Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN), the Government of Ontario and the Government of Canada recognize the challenges in delivering health services in First Nations communities and are committed to working together to help overcome them.

Today, Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler of Nishnawbe Aski Nation, Canada’s Minister of Indigenous Services Jane Philpott, and Ontario Minister of Health and Long-Term Care Eric Hoskins committed to supporting the Joint Action Table Health Transformation Work Plan at the NAN Health Summit.

The overarching objectives for health transformation include:

• Development of a community-driven process with NAN First Nations as full partners;
• Establishment of a Political Oversight Group to guide this transformation process;
• Providing adequate funding to support First Nations capacity in this process;
• Addressing specific needs and issues in NAN First Nations as they are identified, before Health Transformation is complete; and,
• Providing a clear mandate for each party.

NAN has put in place a core project team who will be driving the process to ensure that transformation builds on community voices and is responsive to community needs. The goal of transformation is to create a health system that:

• Is accountable to NAN First Nations;
• Supports decision-making and responsibility for health at the community level; and
• Builds on First Nations’ capacities and strengths with an emphasis on local control and authority over health care service; and.
• Provides secure fiscal resources for services, programs and governance.

The transformation work plan also builds on work already underway and was developed in collaboration with First Nations leaders, Sioux Lookout Area Chiefs Committee on Health (CCOH), First Nation Health Authorities and representatives of the federal and provincial governments. It is the next step after the signing of the tri-lateral Charter of Relationship Principles Governing Health System Transformation in July 2017. 

Federal, Provincial and First Nations leaders taking action on health transformation for First Nations in NAN Territory - Canada.ca

Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler Nishnawbe Aski Nation  Federal, Provincial and First Nations leaders taking action on health transformation for First Nations in NAN Territory - Canada.ca 
“We are pleased with the commitments from our federal and provincial Treaty partners to transform health systems across NAN territory with our First Nations as full partners. Our communities are in a perpetual state of crisis, and health transformation is the pathway to improving outcomes for our people. This is a monumental undertaking, but we are confident that by working together with leaders, policy-makers, health care administrators and providers we can build a health system that works for our people.”