</strong> Port Alberni (250) 724-5757<br />
37<br />
VANCOUVER, bC • mAY 20 - 21 , 2008
38<br />
II<br />
SECONd ANNUAl FORUm
VANCOUVER, bC • mAY 20 - 21 , 2008<br />
39
Delegate Moore, James Board Director Nisga'a Valley <strong>Health</strong> Authority New Aiyansh (250) 633-5000<br />
40<br />
Delegate Moore, Tania Policy Analyst <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong> <strong>Health</strong> <strong>Council</strong> West Vancouver (604) 913-2080<br />
Delegate Morgan, Annette Executive Director<br />
Dze L K'ant Friendship Centre<br />
Smithers<br />
Society<br />
(250) 847-5211<br />
Delegate Morgan, Loretta Counselor<br />
Wilp Si' Satxw Community<br />
Healing Centre<br />
Kitwanga, (250) 849-5211<br />
Delegate Morrison, Rose Kispiox Rep - Gitxsan <strong>Health</strong> Board<br />
Kispioz Rep - Gitxsan <strong>Health</strong><br />
Society<br />
Hazelton (250) 842-5165<br />
Delegate Moses, Lorraine Executive Director<br />
Interior Indian Friendship<br />
Society<br />
Kamloops (250) 376-1296<br />
Delegate<br />
Mosterd-Mclean,<br />
Colleen<br />
Community <strong>Health</strong> Representative Kamloops Indian Band Kamloops (250) 828-9707<br />
Delegate Muldoe, George Kispiox Rep / Gitxsan <strong>Health</strong> Board Gitxsan <strong>Health</strong> Society Hazelton (250) 842-5165<br />
Delegate Muldoe, Myrtle Gitanmaax Rep - Gitxsan <strong>Health</strong> Board Gitxsan <strong>Health</strong> Society Hazelton (250) 842-5165<br />
Delegate Newman, Connie Board Member R. W. Large Memorial Hospital Bella Bella (250) 957-2527<br />
Delegate Nikal, Juanita Executive Assistant / Band <strong>Council</strong> Member<br />
Moricetown <strong>Health</strong> Centre /<br />
Moricetown Band <strong>Council</strong><br />
Smithers (250) 847-9328<br />
Delegate O'Donaghey, Dolores Chief Boston Bar <strong>First</strong> Nation Boston Bar (604) 867-8844<br />
Delegate Oester, Jennifer Director of <strong>Health</strong> Red Bluff Band Quesnel (250) 747 2900<br />
Delegate Ollinger, Gabrielle Senior Director Programs and Services FNESC West Vancouver (604) 925 6087<br />
Delegate Ota, Marilyn Director, <strong>Health</strong> Planning & Operations <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong> <strong>Health</strong> <strong>Council</strong> West Vancouver (604) 926 9903<br />
Delegate Palmantier, Emma Chair<br />
Northern B.C. Aboriginal<br />
HIV/AIDS Task Force<br />
Prince George (250) 562-3591<br />
Delegate Passmore, Sylvia Manager, Post Transfer Agreements Unit FNIH, <strong>Health</strong> Canada Vancouver (604) 666-7286<br />
Delegate Passmore, Sylvia Manager, Post Transfer Agreements Unit FNIH, <strong>Health</strong> Canada Vancouver (604) 666-7286<br />
Delegate Paton, Arlene<br />
Assistant Deputy Minister, Partnerhships and Ministry of Aboriginal Relations<br />
Victoria<br />
Community Renewal Division<br />
and Reconciliation<br />
(250) 356-8750<br />
Delegate Patrick, Betty Chief Lake Babine Nation Burns Lake (250) 692-4707<br />
Delegate Patrick, Carole Manager - Mental <strong>Health</strong> & Addictions FNIB- <strong>Health</strong> Canada Vancouver (604) 666-9102<br />
Delegate Paul, Coreen <strong>Health</strong> Program Manager Musqueam Indian Band Vancouver (604) 263 3261<br />
Delegate Peters, Philly NNADAP Seton Lake Band Seton Portage (250) 2598435<br />
Delegate Peters, Rosemarie Band Manager Chawathil <strong>First</strong> Nation Hope (604) 869-9994<br />
Delegate Peters, Virginia Program Manager<br />
Lytton <strong>First</strong> Nation <strong>Health</strong><br />
Department<br />
Lytton (250) 455-2115<br />
Delegate Phillips, Gwen Governance Transition Coordinator Ktunaxa Nation - Treaty Cranbrook (250) 417-4022<br />
Delegate Pittman, Charlene <strong>Health</strong> Director Ashcroft Indian Band Ashcroft (250) 453-9154<br />
