Health New sletter - Treaty 8 First Nations of Alberta

Health NewsletterVolume 2, Issue 3June 2012Treaty 8 First Nations of AlbertaHealth NewsletterUpdate on the Health DepartmentLorraine Meneen, Director of HealthThe Health Department continues to serve as a connection the First Nations largely throughthe Health Commission. The commission continues to meet to discuss, share and addressFirst Nations health issues and concerns. The Health Commission continues to be an integralpart of our department. The Health Commission members continue to bring community perspective/issuesand knowledge regarding health needs and concerns of their member FirstNations (see page 4). We are thankful for their continued support, guidance and determinationin working toward improving the health outcomes of their communities. Sadly, ElderGabe Meneen, Health Commission member, passed away on May 15, 2012. He will bemissed amongst the health commission circle.Some of the highlights of the past year include:Continued planning and work on building a Treaty 8 Comprehensive Health SystemTelehealth Business Plan in conjunction with AFNIGCDirect assistance with the Treaty 8 communities on health related issuesBringing together the Elders and YouthElder’s guidance in creating awareness and ensuring culture, tradition andknowledge is livingMonthly Health Commission MeetingsCommunity Strengths and Wellness ProjectNIHB Denial Tracking InitiativeDiabetes Prevention and PromotionMental Health AwarenessPrescription Drug Abuse awareness building programCommunication plan buildingParticipation at the Treaty Discussions TableParticipation at the Children’s Agenda JRFT TableAttendance at National Health CommitteesParticipation in the Treaty 8 Science CelebrationDevelopment of a draft Hemodialysis Framework regarding units and staffingHealth TeamLorraine Meneen, Health DirectorChantale Strang, Executive AssistantMichelle Voyageur, NIHB Policy AnalystJarett Wanihadie, Health Research AssistantNora Alook, Co-Management LiaisonVacant, Health Careers CoordinatorVacant, NIHB NavigatorHealth Chief PortfolioHolderChief Allan AdamAthabasca ChipewyanFirst Nation

Co-Management UpdateHealth Co-Management (HCOM) is structured in a way thatAlberta First Nations and FNIHB jointly assess, analyze, planand manage the administration of the Alberta Region envelope.Under the Co-Management structure, there are two (2)committees - Co-Management Committee (Treaty areaChiefs and Regional and Associate Directors FNIHB) andthe Co-Chairs Committee. There are seven (7) subcommitteesas follows: Non-Insured Health Benefits, Child & Youth,Mental Health & Addictions, Prevention, Health Protection,Governance & Capital and Finance. For each of the Subcommittees,there are two (2) Treaty 8 Reps.At the Co-Management Strategic Planning Session, the Cochairsshared their respective priorities and determined thatthere are 3 common strategies that need to be collaboratedand will require participation and partnership across allHCOM Subcommittees. The 3 strategies are:Prevention of Child Abuse StrategyMental Health and Wellness StrategyChronic Disease Prevention & Management StrategyWorking Groups (2 reps from each Subcommittee) are/will beestablished for each of the strategies. The Co-Chairs willupdate at their quarterly meetings the status of each strategy.The Committees / Subcommittees meet on quarterly basis.Meeting Summaries are available on the HCOM.ca website.The representatives are also listed on the website for all Treatyareas.Briefing Notes for each Committee / Subcommittee meetingscontinue to be distributed to the Treaty 8 Health Commissionfor dissemination.Co-Management Committees and Treaty 8 Committee MembersNon-Insured Health Benefits:Dental Services, Medical Transportation, Pharmacy, Vision,Medical Supplies & Equipment. Working Groups: CommunicationsStrategy and Denial TrackingChild and Youth:Aboriginal Head Start on Reserve, Maternal Health WorkingGroups: Jordan’s Principle, Child Abuse StrategyMental Health & Addictions:Brighter Futures/ Building Healthy Communities, NAYSPS,NNADAP. Working Groups: DUPP, Wholistic Wellness, MentalHealth & Wellness StrategyPrevention:Aboriginal Diabetes Initiative, Healthy Living, CommunityHome Care. Working Groups: Injury Prevention, Chronic DiseasePrevention & Mgmt, CHR Education Program, Food SecurityPlan & ImplementationHealth Protection:Environmental Public Health, Communicable Disease Control,Blood Borne Pathogens and Sexually Transmitted Infections,Working Group: HOPE (HIV/BBP/STI)Governance & Capital:AHHRI, HSIF, E-Health, Alberta FNs Information GovernanceCentreFinance:New Subcommittee to provide information and analysis to thekey stakeholders to ensure an effective management of theAlberta Region Funding EnvelopeCo-Management:Chief Allan AdamChief Gordon AugerGovernance & Capital (G&C):Kirsten Dupres, Health Director, KTCBarry Phillips, CEO, BCN Health CommissionFinance:Marcella Schnurr, Health Director, LSLIRCLiette Snache, CEO, Western Cree Tribal CouncilNon Insured Health Benefits (NIHB):Michelle Voyageur, Non Insured Policy Analyst, T8Barry Phillips, CEO, BCN Health CommissionChild and Youth (C&Y):Ann Nipshank, Director of Children’s Agenda, T8FNA-Bernadette Sawan, Bigstone Cree NationMental Health & Addictions (MHA):Marilyn Willier, T8 Member, Sucker Creek First Nation-Marcella Schnurr, Health Director, LSLIRCPrevention:Liette Snache, CEO, Western Cree Tribal CouncilWendy Ward, Health Director, Tallcree First NationHealth Protection (HP):Patrick Mercredi, Health Director, ATCGloria Fraser, Health Director, Bigstone Cree NationFor more information about Health Co-Managementcontact Nora Alook at 780.444.9366Page 2HEALT H NE WSLET T ER

