A new vision for Health Transformation in Anishinabek First Nations

Our Anishinabek Nation Health Transformation team has been meeting with First Nations' leadership and our health care community to talk about a vision for an Anishinabek health care system that’s controlled by our First Nations, where we make the decisions about how money is spent and what kind of health services and programming are offered. In this episode, Phyllis Williams and John Scherebnyj update us on the work of the Health Transformation team, and what they're hearing in conversation with Anishinabek First Nations. The Anishinabek Nation Health Transformation Initiative goes back to 2016, as the Anishinabek Nation Health Secretariat looked for opportunities to develop a First Nations Local Health Integration Network (or LHIN). The Ontario government has since restructured the LHIN model across the province but in the meantime, work towards an Anishinabek-lead health system continued. In April 2018, the Anishinabek Nation, Ontario's Ministry of Health and Long Term Care, and Indigenous Services Canada signed a "Tripartite Health System Transformation Relationship Document," which provided the forum for all three levels of government to engage in a Health Transformation process – with the Anishinabek Nation First Nations taking the lead in developing a system that’s culturally appropriate, meets the needs of our citizens and communities, and addresses gaps in the current health system. To ensure the process is First Nation driven, the Health Transformation Team is involving leadership, front-line workers and community members.  Engagement Sessions are being conducted throughout the Anishinabek Nation territory to discuss comprehensive system change. For more information about Anishinabek Nation Health Transformation, visit:  Anishinabek Nation - Health Transformation | First Nation Healthcare by The People for The People (health-transformation.ca)