Delegate Plummer, Lorraine Program Officer<br />
<strong>Health</strong> Canada - <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong><br />
Inuit <strong>Health</strong><br />
Vancouver (604) 775-5240<br />
Delegate Point, Liz <strong>Health</strong> Director Stolo Nation Chilliwack (604) 824-3200<br />
Delegate Pongracz, Ed Executive Director<br />
Lower Columbia All <strong>First</strong><br />
<strong>Nations</strong><br />
Castlegar (250) 304-2246<br />
Delegate Prince, Aileen <strong>Health</strong> Director Nak'azdli Band Fort St. James (250) 996-7400<br />
Delegate Prince, Owen Aboriginal Recruitment and Retention Advisor Vancouver Coastal <strong>Health</strong> Vancouver<br />
(604) 875-5600<br />
ext. 66942<br />
Delegate Read, Simon Director Community & Human Services Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal <strong>Council</strong> Port Alberni (250) 724-5757<br />
Delegate<br />
Reading, Jeff<br />
Scientific Director / Institute of Aboriginal Peoples'<br />
<strong>Health</strong> / Canadian Institutes of <strong>Health</strong> Research<br />
University of Victoria Victoria (250) 526-0624<br />
Delegate Roberts, Kim Program Support KDC <strong>Health</strong> Campbell River (250) 286-9766<br />
Delegate Robinson, Tina Uchucklesaht Tribe Human Service Worker Uchucklesaht Tribe Port Alberni (250) 720.9563<br />
Delegate Robotham, Candace ECD Program Manager Seabird Island Band Agassiz (604) 796-2177<br />
Delegate Ronnenberg, Doris <strong>Council</strong>lor Saulteau <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong> Moberly Lake (250) 788-7291<br />
II<br />
SECONd ANNUAl FORUm
Delegate Rosal, Assunta <strong>Health</strong> and Social Development Advisor Okanagan Nation Alliance Westbank (250) 707-0095<br />
Delegate Russell, Victoria Contractor<br />
BC <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong> <strong>Health</strong><br />
<strong>Council</strong><br />
South Hazelton (250) 631-7232<br />
Delegate Ryan, Gina <strong>Council</strong>lor Metlakatla Governing <strong>Council</strong> Prince Rupert (250) 624-9630<br />
Delegate Sampare, Jennifer Executive Assistant<br />
Glen Vowell Rep - Gitxsan<br />
<strong>Health</strong> Society<br />
Hazelton (250) 842-5165<br />
Delegate Sampson, Terry Board Director Inter Tribal <strong>Health</strong> Authority Nanaimo (250) 618-8737<br />
Delegate Schroeder, Leslie Director, Aboriginal <strong>Health</strong> Fraser <strong>Health</strong> Surrey (604) 217-3323<br />
Delegate Scudeler, June Policy Analyst United Native <strong>Nations</strong> Vancouver (604) 688-1821<br />
Delegate Senger, Deborah Contract Coordinator PHSA Aboriginal Program Vancouver (604) 875-2013<br />
Delegate Sherrell, Carolyn<br />
Community <strong>Health</strong> Nurse/Community <strong>Health</strong><br />
Representative<br />
Bonaparte Indian Band Cache Creek (250) 457-9624<br />
Delegate Skin, Bobby <strong>Council</strong>lor Skin Tyee Nation Burns Lake (250) 692-7059<br />
Delegate Sloot, Lisa Community <strong>Health</strong> Representative<br />
Lower Columbia All <strong>First</strong><br />
<strong>Nations</strong><br />
Castlegar (250) 304-2246<br />
Delegate Smith, Cindy <strong>Council</strong>lor Metlakatla Band <strong>Council</strong> Prince Rupert (250) 628-3201<br />
Delegate Squinas, Geronimo Chief Lhtako (Red Bluff Indian Band) Quesnel (250) 747-2900<br />
Delegate Starr, Angelika <strong>Health</strong> Director Quatsino Band Coal Harbour<br />
Delegate<br />
Starr, Bill<br />
<strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong> <strong>Health</strong> <strong>Council</strong>/Gitxsan <strong>Health</strong><br />
Board<br />
<strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong> <strong>Health</strong><br />
