Healthcare is the focus of Nishnawbe Aski Nation’s latest Chiefs Assembly as they meet virtually to talk about transforming their healthcare system.
In his opening remarks at the two-day Chiefs Assembly, Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler notes that this is work that they began four years ago and need to finish, especially as the pandemic continues.
“Because I think what this pandemic has shown us is the gaps that were there before, they just became more and more pronounced as we went deeper into this pandemic, and now we need to try to backfill some of those,” Fiddler says.
Fiddler says the work ahead of them includes making sure NAN members are on board with the health transformation and understand how an overhaul would benefit First Nations.
“We need to be united in this effort to, first of all, dismantle these old colonial and racist systems, and build a system that’s going to work for our communities and keep our communities strong and healthy,” he says.
Fiddler says they also need to build new hospitals for First Nations, so residents can get proper healthcare close to home.
The discussions continue tomorrow.
