MKO 22nd LEGISLATIVE GOVERNMENT HOUSE
Annual General Assembly Opaskwayak Cree Nation
September 9, 10, 11, 2003

The Health Advisor, Jennie Wastesicoot resigned her position in late April and Joseph Perch, Assistant Health Advisor has resumed the position as Acting Health Advisor. Fred Stevens has been hired to assumed the duties of the Health Advisor position and Pat Godin is still the Administrative Assistant to the health program. Glen Sanderson has been hired to draft the Health Framework Agreement document.

Update

Fred Stevens has resigned in October 2002 and Joseph Perch, Assistant Health Advisor has resumed the duties of Acting Health Advisor. As of December 2002, Joseph has assigned the position of Health Advisor. Further, Jean Johnson is assisting Joseph with the duties. Glen Sanderson has left in September to further his education.

The Administrative Assistant continues to forward all pertinent information to each member First Nation and Tribal Councils.

The Health Liaison Program actively participates in addressing health issues and policies that have impacts on First Nation membership. One of the policies include the Client Consent Form which creates serious concern to our First Nations people, regionally and nationally.

MKO Health has recently been directed to assist in the Personal Care Home issue. MKO will be directly involved in advocating for the deadline extension to be extended for the MKO First Nation Personal Care Homes to meet the standards required as imposed by INAC.

MKO hosted a Northern Conference on FAS/E for the MKO First Nations in March, 18 & 19, 2003. There were approximately 140 participants that attended the conference. The conference was funded through FNIHB / AMC FAS/E working group. A report is currently being finalized.

Both the Health Advisor and Assistant Health Advisor attend meetings as requested and or as required. The Health Liaison Program attended the following meetings or is a member of the committee(s);

• Aboriginal Education Health & Human Services
• Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs - FAS/E Committee
• Dental Appeals Committee
• Manitoba Advisory Tobacco Control Circle
• Regional Management Team meetings
• Traditional Healers Policy Committee MKO/FNIHB
• Centre for Aboriginal Health Research Committee
• AMC Health Information Research Committee
• Assembly of First Nations Adult Care Focus Group
• Manitoba First Nations Personal Care Home Networking Group
• Burntwood Regional Health Authority meetings
• AMC Youth Suicide Prevention Ad-Hoc Committee
• Manitoba Health - Aboriginal Health Programs
• FNIHIS - January 2003 AMC
• Health Technicians strategy meeting - January 2003

The Health Canada Manitoba First Nations Working Group ( HCMFNWG ) has come to a standstill but is not a forgotten issue. There has been discussion at the AMC level concerning the work of the HCMFNWG and the urgency to continue this work. The First Nations health crisis continues and must be addressed. Five reports have been drafted and it is imperative that this work is completed.

Certified resolutions passed at MKO Assemblies are forwarded to the appropriate government(s) and followed up by Health Program staff.

The MKO Grand Chief and Health Liaison Program, Chief Roger Ross from Manto Sipi Cree Nation met with the Regional Director on July 3, 2002 to address the Manto Sipi Cree Nation's concerns. The MKO Grand Chief and the Health Liaison Program met with the Regional Director on July 10, 2002 to address MKO First Nations' issues.

On November 14, 2002, the Acting Health Advisor accompanied the MKO Grand Chief Francis Flett to Sayisi Dene First Nation for a Health related community meeting.

MKO, both Political and Health office has been in contact with FNIHB regarding recoveries from Fiscal Year 1997/1998 & 1998/1999. The MKO Grand Chief and Health Liaison Program met with the Regional Director on November 26, 2002. Agenda items included:

• MKO Health Liaison Recoveries
• Primary Care Skills (PCS) Multi Year Contract
• Resolution # 2002-09-02 PCS training for nurses in MKO First Nations
• Resolution # 2002-09-09 Northern Aboriginal Population Health & Wellness Institute
• Health Framework Agreement
• Traditional Healers Policy
• Sayisi Dene First Nation health issues
• York Landing First Nation health issue
• Aboriginal Education Health & Human Services

The Health Liaison Program keeps ongoing contact with AMC & SCO, Tribal Councils and individual First Nations health personnel to identify health issues that have/will impact their respective communities. On August 9, 2002, the MKO Health Liaison Program met with Tribal Council technicians to discuss health issues and to review the Health Framework document. The Health technicians provided input and direction on what approach should be taken. The MKO Health Liaison Program will be meeting with the MKO Health Technicians and Legal Council to review the HFA Agreement In Principle on November 27 & 28, 2002. The Health Framework Agreement year end report will be submitted separately.

The MKO Health has been meeting with the Burntwood Regional Health Authority and several other organizations in discussions regarding the establishment of the Northern Aboriginal / Population Health & Wellness Institute. The MKO Health staff have been working with Manitoba Health in addressing the issues impacting the MKO membership.

The Northern Aboriginal Population Health & Wellness Institute partnership meeting will be held on November 29, 2002 at the MKO Boardroom. Three Letters of Intent were signed by the MKO Grand Chief and the President of the Burntwood Regional Health Authority and forwarded to the Primary Health Transition Fund. No response have been received to date.

The MKO Health staff continues to receive complaints from patients and deal with the appropriate organization to address the problems.