<strong>Council</strong>/Gitxsan <strong>Health</strong> Board<br />
(250) 949-7161<br />
ext 231<br />
Hazelton (250) 842-5165<br />
Delegate Sterritt, Jamie Consultant to Inter-Tribal <strong>Health</strong> Authority Sa'hetxw Consulting Kamloops (250) 877-0585<br />
Delegate Stewart, Farley Executive Director<br />
Friendship House Association<br />
of Prince Rupert<br />
Prince Rupert (250) 627-9488<br />
Delegate Swain, Lerinda Aboriginal <strong>Health</strong> Program, Program Coordinator<br />
BC Women's Hospital & <strong>Health</strong><br />
Vancouver<br />
Centre<br />
(604) 875-3593<br />
Delegate Sweetwater, Indigo Community <strong>Health</strong> Representative Winterbeach <strong>Health</strong> Care Kamloops (250) 8515999<br />
Delegate Swendson, Mary <strong>Health</strong> Director Moricetown <strong>Health</strong> Centre Smithers (250) 847-9328<br />
Delegate Sxwithul'txw, Steve Communications & Recruitment Officer FNESC West Vancouver (604) 925 6087<br />
Delegate Tabobondung, Lisa Executive Director, Aboriginal <strong>Health</strong> Northern <strong>Health</strong> Prince George (250) 565-2134<br />
Delegate Tardiff, Joanne Executive Director<br />
Community <strong>Health</strong> Associates<br />
Vernon<br />
of BC<br />
(250) 503-1123<br />
Delegate Tatoosh, Susan Executive Director<br />
Vancouver Aboriginal<br />
Friendship Centre<br />
Vancouver (604) 251-4844<br />
Delegate Terbasket, Sandy Diabetes Prevention Coordinator Ooknakane Friendship Centre Penticton (250) 490-3504<br />
Delegate Thomas, Mary M. <strong>Health</strong> Director Canim Lake <strong>First</strong> Nation 100 Mile House (250) 397-2717<br />
Delegate Thomas, Tammy <strong>Council</strong>lor Neskonlith Indian Band Chase (250) 679-3295<br />
Delegate Thompson, Derek Governance Policy Analyst<br />
<strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong> <strong>Health</strong> <strong>Council</strong><br />
Union of British Columbia Vancouver (604) 842-0922<br />
Indian Chiefs<br />
Delegate Timbers, Glen CEO<br />
United Church <strong>Health</strong> Services<br />
Bella coola<br />
Society<br />
(250) 639 6245<br />
Delegate Tommy, Maureen Associate <strong>Health</strong> Director<br />
Ts'ewulhtun <strong>Health</strong> Centre of<br />
the Cowichan Tribes<br />
Duncan (250) 746-6184<br />
Delegate Unrau, Dina BSDW/Supervisor ?Esdilagh <strong>First</strong> Nation Quesnel (250) 992-3009<br />
Delegate Varley, Leslie Director - Aboriginal <strong>Health</strong><br />
Provincial <strong>Health</strong> Services<br />
Authority<br />
Vancouver (604) 267-0014<br />
Delegate<br />
Vickers Hyslop,L.LD,<br />
Dr. Margaret R.<br />
Member Spirit Runner Enterprises Merritt (250) 378-3770<br />
Delegate Vincent, John Community Counselor Chemainus <strong>First</strong> Nation Ladysmith (250) 245-8551<br />
Delegate Vlahos, Peter Leader, Aboriginal <strong>Health</strong> Planning Vancouver Coastal <strong>Health</strong> North Vancouver (604) 983-6011<br />
41<br />
VANCOUVER, bC • mAY 20 - 21 , 2008
42<br />
Delegate Walker, Jennie Director of Programs<br />
Three Corners <strong>Health</strong> Services<br />
Williams Lake BC<br />
Society<br />
(250) 398-9814<br />
Delegate Walker, Mary Lou<br />
Children's Oral <strong>Health</strong> Initiative Regional<br />
Coordinator<br />
<strong>Health</strong> Canada - FNIH Smithers (250) 847-8024<br />
Delegate Ward, Kevin Mental <strong>Health</strong> Counsellor Upper Nicola Band <strong>Health</strong> Salmon Arm (250) 833-5033<br />
Delegate Wardrop, Janice Executive Director<br />
Esemkwu Aboriginal Healing &<br />
North Vancouver<br />
Wellness Centre<br />
(604) 904-1253<br />
Delegate<br />
Waterhouse,<br />
Margaret<br />
Community <strong>Health</strong> Representative Oweekeno/Wuikinuxv Nation Port Hardy (250) 949-5934<br />
