Treaty 8 First Nations of Alberta Annual Report 2011-12

Canada and the First Nations Historical TimelineRepresenting the Committees / Subcommittees are:Co-ManagementGovernance & Capital (G&C)FinanceNon Insured Health Benefits (NIHB)Child and Youth (C&Y)Mental Health & Addictions (MHA)PreventionHealth Protection (HP)Chief Allan Adam, Chief Gordon AugerKirsten Dupres, Health Director, KTCBarry Phillips, CEO, BCN Health CommissionMarcella Schnurr, Health Director, LSLIRCLiette Snache, CEO, Western Cree Tribal CouncilMichelle Voyageur, Non Insured Policy Analyst, T8Barry Phillips, CEO, BCN Health CommissionAnn Nipshank, Director of Children’s Agenda, T8FNABernadette Sawan, Bigstone Cree NationMarilyn Willier, T8 Member, Sucker Creek First NationMarcella Schnurr, Health Director, LSLIRCLiette Snache, CEO, Western Cree Tribal CouncilWendy Ward, Health Director, Tallcree First NationPatrick Mercredi, Health Director, ATCGloria Fraser, Health Director, Bigstone Cree NationSince August 2011, Nora Alook took on the Co-Management Liaison position.The Health Department of Treaty 8 First Nations of Alberta wishes to acknowledge and express theirgratitude to all the Reps who volunteered their time and effort from their extremely busy schedules torepresent Treaty No. 8 communities and members at these tables. Bravo!Non-Insured Health Benefits (NIHB) Policy AnalystThe NIHB Policy Analyst is an advocacy position used to improve and maintain the level of service of theNIHB program affecting the members of Treaty No. 8. The role of the NIHB Policy Analyst is to actively reviewproposed policy changes. As well, the NIHB Policy Analyst maintains a seat on the Co-Management NIHB subcommitteeensuring that Treaty 8 has a voice in the discussions that occur regionally.Issues with and changes to the NIHB program are discussed at the Co-Management NIHB sub-committee.In addition 3 priorities have been identified: communications, benefit tracking and exploring relationships. Acommunication plan was created and 2 communication pieces were the focus of this year. The first was a NIHBwallet card, which has the contact information for all of the NIHB Navigators in AB. The second was an insertwith Alberta specific NIHB information, including NIHB Navigators contact information, which was inserted inthe AFN/Health Canada NIHB handbook. Each First Nation should have received copies of the new handbook.The wallet cards and handbooks are being used to increase the awareness of the NIHB program and NIHBnavigators in the region.The policy analyst continues to represent Treaty 8 First Nations of Alberta at the AFN NIHB caucus. It is throughthis caucus that regions are influencing NIHB policies and programs at the national level.Michelle Voyageur is the current NIHB Policy Analyst and began working with the Health department in July2010. She is currently the co-chair of the Co-Management NIHB sub-committee.Page 28