pdf download - First Nations Health Council

At the 1 st Annual Forum, a number of
challenges and opportunities were identified as
well as priorities for action, which included the
establishment of the First Nations Health Council,
and informing the completion of the Tripartite First
Nations Health Plan, signed on June 11, 2007.
The Tripartite First Nations Health Plan marked
the beginning of significant change for First Nations
health care in British Columbia. Regional Director
lappe shared that minister Clement had often
said that signing the Plan was one of his proudest
accomplishments. BC was leading the way for
fundamental changes for First Nations health
service delivery, and was being closely observed
by other provinces who were hoping to learn from
BC’s successes.
Regional Director Lappe shared that since
the 1980s, Health Canada had been involved in
a process to transfer health services historically
delivered by Health Canada to First Nations.
She continued that the Tripartite First Nations
Health Plan was a fundamental rethinking and
realignment of how health services would be
delivered for First Nations in British Columbia in
a way that made sense for communities, with
evaluation and monitoring by the regional offices
and headquarters.
Central to the Tripartite First Nations Health
Plan was a commitment to create a new governance
structure that would enhance First Nations control
of services, and promote better integration and
coordination of services, to ensure improved access
to quality health care by all First Nations living
in British Columbia. The significant progress of the
First Nations Health Council, which had actively
sought partnership opportunities focused on the
needs of First Nations communities, was acknowledged.
Regional Director Lappe said that change would
not happen overnight and that the transition plan
would be a key component of the agreement to be
reached. meanwhile, within bC Region, opportunities
were being explored for interchanges between
the First Nations and Inuit Health Branch and the
Health Council to help pave the way for a smooth
transition to the new First Nation governing body.
As the first year anniversary of the signing of
the Tripartite First Nations Health Plan approaches,
there is opportunity to reflect on the successes
achieved thus far, and to confirm the way
forward. Over the past year, Health Canada has
worked closely with its partners, building strong
relationships, completing the initial work plan, and
aligning efforts on a number of fronts to ensure a
tripartite approach to program and service design
and delivery. Efforts had also been made to initiate
dialogue for the establishment of a new First
Nations health governing body.
Regional Director Lappe acknowledged that
while this was still the first year of implementation
of the Tripartite First Nations Health Plan, change
was already happening. Efforts would continue to
adjust how we are working together as well as on
aligning efforts and resources to make initiatives
much more effective in moving forward. She
concluded by recognizing the exciting linkages
occurring between First Nations and Health
Authorities within BC. She thanked all parties for
having the courage and energy to participate, and
looked forward to continued collaborative efforts.
Deborah Schwartz
Executive Director, Aboriginal Health Branch
BC Ministry of Health
“It takes tremendous leadership to get into a
canoe and paddle in the same direction as others
in the interest of all.”
ms. Schwartz referenced the photograph on the
cover of the Transformative Change Accord: First
Nations Health Plan which depicted three people
paddling a canoe. She acknowledged the visual as
a unifying metaphor about getting into the same
canoe while paddling in the same direction, which
took tremendous leadership in the interest of all.
The excellence of the provincial, federal and First
Nations leadership involved in this initiative was
recognized.
It was shared that First Nations had brought
together three political organizations in British
Columbia to develop a unified vision to inspire,
and that there was need to acknowledge the Chiefs
for that work. ms. Schwartz also recognized the
leadership of the First Nations Health Council, and
its staff who were responsible for translating the
Plan into actions on a day to day basis. She noted
that it was remarkable for the parties to have made
a commitment to overcome their differences,
and to work together to achieve results guided by
the vision and values set out in the Tripartite First
Nations Health Plan.
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VANCOUVER, bC • mAY 20 - 21 , 2008