Delegate Waters, Shannon Community Medicine Resident, UBC Richmond <strong>Health</strong> Services Richmond (604) 244-5397<br />
Delegate Whynot, Elizabeth President<br />
BC Women's Hospital & <strong>Health</strong><br />
Vancouver<br />
Centre<br />
(604) 875-3566<br />
Delegate<br />
Wickenheiser, Program Consultant Indian Residential Schools <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong> Inuit <strong>Health</strong> /<br />
Colleen<br />
Resolution <strong>Health</strong> Support Program<br />
<strong>Health</strong> Canada / BC Region<br />
Vancouver (604) 666-3751<br />
Delegate Williams, Bev Program Director<br />
Hiiye 'yu Lelum (House of<br />
Friendship)Society<br />
Duncan (250) 748-2242<br />
Delegate Williams, Christa Special Advisor <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong> Summit West Vancouver (604) 926.9903<br />
Delegate Williams, Sally <strong>Health</strong> Consultant Gwawaenuk Tribe Port McNiell (250) 949 8732<br />
Delegate Willie, Louisa Director of Heiltsuk <strong>Health</strong> Services<br />
Halika'as Heiltsuk <strong>Health</strong><br />
(250) 957-2308 /<br />
Bella Bella<br />
Centre<br />
Ext 230<br />
Delegate Willie, Paul Administrator Wuikinuxv <strong>First</strong> Nation Port Hardy (250) 949-8622<br />
Delegate Wilson, Dora B. Chief <strong>Council</strong>lor Hagwilget Village <strong>Council</strong> New Hazelton, (250) 842-6258<br />
Delegate Wilson, Martha Gitanmaax Rep - Gitxsan <strong>Health</strong> Board Gitxsan <strong>Health</strong> Society Hazelton (250) 842-5165<br />
Delegate Wilson, Rosalie Senior Policy Analyst Union of BC Indian Chiefs Vancouver (604) 684-0231<br />
Delegate York, Victor Mental <strong>Health</strong> Cultural Coordinator<br />
Heskw'en'scutxe <strong>Health</strong><br />
Services Society<br />
Spences Bridge (250) 458-2212<br />
Delegate Yu, Jeffrey Manager Ehealth FNIH BC <strong>Health</strong> Canada FNIH Vancouver (604) 666-0552<br />
Exhibitor Matthew, Stan Outreach Coordinator<br />
Inter Tribal <strong>Health</strong> Authority /<br />
Nanaimo (250) 753-0590<br />
<strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong> House of Healing<br />
Exhibitor White, Marina Outreach Coordinator<br />
Inter Tribal <strong>Health</strong> Authority /<br />
Nanaimo (250) 753-0590<br />
<strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong> House of Healing<br />
Note Taker Allbeury, Jean <strong>Health</strong> Technology Manager <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong> <strong>Health</strong> <strong>Council</strong> West Vancouver (604) 913-2080<br />
Note Taker Anderson, Bradley Aboriginal Engagement Coordinator Interior <strong>Health</strong> Kamloops (250) 851-7486<br />
Note Taker Halliday, June Operations Manager Aboriginal <strong>Health</strong> Branch Victoria (250) 952-1629<br />
Note Taker Harb, Jamal Regional Manager, <strong>Health</strong> Transfer Development <strong>Health</strong> Canada Vancouver (604) 6669143<br />
Note Taker<br />
Herman, Matt<br />
Director, <strong>Health</strong>y Aging and Injury Prevention,<br />
<strong>Health</strong>y Children,Women and Seniors<br />
Ministry of <strong>Health</strong> Victoria (250) 952-2781<br />
Note Taker Holmes, Rosie Executive Assistant to the <strong>Health</strong> Director Tsawout <strong>First</strong> Nation Saanichton (250) 652-1149<br />
Note Taker Howell, Selena Program Administrative Assistant<br />
<strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong> & Inuit <strong>Health</strong>,<br />
<strong>Health</strong> Canada<br />
Vancouver (604) 666-0049<br />
Note Taker Johnny, Rose Youth Suicide Prevention Program Researcher Carrier Sekani Family Services Prince George (250) 562-3591<br />
