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20 Though often overlooked by the health care system First Nations have consistently worked to maintain, and where necessary, rebuild traditional medicine knowledge and practices. Efforts continue to integrate traditional medicine into the health care system. The First Nations Health Council is pursuing several strategies to ensure that traditional medicine is an integral part of efforts to improve the health and wellbeing of First Nations (e.g. data base of traditional healers and centres, discussion groups, surveys, etc.). Participants in this table discussion examined the critical role of the philosophy, protocols and impact of traditional medicine and the ‘knowledge keepers’ in their communities, practical ways of weaving traditional and western practices (e.g. Cowichan, Alert Bay), and policy and program changes that demonstrate respect for traditional medicines, support its practitioners and engage a broader audience (e.g. youth, community exchanges). The ideas highlighted from the discussion notes provide advice on how the FNHC might modify its current activities in this area: • Limited awareness in the community of traditional medicines. • Knowledge is held by individual families. • Some commercialization happening (individuals selling medicines). • Forums for both traditional/alternative practitioners, and conventional doctors. • Teaching the community traditional/alternative medicines – focus on youth programs, and summer camps, etc. • Documentation/database/book/Elders (recordings of them speaking) – some concerns about knowledge ownership (i.e. pharmaceuticals). • Community must drive policy change. • Options: providing choice. • Traditional healer forums – recognition. • Liability issues regarding traditional medicine in health centres – funding for training in traditional medicine. • Environmental protection (including financial support to maintain plants). • Integrating traditional knowledge into school system. Food Security The issue of ‘Food Security’ refers to addressing the barriers that limit or threaten a community’s access to adequate healthy food sources. In a First Nations context this often includes consideration of the shift away from traditional practices to supermarket foods, access to land, contaminants and other environmental conditions. BC First Nations have been very active in addressing food security issues and participants identified actions that could be taken to improve First Nations people’s access to, and knowledge about, healthy food. In summary this includes: • Diffusion of innovation. • Community Champions. • Increase access: • Community kitchens. • Community gardens. • Flexible funding program. • Food boxes. • Breakfast school program. • Community food co-op. • Increase knowledge: • Community sharing of traditional and nontraditional knowledge. • Peers teaching peers. • Regional food forums. • Increase tools: • Community freezers, stoves, fridges, pots and pans. Open Space Responses • Stigma within the community around substance users and related sexual issues • At present, contribution agreements limit use of traditional models • Needs to be more attention paid to number of FN with arthritis, i.e., Arthritis Initiative • Respect for two spirit peoples health issues/ Homophobia is a main concern in Aboriginal communities • Knowledge about HIV, HEPC, STIs needs to be taught to all people in communities • Right to clean water! • Create groups of young girls/teens/women/ elder women to create opportunity for coming of age education • Home care centre and detox unit, that are culturally appropriate, in the northeast • Leadership must encourage, support and model real meaningful youth engagement • C’iiq’ciiga quuquulaca – our languages • Return to 100% fluency = health • In community health plans, look at options to use traditional medical interventions as well as western interventions II SECONd ANNUAl FORUm
HEALTH SERVICES The underlying goal of the Health Services component of the TFNHP is to support the ability of First Nations to increase their direct participation in the delivery of health services to their people and communities. Health Human Resources The Transformative Change Accord identifies “Practising, certified, First Nations health care professionals” as one indicator that will demonstrate that progress is being made. The First Nations Health Council “Year in Review Report” notes that “…health care professionals are the gatekeepers to our complex medical system, Health Human Resources is one of the key drivers to address health…”. It is also clear from some of the goal and outcome statements in the TFNHP that increasing the number of people, especially Aboriginal people, that are pursuing health careers and securing the required accreditation is a strong priority and requirement if First Nations are to administer their own health services delivery. The FNHC has secured resources for staffing and projects as part of the Aboriginal Health Human Resource Initiative. Participants were asked to provide input on how the TFNHP could better address barriers and priorities for health careers. Barriers • Support for students • Information to students, communities, and potential employees • The level of cultural competency in post secondary schools & institutional racism • Lack of focus on off-reserve people • Reduced capacity in remote communities Priorities • Focus on the educational system (e.g. cultural competency for staff and better support for students when in school) • Focus on communication/information sharing (community hubs and connections between schools and reserves) • Focus on children & youth (guide them from an early stage, role modeling, esteem building) e-Health First Nations, the bC ministry of Health and Health Canada are working collaboratively to implement this area of the TFNHP. This includes the establishment of a First Nations Centre of Excellence for e-Health and work to continue the expansion of tele-health infrastructure into all First Nations communities and First Nations participation in other e-Health initiatives, including a seat on the provincial health Strategy Council and a public health surveillance project. The participants identified ways in which e-Health is supporting the community and look to the TFNHP to continue to expand access: How e-Health will support the community: • provide technical assistance in communities when needed • assist in training community health workers • help to reduce patient travel by having clinical support in the community How TFNHP can support e-Health: • Ensure communities have high speed internet that supports video conferencing Mental Health Addressing mental health issues within First Nations communities in a holistic manner has been consistently identified as an issue in the Transformative Change Accord, the TFNHP and the 2007-2008 Year in Review report. building on the guidance provided during the 2007 Gathering Wisdom forum work is underway through the Aboriginal Reference Group to the ten-year bC mental Health and Substance Abuse Plan to develop and implement the “Aboriginal mental Health and Addictions Plan” called for in the TFNHP. During this 2008 Gathering Wisdom forum participants provided guidance about what communities can do to develop coordinated mental health approaches and how that would link to a tripartite mental health plan: Better Coordination • A need for children and youth mental health services to be addressed as one. 21 VANCOUVER, bC • mAY 20 - 21 , 2008
Page 1: Second Annual Forum Vancouver, BC
Page 5 and 6: INTRODUCTION On may 20 th - 21 st-
Page 7 and 8: THE REPORT ON THE 2008 FORUM This n
Page 9 and 10: Dr. Adams spoke of the importance o
Page 11 and 12: At the 1 st Annual Forum, a number
Page 13 and 14: spoke to the minimum standards for
Page 15 and 16: DAY TWO: THURSDAY, MAY 22, 2008 OPE
Page 17 and 18: CLOSING KEYNOTE SPEAKER Dr. Martin
Page 19 and 20: FINAL WRAP-UP Dr. Evan Adams, Abori
Page 21 and 22: APPENDIX A: BREAKOUT GROUP DISCUSSI
Page 23: any event/access (i.e., leisure acc
Page 27 and 28: Dental The First Nations Regional L
Page 29 and 30: • Develop our own research polici
Page 31 and 32: PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOPS
Page 33 and 34: This interactive forum theatre faci
Page 35 and 36: # OF RESPONSES “Getting a sense o
Page 37 and 38: “The one thing I liked the best w
Page 39 and 40: “Experimental learning on getting
Page 41 and 42: Delegate Cross, Nicole Laxgalts'ap
Page 43 and 44: VANCOUVER, bC • mAY 20 - 21 , 200
Page 45 and 46: Delegate Rosal, Assunta Health and
Page 47 and 48: Note Taker Springinotic, Carla Acti
Page 49: II Second Annual Forum Vancouver, B

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