Health Transformation team booking information sessions with First Nations this summer
By Jesse Johnson
ANISHINABEK NATION TERRITORY – The Anishinabek Nation’s Health Transformation team is working hard every day to improve the quality of care for the members of the 39 Anishinabek First Nations.
The Anishinabek Nation Chiefs-in-Assembly passed a resolution in June 2016 directing the Health Secretariat to begin the process of engaging levels of government to progress with First Nation control of health.
Following ongoing meetings between the Anishinabek Nation, federal, and provincial partners, a joint Memorandum of Understanding was signed in the spring of 2018.
In June of 2019, an updated Resolution was passed by Chiefs-in-Assembly that supports the ongoing work towards Health Transformation.
In December 2020, the Health Secretariat hosted a virtual Health Transformation gathering via Zoom where participants heard from various perspectives including First Nations, PTO, and government throughout the day.
Over the next upcoming months, the Anishinabek Nation will be hosting engagement sessions with each First Nation Chief and Council, health team, and citizens in order to gather information on identified needs, what health transformation means to each community, gauge interest in an Anishinabek Health System, and seek direction on the best way to move forward in the process. The Health Transformation team is also seeking working group members from each community.
All Anishinabek Nation citizens deserve to live a healthy lifestyle and many First Nations have been advocating for greater control of their health and wellness that are also consistent with their inherent right to self-determination. The global COVID-19 pandemic has reinforced that health and wellness require more attention and focus. The Health Transformation focuses on holistic and traditional medicines while utilizing some Western medicines as well.
First Nations will be central to the design and implementation of health services at the community level. These health services will be coordinated with other community-based services. Each community can set the priorities (e.g., increase mental health and wellness programs and reduce in another less immediate program). Additionally, Health programs will have more traditional knowledge and traditional practices and medicines available to their community members.
“These are exciting times— to be able to be a part of developing a health care system for Anishinabek by Anishinabek that aspires to be better than anything we have had in the past,” says Anishinabek Nation Health Transformation Project Manager, Loretta Nootchtai. “We can shape what we envision. Imagine the possibilities!”
The Health Transformation team aims to work with each community by involving members in various activities that will be engaging and informative; gathering community-level feedback on the draft plans and recommendations that will capture concerns and aspirations; involving all citizens in the planning and designing of a holistic health system that will ensure ideas and concerns are reflected; and, including direction from leadership, management, front-line workers, and all citizens living on and off-reserve.
The team has completed the drafting of the Needs Assessment and Environmental Scan that will be conducted with the Anishinabek Nation First Nations to gain baseline data and help identify needs and gaps in relation to health care. These documents are ready to distribute following the completion of the initial engagement sessions.
For more information, to book a community engagement session, or to inquire on how to become a working group member, please contact Jessica Pamajewon at jessica.pamajewon@anishinabek.ca.