Chilliwack/Victoria – The Province is renewing its commitment with the Fraser Salish Regional Caucus, Métis Nation British Columbia and Fraser Health to improve health outcomes for Indigenous Peoples in the region.
Some key actions of the renewed accord include:
- transitioning from the Aboriginal Health Steering Committee (AHSC) into the Indigenous Health Collaborative Council (IHCC);
- developing a reciprocal accountability framework to inform annual evaluation, as well as ensure the parties reach agreed upon goals; and
- developing a process to minimize or prevent disputes regarding the parties’ respective rights or obligations under the accord.
“Our Nations must have a say in the decision-making of health-care policies and processes, for our people,” said Louis De Jaeger, minister of health at Métis Nation British Columbia. “This partnership accord between the Fraser Salish Regional Council, Métis Nation British Columbia and Fraser Health is a significant step towards addressing Indigenous racism and ensuring equitable health-care access for First Nations and Métis communities.”
The regional caucus represents the Stó:lō Nation, Stó:lō Tribal Council and independent communities in the Fraser Salish region. The local Nations intend to support the well-being of all First Nations people living in the region, regardless of Nationhood, status or residence.
Métis Nation British Columbia is the governing Nation for Métis people in B.C. and represents more than 24,000 registered Métis citizens. More than 6,200 Métis live in the Fraser Salish region.
The accord aligns with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and B.C.’s Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act, and aims to establish a culturally safe health-care system in B.C. that is free of Indigenous-specific racism through the implementation of advice and recommendations made in the In Plain Sight report.
Peter Lang – President, Chilliwack Metis Association: Beautiful and historic day for the health of First Nations and Metis citizens today. Chi Miigwech to all the people who made this Fraser Partnership Accord happen, and particularly to MNBC Minister of Health, Louis De Jaeger. This is a first in BC and possibly Canada. Was such a privilege to be there to witness history
Dan Coulter, MLA for Chilliwack – “For too long, barriers have existed within our health-care system that have disproportionately affected some populations in our communities, like Indigenous Peoples. This renewed accord signifies a bold action of our government to work together with First Nations and Métis people residing in the Fraser Salish region to address Indigenous-specific racism and other disparities preventing them from receiving the care they need.”
Kelli Paddon, MLA for Chilliwack-Kent – “Updating the Fraser Partnership Accord brings us another step closer to achieving an equitable health-care system for Indigenous and non-Indigenous people alike. This agreement, along with other previous actions, such as improving access to public health-care services through the First Nations-led Sts’ailes Community Care Campus, is an important step in closing the health gaps here in the region and around B.C.”
FYI :
- The Fraser Partnership Accord sets out to ensure all health services provided by Fraser Health are culturally safe, based on a distinction-based approach.
- A distinction-based approach means that any work with Indigenous Peoples will be conducted in a manner that acknowledges the human rights, interests, priorities and concerns of each individual, while respecting and acknowledging their unique cultures, histories, rights, laws and governments.
