pdf download - First Nations Health Council

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A historical overview of the Tripartite First Nations
Health Plan was provided which reflected the
five key messages and priority activities identified
at the 1 st Annual Forum relative to: a vision of wellness;
the need for a cultural, holistic approach to
health; support for a community driven process;
identification of common challenges; and an emphasis
regarding the need for communication.
mr. Gallagher discussed the composition of
the First Nations Health Council, which represents
a partnership of the British Columbia Assembly
of First Nations, the First Nations Summit, and
the Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs. He
commented on the role of the Health Council in
overseeing the implementation of the Tripartite
First Nations Health Plan, and discussed the
formation of a technical team to assist in that
process. It was shared that the First Nations
Chiefs Health Committee (CHC) had recently
been restructured via resolution of the First
Nations Summit. As a result, CHC staff were now
embedded within the Health Council to streamline
the process.
The FNHC is working with the National
Collaborating Centre for Aboriginal Health to
develop the First Nations ActNow Initiative.
mr. Gallagher noted the importance of the
community driven process embedded in the Plan,
noting the Tripartite Health Plan’s focus and the
Health Council’s desire to support First Nations
communities in developing their own or collective
plans, as they chose.
It was shared that the First Nation Health
Council had participated in many local dialogues,
and in regional health forums regarding the
development of Aboriginal Service Plans in
the interest of ensuring a community driven
process. mr. Gallagher discussed the common
challenges identified, including a lack of resources
and funding. He noted that there had been
movement forward on a First Nations Health
Human Resources Strategy. Discussions were also
occurring with First Nations Inuit Health and the
provincial government on access to funding, and
the need for greater flexibility in funding received.
It was acknowledged that the need for
communication was extremely important and
was a great challenge. To this end, there was
ongoing work towards establishing community
engagement hubs to support collaborative efforts
in communication and planning, as a means of
finding effective ways of working with everyone.
As well, the Health Council had recently hired a
Communications Coordinator and would soon have
a revamped website and other communications
tools available.
mr. Gallagher commented that one of the
biggest challenges was to find the path for working
together in a new way. One of the functions of
the First Nations Health Council was therefore to
encourage a dialogue that was more respectful
for First Nations people. He looked forward to
participating in the 2 nd Annual Forum, and thanked
the Council for its work in organizing the event.
Catherine Lappe
Regional Director General
Health Canada, BC Region
“The Tripartite First Nations Health Plan marks the
beginning of significant change for First Nations
health care in British Columbia. It provides an
unprecedented opportunity for Canada, British
Columbia and First Nations to work in partnership
to improve the overall health and well-being of BC
First Nations people; to close the gaps between
health services provided to First Nations; and to
ensure First Nations are fully involved in decision
making regarding the health of their people.”
“The Tripartite First Nations Help Plan is a
fundamental rethinking and realignment of how
health services will be delivered for First Nations
in BC.”
“Health Canada will evolve its role of ‘health
program designer and deliverer’ to that of ‘funder
and governance partner’ as First Nations take on
their governance role as laid out in the Tripartite
First Nations Health Plan.”
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SECONd ANNUAl FORUm