FORT FRANCES - Self-government is an important step toward Truth and Reconciliation.
As of right now, most First Nations people are governed under the Indian Act which was established more than 140 years ago.
The Indian Act is a document that places restrictive policies that governed the affairs of the Indigenous people of Canada, self-government negotiation allows First Nation communities the authority to make law-making policies that govern their traditional areas.
The policies will allow Treaty Territories’ governance over their social and economic development, education, health, and land rights.
Although self-governance varies from group to group, depending on their unique needs and priorities and their vision of self-determination, these policies work in unity with provincial and federal laws.
Therefore, Indigenous Services Canada and Fort Frances Tribal Area Health Services will take over the responsibility for determining culturally appropriate services within their community.
"This transfer of environmental public health services provides flexibility to Fort Frances Tribal Area Health Services to institute program priorities based on their seven core values for Mino ayawin (good health) in the 10 First Nations communities they support,” said Patty Hajdu, Minister of Indigenous Services. “Indigenous-led design, delivery and control of services is critical in creating better outcomes for First Nations communities, and this transfer of services is a leading example that others can now follow."
The seven core values reflect a wholistic approach to health and wellness that focus on the cultural and spiritual principles of First Nations people.
These seven core values are highlighted on the Fort Frances Tribal Area Health Services website, which includes wisdom, love, bravery, respect, humility, honesty, and truth.
The transfer of Environmental Public Health Services puts decision-making power in the hands of Indigenous governments and organizations, who can then make their own choices about how to deliver programs and services in their communities.
Therefore, Fort Frances Tribal Area Health Services has assumed responsibility for food safety, safe drinking water, healthy housing, public facility inspections, waste and wastewater management, communicable disease control, and emergency preparedness and response for the following communities:
- Mishkosiminziibiing First Nation
- Couchiching First Nation
- Chima'aganing First Nation
- Mitaanjigamiing First Nation
- Zhingwaako Zaaga' Igan First Nation
- Naicatchewenin First Nation
- Ojibways of Onigaming First Nation
- Nigigoonsiminikaaning First Nation
- Manidoo Baa Witi Gong First Nation
- Anishinaabeg of Naongashiing
“Environmental Health plays an important role in all aspects of well-being. We have long recognized the links between the health of the environment and the health of our people, which is rooted heavily in Anishinaabe traditions and cultural practice, and the responsibilities and relationship to the land. With the guidance and partnership of our Anishinaabe Nations and Indigenous Services Canada, we are committed to an Indigenous-led Environmental Public Health program in Southern Treaty #3 that is responsive to the unique needs of each community and contributes to our vision of lifelong Mino ayawin,” said Kayla Caul-Chartier, chief executive officer, Fort Frances Tribal Area Health Services.
With this arrangement between Canada, Indigenous Services Canada and Fort Frances Tribal Area Health Services, funding arrangements are accessible to mitigate fiscal responsibility for health services in the area. The arrangement provides funding that supports the operations of the Indigenous government to effectively deliver programs and services to its members on an ongoing basis.
These fiscal agreements generally have a five-year term.
Indigenous Service Canada supports capacity development programming to enable communities to adapt plans to their culture and traditions.
Core funding from Indigenous Service Canada will continue to provide health protection programs to Fort Frances Tribal Area Health Services to support ongoing costs of First Nations service delivery while also maintaining public health support as required.