Note Taker Kenoras, Lynn <strong>Council</strong>or Adams Lake Indian Band Chase (250) 679-8841<br />
Note Taker Kim, Shelley Program Assistant FNIH, <strong>Health</strong> Canada Vancouver (604) 666-9939<br />
Note Taker Lindley, David Aboriginal Strategies Coordinator Interior <strong>Health</strong> Kamloops (250) 878-2928<br />
Note Taker Mack, Wilma Manager, Community <strong>Health</strong> Services Inter Tribal <strong>Health</strong> Authority Nanaimo (250) 753-3990<br />
Note Taker Matthew, Mark Aboriginal Contracts Advisor Interior <strong>Health</strong> Kamloops (250) 851-7386<br />
Note Taker Mearns, Erin <strong>Health</strong> Careers Recruitment Officer<br />
<strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong> Chiefs' <strong>Health</strong><br />
Committee<br />
North Vancouver (778) 340-3039<br />
Note Taker Miller, Shauna A/Director, <strong>Health</strong> Authority Partnerships Ministry of <strong>Health</strong> Victoria (250) 952-1821<br />
Note Taker Mitic, Wayne<br />
Director, Chronic Disease Prevention Evaluation /<br />
Ministry of <strong>Health</strong><br />
Population <strong>Health</strong> and Wellness<br />
Victoria (250) 952-2108<br />
Note Taker Riffel, Londea Aboriginal Engagement Coordinator Interior <strong>Health</strong> Kamloops (250) 851-7394<br />
II<br />
SECONd ANNUAl FORUm
Note Taker Springinotic, Carla<br />
Acting Director, <strong>Health</strong>y Children, Women and<br />
Seniors, Population <strong>Health</strong> and Wellness<br />
Ministry of <strong>Health</strong> Victoria (250) 952-1111<br />
Note Taker Stewart, Penny Manager, ECD Programs FNIH Vancouver (604) 666-7021<br />
Note Taker Taylor, Denise Director, Aboriginal <strong>Health</strong> Interior <strong>Health</strong> Kelowna (250) 870-4688<br />
Note Taker Williams, Amanda Assistant RHS Coordinator FN <strong>Health</strong> <strong>Council</strong> West Vancouver (604) 913-2080<br />
Organizer Carpenter, Trina Executive Assistant <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong> <strong>Health</strong> <strong>Council</strong> West Vancouver (604) 9269903<br />
Organizer Clellamin, David Regional <strong>Health</strong> Survey Coordinator <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong> <strong>Health</strong> <strong>Council</strong> West Vancouver (604) 9132080<br />
Organizer Degroot, Michelle Director, <strong>Health</strong> Policy & Advocacy <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong> <strong>Health</strong> <strong>Council</strong> West Vancouver (604) 9269903<br />
Organizer Gallagher, Joe Senior Director <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong> <strong>Health</strong> <strong>Council</strong> West Vancouver (604) 9269903<br />
Organizer Ivand, Karin Forum Coordinator Bay House Group Inc. Victoria (250) 220-6758<br />
Organizer Joseph, Jordan Ann Executive Assistant <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong> <strong>Health</strong> <strong>Council</strong> West Vancouver (604) 913.2080<br />
Organizer Leung, Derek Policy Analyst <strong>Health</strong> Canada Vancouver (604) 666-4207<br />
Organizer Lewis, Tonya <strong>Health</strong> Careers Manager FNHC West Vancouver (604) 9132080<br />
Organizer McKenzie, Davis Communications Coordinator <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong> <strong>Health</strong> <strong>Council</strong> Vancouver (604) 926.9903<br />
Organizer Nault, Tara R. A/Director, Strategic Initiatives<br />
Aboriginal <strong>Health</strong> Branch,<br />
Ministry of <strong>Health</strong><br />
Victoria (250) 920-9185<br />
Organizer Roggeveen, Marina Assistant Forum Coordinator Bay House Group Inc. Victoria (250) 220-6758<br />
Organizer Schwartz, Deborah Executive Director<br />
Aboriginal <strong>Health</strong> Branch,<br />