AHHRI LearningOpportunityATTENTION HEALTH STAFFIf you currently working in a First Nation health centrethen these two learning opportunities are available foryou:Early Learning and Childhood Courses the deadline isAugust 20, 2012.Aboriginal Health Promotion Course the deadline isSeptember 7, 2012.Visit treaty8.ca for more information or call 1.888.Treaty8Health CareersThe Treaty 8 Health Careers Program is dedicated to increasingTreaty 8 membership awareness of the manychallenging and rewarding careers in the field of healthcare. It is the intent of our program to identify, cultivate,and support these potential health care workers from ourcommunities, so they may access or pursue education andtraining, and come back to deliver health care services toour members.In the last year a number of learning opportunities wereavailable to Treaty 8 members including: Medical Receptionist,Early Childhood Development, Health Care Aid,Modern Management and English upgrading. Thesecourses were free of charge for health staff working inFirst Nation health centers.Promoting health careers in the First Nations schools wasa priority in the last year. Sciences and Math are requiredto enter into a health career and these subject areas werehighlighted in the presentations made to the schools atLoon River FN, Bigstone CN, Swan River FN, and DriftpileFN. Treaty 8 Health Careers will also put up an educationalbooth at career fairs, if requested.Each year the “Francis Meneen Health Warrior” and”Francis Willier Health Warrior” Memorial Scholarshipsare awarded to Treaty 8 members that are perusing healthcareers. This year the scholarships were awarded toRosanne Mustus (Francis Meneen) and Cherie Willier(Francis Willier).Rosanne MustusandCherie Willier2011 Health Warrior ScholarshipRecipientsNon-Insured HealthBenefits Q & AQUESTION: Was your prescription denied?1. Did you ask the pharmacist to call the Drug ExceptionCentre (DEC)?2. Did you ask the pharmacist to prescribe you adifferent medicine that will do the same thing,but is covered by NIHB?QUESTION: Can I call the DEC to see if amedicine is covered under NIHB?No. Only pharmacists can call the DEC. However, theNIHB drug benefit list is available on line at http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fniah-spnia/nihb-ssna/provide-fournir/pharma-prod/med-list/index-eng.phpQUESTION: I belong to the Bigstone Cree Nationwho do I contact for NIHB?The Bigstone Cree Nation administers its own NIHB program.Members can contact Bigstone directly at780.495.2694 or 1.800.232.7301 or visitwww.bigstonehealth.comQUESTION: How often can I visit the dentist?First Nation members over the age of 17: NIHB willcover 1 dentist visit per yearFirst Nation members under the age of 17: NIHB willcover 2 dentist visits per yearQUESTION: Do I have to live on reserve to accessNon-Insured Health Benefits?No you do not have to live on-reserve to access the benefitscovered under the NIHB Program.T8’s NIHB Navigatoris here to helpHaving Problems Accessing NIHB?Have you been denied a NIHB?Need assistance appealing a NIHB Decision?Want to know more about the NIHB Program?Contact Treaty 8’s NIHB Navigator, at780.444.9366 or 1.888.Treaty8 ornavigator@treaty8.orgV OLU ME 2, ISSU E 3 Page 3

CONTACT USTreaty 8 First Nations of Alberta18178—102 AvenueEdmonton, AlbertaT5S 1S7Phone: 780-444-9366Fax: 780-484-1465treaty8.caTreaty 8 Health CommissionChief Allan Adam – Chief of Health – ACFNChief Gordon Auger-Chief of Health-BCNKirsten Dupres – Tribal Council Health Director – KTCPatrick Mercredi – Tribal Council Health Director – ATCBarry Philips – Tribal Council Health Director – BCNLisa Clarke – Tribal Council Health Director – NPTCMarcella Cunningham – Tribal Council Health Director – LSLIRCLiette Snache – Tribal Council Health Director – WCTCElder Joe Whitehead Sr. – Health Elder – Woodland Cree First NationElder Ruth Gladue – Health Elder – Horse Lake First NationElder Mary Young – Health Elder – Bigstone Cree NationElder Doris Courtorielle – Health Elder – Swan River First NationTreaty 8 Elders Council—Guiding Health PrinciplesEmotional:Belief in oneself is extremelyimportant; Show caring andlove for less fortunate people;Respect people, animals, plantsand all of mother earth; Tearsare not a negative thing, tearsdisplay humanity; Accept yourselfand the peoples withinyour community; A good senseof competitiveness is beneficialto succeed; Spend as muchtime with loves ones; Sharewith others; Don’t holdgrudges, forgiveness amendsour people; Believe in the positivepower of humor.Physical:Traditional forms of survivalare beneficial to all ages (suchas chopping wood, gathering,hunting and fishing); If youignore the physical aspect ofyour body, you will slowly deteriorate;Surround yourselfwith loved ones; Walk and exercisewith your family.Mental:Learn your identity-customs,language, and culture; Youneed to socialize with the onesthat you love; Look ahead anddon’t dwell on negative things;Teach Cree syllabics to ourchildren and youth and peoples;Believe that there is atraditional way of thinking;Don’t criticize things that youdon’t understand; Learn aboutbeing an indigenous person bePROUD of who you are; Listento others before you speak, youmust know the whole situationbefore you make a comment ordevelop an opinion; Our mentalwell being impacts ourhealth.Spiritual:There is truth to prophecies(eekskewekeek); You must believein yourself; Spiritualwellness involves respect andto honour all senses; Believe ina spiritual connection to yoursurroundings; Teach spiritualcustoms—singing, drumming,song—with meaning and purpose.Page 4HEALT H NE WSLET T ER