Bloods sign health agreement

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Blood Tribe Head Chief Chris Shade penned his name to a historic health care agreement May 21 at the Blood Tribe Health Centre in Stand Off.

The memorandum of understanding involves the Blood Tribe Health Department and the Chinook Health Region. It will serve as a framework to build healthy relationships to benefit tribal members and other Natives with the Chinook Health Region.

"In 1995, the new health reforms changed the total type of health care in Alberta and that includes the Blood Tribe," said Shade. "We had to find ways and means to get back on the main stream of health care for our people."

Shade is sure this document will open doors for providing further coverage.

He said the health care centre has facilities for services like lab work and X-rays, but lacks professionals to conduct the work. The agreement will help alleviate that problem.

The agreement will promote and protect the health of the Blood people, assess the tribe's ongoing health needs and help determine priorities in health services. It will also promote health services to meet the needs of individuals.

Blood Tribe Health Board chairman Andy Blackwater said the tribe and the region have been working on the agreement for the past year.

"We shared the same thoughts when we first came together," Blackwater said. It took a year to complete.

Charles Weasel-Head acting director of health services at the health centre, said the memorandum may be small in the global picture of Alberta and Canadian health care, but it is an important agreement for the Blood Tribe and creates a stronger tie with the Chinook Health Region.

Frank Eden, chairman of the Chinook Health Region said the agreement is a positive step toward further co-operation.

"I think the education and cross-cultural sensitivity components are very important. This is a historic document and I pledge the co-operation of our board for a close working relationship with the Bloods and other bands in the Treaty 7 area."