Ministry of <strong>Health</strong><br />
Victoria (250) 952-2811<br />
Organizer Spencer, Denelle Aboriginal CYMH Planning Coordinator MCFD Vancouver (604) 775-1716<br />
Organizer Tarbell, Harold MC/Facilitator Gaspe Tarbell Associates West Vancouver (604) 787-8638<br />
Organizer<br />
Whonnock,<br />
Josephine<br />
Reception <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong> <strong>Health</strong> <strong>Council</strong> West Vancouver (604) 913-2080<br />
Presenter Abbott, Debbie <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong> <strong>Health</strong> <strong>Council</strong> Board Member<br />
FNHC and Nlaka'pamux<br />
Nation TC<br />
Lytton (250) 455-2711<br />
Presenter Adams, Evan Aboriginal <strong>Health</strong> Physician Advisor<br />
Office of the Provincial <strong>Health</strong><br />
Officer, Ministry of <strong>Health</strong><br />
Victoria (250) 952-1330<br />
Presenter Baker, Simon Presenter ()<br />
Presenter Brokenleg, Martin Presenter ()<br />
Presenter<br />
Christian, Chief<br />
Wayne M.<br />
Presenter ()<br />
Presenter Hanna, Rosalin Physical Activity Specialist <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong> <strong>Health</strong> <strong>Council</strong> West Vancouver (778) 772-5086<br />
Presenter Hazlewood, Andrew Assistant Deputy Minister Ministry of <strong>Health</strong> Victoria (250) 952-1731<br />
Presenter<br />
John, Grand Chief<br />
Edward<br />
Presenter ()<br />
Presenter Johnson, Suzanne Nutritionist <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong> <strong>Health</strong> <strong>Council</strong> West Vancouver (604) 913-2080<br />
Presenter Keeper, Tina MP MP - Churchill MB Ottawa (613) 992-3018<br />
Presenter<br />
Kelly, Grand Chief<br />
Doug<br />
Co-Chair <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong> <strong>Health</strong> <strong>Council</strong> West Vancouver (604) 922-7733<br />
Presenter Lappe, Catherine Regional Director General <strong>Health</strong> Canada Vancouver (604) 775-7003<br />
Presenter Lecoy, Denise Presenter ()<br />
Presenter Morrisseau, Renae Presenter ()<br />
Presenter Myers, Troy <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong> ActNow BC Coordinator <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong> <strong>Health</strong> COuncil Vancouver (604) 684-0231<br />
Presenter Paul, Dr. Jeannie Presenter ()<br />
Presenter Point, Theresa Presenter ()<br />
Presenter Rivers, Audrey Presenter Squamish Nation ()<br />
Table Host Bortoletto, Carla Table Host Aboriginal <strong>Health</strong> Branch Victoria (250) 952-1820<br />
Table Host Buchan, Dianne Policy Analyst <strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong> <strong>Health</strong> <strong>Council</strong> Vancouver (604) 684-0231<br />
Table Host Day, Diana<br />
Community Developer / Aboriginal <strong>Health</strong><br />
Initiative Program & SMART Fund<br />
Vancouver Coastal <strong>Health</strong> Vancouver (604) 708-5328<br />
43<br />
VANCOUVER, bC • mAY 20 - 21 , 2008
44<br />
II<br />
SECONd ANNUAl FORUm
II<br />
Second Annual Forum<br />
Vancouver, BC • May 20 - 21, 2008<br />
SUMMARY DOCUMENT<br />
is a publication of the<br />
<strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong> <strong>Health</strong> <strong>Council</strong><br />
1205 - 100 Park Royal South<br />
West Vancouver, BC<br />
V7T 1A2<br />
Tel: (604) 913-2080<br />
Fax: (604) 913-2081<br />
Toll Free: 1-866-913-0033<br />
www.fnhc.ca<br />
November 2008
A publication of the<br />
<strong>First</strong> <strong>Nations</strong> <strong>Health</strong> <strong>Council</strong><br />
1205 - 100 Park Royal South<br />
West Vancouver, BC<br />
V7T 1A2<br />
Tel: (604) 913-2080<br />
Fax: (604) 913-2081<br />
Toll Free: 1-866-913-0033<br />
www.fnhc.ca<br />
II