North East Local Health Integration Network (North East LHIN)
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Healthy Change Champion

Aboriginal / First Nation / Métis Health Services

Cree_Vision

Cree_Mission

Overview

Aboriginal/First Nation/Metis Health Services is one of the four priorities identified in the NE LHIN’s 2013-2016 Integrated Health Services Plan (IHSP).

The NE LHIN is working towards improving the health status, and access to health services, of Aboriginal/First Nations/Métis populations throughout the North East, which represent 9.5% of the overall population of the North East region.

Since the establishment of the NE LHIN, consistent engagement has occurred with Aboriginal/First Nation/Métis leadership, communities and health service providers in an open dialogue being respectful of languages, culture and spiritual beliefs of the individuals who are being served. Thus, the NE LHIN has focused on building and sustaining long-term relationships and working together to increase the Aboriginal/First Nations/Métis population’s health status.

The Aboriginal diversity within the NE LHIN is comprised of Cree, Ojibwa, Odawa, Algonquin and Métis identified cultural groups, including 41 First Nations and 19 urban and rural Aboriginal communities. There are 75 Aboriginal/First Nations/Métis health partners involved in the planning and delivery of care to the  region’s Aboriginal population, which is estimated conservatively at over 55,000 persons.

In 2007, the NE LHIN established two Interim Aboriginal Health Planning Groups which transitioned in 2009 to the Local Aboriginal Health Committee (LAHC). The LAHC meets on a regular basis and advises on the health planning priorities in general within Aboriginal / First Nation / Métis communities.

In 2010, after a three-year process, historic resolutions were signed in Moosonee, Ontario confirming commitment to integrate the provincial James Bay General Hospital and the federal Weeneebayko Health Ahtuskaywin into the new Weeneebayko Area Health Authority (WAHA).

This historic event involved cooperation and collaboration among leadership of the NE LHIN, the Boards, the Chiefs of the Hudson and James Bay communities as well as the Federal, Provincial and Municipal government.