[PJB]

First Nations call for independent health care system
Darren Bernhardt, Canwest News Service
Published: Thursday, July 24, 2008
THUNDERCHILD FIRST NATION, Sask. - Saying Canada's public health-care system is "not working" for native peoples, chiefs representing Treaty Six First Nations took the first steps Thursday afternoon towards creating their own, separate health system.

Their vision includes Indian-run hospitals where patients can receive either contemporary or traditional healing methods, the latter relying on holistic and natural medicine from plants and roots, said Eldon Okanee, a spokesman for Thunderchild First Nation.

Okanee served as moderator of a two-day event called The Medicine Chest Gathering, which brought together First Nations peoples and dignitaries from Treaty Six territory, which spans Alberta, Saskatchewan and a bit of Manitoba.

"The present health system is not working for us," Okanee said. "Many of our people are suffering from diseases, like diabetes and high blood pressure, but the health system in place is (not) helping."

Treatments are not always accessible to First Nations people in remote reserves, or to those in urban centres who cannot afford it.

"It's time Indians took control of Indian health, much like we did when we took control of Indian education," Okanee said. "Today our education institutions produce hundreds of qualified graduates. We have the same vision for universal health care."

When the Indian Act was created in 1876, First Nations people were prohibited from practising traditional medicine. Their traditional education, culture and languages were also banned, as the government tried to assimilate them.

"We're starting to get those things back, but we still have to fight," said Okanee, who believes the health-care system could be created by simply redirecting current funding from Ottawa.

During the gathering, which ran from July 22 to 24, a task force was assembled to build the vision for the Indian-run health-care system. On Thursday afternoon, a declaration was signed by Thunderchild Chief Dale Awasis, Chief Ernest Sundown of Big Island Lake Cree Nation, and Chief Wallace Fox of Onion Lake Cree Nation, along with two other chiefs representing the Confederacy of Treaty Six First Nations of Alberta.

In October, a delegation will attend a United Nations conference to present their plans and request support for an international lobby.


Fine. If they want their own system the better be able to pay for it because the true Canadian healthcare system better not loose any of it's funding.

[TattoodGirl]

Saying all First nations want their own healthcare based on one community is quite a broad stroke dont ya think?

Even if it includes Onion Lake Reservation and Big Island Lake Reservation. Relatively small percentage of first nations folk in this country.

[Scape]

Crips, they already have their own health system.

[Tman1]

Ok...nobody is stopping you from creating such a thing on your land. Wait, you want government handouts to pay for it? I knew there was a catch...

[Freakinoldguy]

$1:

Fine. If they want their own system the better be able to pay for it because the true Canadian healthcare system better not loose any of it's funding.

Ya right. Eight'll get you ten says I can tell you who'll be picking up the tab.

[Yogi]

Right now I am about 50 km from Onion Lake. The 'healthcare system' here in the city is both accessible and affordable( read *no cost*) to ANYONE who requires medical attention. And it is as good a system here as anywhere. Of course the complete Canadian health system requires a major overhaul, but what makes Indians think that they should have 'their own' healthcare system? Wouldn't any 'white person' be charged with racism for even suggesting that 'we' should have an 'exclusively white' healthcare system???

[Scape]

If Harper wants to axe a huge amount of waste he should dump NIHB, doing so will ensure there will be blockades across the country, however.

[Donny_Brasco]

I'm fine with the health care system the way it is. Hospitals bend over backwards to accomodate our needs here in Saskatchewan. I think the major problem here is access to services for First Nations people. It is not that there is no access, there is just no literature on how to get it, people are to lazy to pick up the phone and ask where to get help so they do without.

[ziggy]

Most parts of nunavut your flown the 6-8 hours to Winnipeg or Yellowknife if you need to see a doc. A pregnancy is good for a couple of months in Winnipeg.
Must be why they breed like rabbits.

[faile]

Donny_Brasco Donny_Brasco:

. . . people are to lazy to pick up the phone and ask where to get help so they do without.

Careful, some white guy (not naming any names due to his habit of launching libel suits against those who dare to utter it) might get offended on your behalf and mistakenly try to take you to the HRC.

[Scape]

Donny_Brasco Donny_Brasco:

. . . people are to lazy to pick up the phone and ask where to get help so they do without.

Use it or lose it. Most times all this does is add just one more layer to an already existing bureaucracy that ends up being a burden to both systems. Cut out the middleman and just do away with set ups like Department of Veteran Affairs (which don't even cover the spouse) and NIHB and have them managed directly by the provinces so that cover is simple, direct and uniform.

[BarronFerg]

Never mind how Ottawa is going to pay for this.

I would like to know where the staff is going to come for this Native hospital? Lets see you need the secretary, janitor, X-Ray tech, Radiologist, Cardiologist, Lab techs, pharmacy techs. Did I miss anyone. I was sure there was more staff included with a hospital.
I realize they would like to practice "traditional" medicine, which is fine, but maybe someone could explain to me how you would fix a broken back using those methods?

Since they would now have their own healthcare, am I right in assuming that they would not be utilizing our system any longer?

[Public_Domain]

[ponygurl]

Obviously, the Natives are racist.

[OldChum]

Donny_Brasco Donny_Brasco:

I'm fine with the health care system the way it is. Hospitals bend over backwards to accomodate our needs here in Saskatchewan. I think the major problem here is access to services for First Nations people. It is not that there is no access, there is just no literature on how to get it, people are to lazy to pick up the phone and ask where to get help so they do without.

This is what I have found in Manitoba too it is time for the native population to be more accountable to its self and some of the problems . The teen pregnancy rate which is holding alot of them back has to be looked at and the lack of eduacation . It will only change if they ,make it happen.