Health conference takes holistic approach

An agreement in principle has formalized the delivery of health services between the North Peace Tribal Council and the federal and provincial governments.

The new agreement, signed Sept. 15 between NPTC four-member First Nations, Dene Tha, Tallcree, Little Red River and Beaver First Nations and Health Canada will be repeated in October with Alberta Health.

The agreement marks the end of a 10-year program, Many Jurisdictions, One System, started by former NPTC health director Lorraine Boucher and the beginning of a more formal relationship between NPTC and the governments of Alberta and Canada.

MJOS was about building relationships between the different levels of government and the First Nations.
“If the relationships are strong, almost any barrier can be overcome,” said Boucher.

Boucher’s mother passed away in 2000 following four months of convalescence after a vehicle accident. Dealing with the health care system showed Boucher and her family that changes needed to be made.

 “Western medicine does not deal with the whole person,” she said and traditional Aboriginal healing is often not taken seriously by doctors.

Boucher and her family were not allowed to use traditional medicine on their mother until doctors had given up hope. When she was treated using the traditional medicine, she rallied for a week before she passed away. MJOS was Boucher’s response to her mother’s situation.

The main goal of the new health services agreement is to improve relationships and streamline services. It is also a commitment by the provincial and federal governments to improve how First Nation’s people are received by the health care system, build respectful relationships that acknowledge Aboriginal culture and specific needs of the patients, and create a model of how a relationship between a First Nation community and the province should be. Funding will also be addressed by the agreement.

The MJOS program has had both small and large successes. It, and Boucher, were responsible for the inclusion of a renal dialysis unit when the Northwest Health Centre opened in High Level in 2004.

“To be able to bring people home has been, in my eyes, a huge accomplishment,” Boucher said. Four Elders were able to return home to their families because they could get treatment within driving distance.

Signing the agreements in principle with the federal and provincial governments is also important, she said. “The community can see there is commitment from Health Canada.”

Boucher was philosophical about the end of her direct role and the MJOS project.

It will continue in other forms, none of the work has been abandoned. Specific projects have been assigned to different areas of the health care system.

“I’d like the work to continue. There is so much more that could be done,” Boucher said. Hopefully the second phase can focus on improved service delivery.

The signing of the provincial agreement was delayed to allow the CEO of Alberta Health Services, Steven Duckett to attend as well as the four member Chiefs of the NPTC.

Photo Caption: Members of the North Peace Tribal Council signed an agreement in principle with Health Canada on Sept. 15 (from left): Carol Grey, vice president of Aboriginal Health (Alberta Health Services); Herman Wieranga, Alberta regional director, Health Canada; Arthur Lubicon, Little Red River Cree Nation; James Ahnassay, Dene Tha First Nation; and Lorraine Boucher, former director of health services for NPTC.