NAN Celebrates Signing of Relationship Accords to Improve Health Care across NAN Territory
THUNDER BAY, ON: Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN) Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler joined with First Nations leaders and health care providers to celebrate the signing of Relationship Accords during NAN’s Virtual Chiefs Assembly on Health Transformation & Governance today.
“We are grateful that these dedicated experts are committed to working with us and our communities in the design and function of an effective health system. These Accords are significant steps to achieving health equity and the removal of barriers to safe and effective health care across NAN territory. Miigwetch to our partners for their dedication and support. We look forward to working together to build capacity and improve health outcomes for our communities,” said Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler.
“We have made a commitment to advance cultural safety and health equity within our organization, to build meaningful and sustained relationships with Indigenous communities that are necessary to support access to high-quality cardiac care appropriate to local context. This is a tremendous opportunity for us to work collaboratively with NAN and other like-minded partners to advance health system transformation,” said Dr. Heather Ross, Head, Division of Cardiology, Peter Munk Cardiac Centre and Site Lead, Ted Rogers Centre for Heart Research, UHN.
“The Canadian Red Cross is very pleased to be part of today’s celebration marking the signing of a Relationship Accord with NAN. We are committed to working closely with communities to identify ways to achieve better health outcomes and improve access to equitable health care. We look forward to learning and listening to community members to ensure a respectful and safe experience for those we support in health and emergency response,” said Tanya Elliott, V.P. Ontario and National Executive Lead for Health Programming, Canadian Red Cross.
“RNAO is delighted to be formalizing our support for the aspirations of NAN for self-determination on all matters, including its people’s health needs and services. We look forward to working with NAN and in concert with other health system partners, bringing to life a health system that will improve the health outcomes for NAN’s communities,” said Morgan Hoffarth, President of the Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario (RNAO).
Relationship Accords were signed today with the following partners:
- Ornge
- University Health Network – Peter Munk Cardiac Unit
- Paramedics Association of Canada
- Canadian Red Cross
- Northern Ontario School of Medicine
Relationship Accords will be signed tomorrow with the following partners:
- Ontario College of Family Physicians
- Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario
- Association of Ontario Midwives
Through these Accords, NAN will work in collaboration with partners for improved health outcomes for communities and bring meaningful improvement in health care across NAN territory. This includes practice guidelines, quality improvement and development tools, culturally specific training and awareness, practice support and strengthening communications.
Also today, NAN welcomed Pam Damoff, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Indigenous Services Canada; the Hon. Christine Elliott, Ontario Minister of Health; and Charles Fox, the newly appointed provincial lead, for continued discussion on NAN’s Health Transformation process and ways to improve health services across NAN territory.
Health Transformation is a community-led process where NAN First Nations are engaged at all levels. Signed in 2017, the Charter of Relationship Principles Governing Health System Transformation in NAN Territory expresses the commitments of NAN, the Government of Ontario and the Government of Canada to work in a renewed multilateral Nation-to-Nation relationship intended to result in immediate, medium, and long-term transformative change to the existing health system at the NAN community level.
Chiefs Assembly: https://www.nan.ca/event/nan-chiefs-assembly-on-health-transformation-governance/
Health Transformation: https://www.nan.ca/health-transformation/about/
For more information please contact:
Michael Heintzman,
Director of Communications
Cell: (807) 621-2790
mheintzman@nan.ca