Chiefs and technical leads emphasize unity, integrated service approaches and culture at Fraser Salish Caucus
From November 21-23, political and health leaders gathered in Sts’ailes Territory to discuss health and wellness planning and services at the 2017 Fraser Salish Caucus. First Nations Health Council representatives Willie Charlie, Grand Chief Doug Kelly and newly welcomed Councillor Derek Hansom chaired the three days of dialogue and ceremony.
This year’s fall Caucus was attended by 73 delegates on day one, 86 on day two and 56 on day three, including 15 Chiefs, three proxy political leads, 17 health leads and nine technical leads. Participating delegates represented 24 of 32 Fraser Salish communities.
The Fraser Salish people began the three days with a cultural procession to ground the work in culture and bring the delegates together in a good way. The theme of working together in unity was reiterated by Sts’ailes Elder Virginia Peters. "We need to bring our mind, body and spirit together," she shared during her welcome to the territory.
First Nations Health Authority services and programs
On day one, First Nations Health Authority (FNHA) Board Members Marion Colleen Erickson and Jason Calla presented FNHA’s 2016-17 Annual Report. They led the group through highlights of FNHA’s past fiscal year, before providing an overview of FNHA’s finances.
Fraser Salish delegates also learned about various FNHA service updates. Sonia Isaac-Mann, VP, Programs, Services, Research & Knowledge Exchange presented on Jordan’s Principle and mental health and wellness services; John Mah, VP, Health Benefits provided an overview of the transition to PharmaCare; and Dr. Shannon McDonald, Deputy Chief Medical Officer presented on harm reduction and the overdose crisis.
All three executives spoke to the human side of the work that they do and the need to address gaps in capacity and improve services. As Dr. McDonald noted in her presentation on overdose, "I am talking to families, individuals who have been impacted in horrible ways… those aren’t statistics, they’re children, they’re mothers, they’re fathers, they’re grandparents."
FNHA used text-based technology to poll delegates on issues related to mental health and wellness during the presentation. Polling revealed:
• 54% of respondents use the term "Harm Reduction" in their communities
• 88% of respondents agree with the Harm Reduction Policy Statement Vision
• 95% of respondents agree with the Mental Health and Wellness and Substance Use Statement Vision
• 39% of respondents said that "increased access to and quality of services" was the top mental health and wellness priority
Regional work and partnership with Fraser Health
Trish Osterberg, Regional Director for Fraser Salish Region, and Brian Muth, Director Aboriginal Health, Fraser Health (FH), presented on regional work from the past year, including shared investments and partnership work.
A key area of focus for both FH and FNHA is increased cultural safety and humility throughout regional health services. Some highlights of this work include addressing culturally unsafe care within hospitals, including adding plaques acknowledging traditional territories and establishing an Elder in Residence to support clients at Chilliwack General Hospital—a service they intend to expand to other sites.
Ceremony for wildfire responders
During her regional update, Trish paused the presentation to honour those who supported displaced Elders and their supports during the wildfire crisis.
When evacuation orders were issued for the Interior Region, many Elders were stranded in the Fraser Valley while travelling home after the Elders Gathering on Vancouver Island. Trish and Willie Charlie shared how Fraser Salish communities stepped forward to create a home away from home, providing support and activities during this time.
Trish and Willie invited a number of individuals who had been crucial in organizing support initiatives forward for an honouring ceremony, and delegates from across the region shared their gratitude and admiration for the Fraser Salish peoples’ generosity.
"I’m so proud to be Fraser Salish," said an emotional Trish Osterberg. "And of how communities responded to wrap their arms around those who were away from home."
Dialogue on social determinants of health
Grand Chief Doug Kelly presented a discussion paper on the social determinants of health, sparking a rich dialogue on social issues and the ongoing importance of strong governance that works for community needs.
There was an overall concern from leaders not to emulate a system that doesn’t work for First Nations. Other issues that were discussed included the need for flexible funding arrangements to accommodate long-term health planning; reclaiming ancestral ways of managing land and resources; and the crucial need to provide services to all people regardless of residence, especially in the Fraser Salish region, which has the largest urban population.
Largely, delegates agreed with the direction of the discussion paper, and noted that ongoing, transparent engagement on community priorities is needed.
Opening discussion on sexual misconduct
In the afternoon, Fraser Salish people began a courageous discussion on sexual abuse and misconduct as well as healing for both victims and perpetrators. The conversation, spearheaded by Chief Ken Hansen, Chief Maureen Chapman and Inez Louis of Sto:lo Service Agency, was expansive and generous, aiming to shed light on issues too often stigmatized.
Despite the difficult subject matter, delegates acknowledged the issue’s complexity, rooted in trauma and ongoing cycles of abuse.
Grand Chief Doug Kelly commended the leaders in the room for starting this conversation and reminded the group of the ongoing Commitment Stick initiative and the importance of community-driven supports to end violence against women and girls.
Honouring Chief Maureen Chapman
That evening, Grand Chief Doug Kelly, Willie Charlie, Derek Hansom and Fraser Salish people honoured Chief Maureen Chapman for her seven years of work with the Health Council.
Chiefs and health leaders stood and spoke as witnesses to acknowledge Chief Chapman’s dedication. They covered her in a beautiful Coast Salish blanket and a hand-woven cedar headdress and led her through the hall in ceremony, including drummers and singers. Among many words shared, Willie Charlie told the group that "Chief Chapman will always be our sister in this work."
A celebration followed the ceremony with youth dancers from the Sasquatch Dance troupe.
Talking with our partners
Day two of Caucus focused on dialogue with federal and provincial partners and began with a presentation on Children and Family Wellbeing from Denise Devenny, Ministry of Children and Family Development (MCFD) and Jody Kaden, Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC).
The productive dialogue, focusing on youth services and youth in care lasted almost two hours. Leaders spoke to many priority concerns, first among them being the need for multi-year preventative funding, which would allow communities to create more comprehensive planning strategies.
Another primary concern was a lack of communication between service agencies. It was noted that the complexity of the system creates barriers for many families and that a strategy is needed to integrate services.
Day two also included a presentation from Associate Deputy Minister Neilane Mayhew, Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions.
Neilane acknowledged that health services have not served First Nations people well. Similar to MCFD, one of the key issues addressed was the complexity of the system providing services; as Neilane noted, 10 separate ministries all provide aspects of mental health and addiction service. Her roles is to be a single point of accountability to ensure an integrated approach.
Finally, an Emergency Management Panel was held, including Monica Cox of Emergency Management BC and Jody Kaden, alongside FNHA’s Linda Pillsworth and David Reid. The panel discussed lessons learned during the wildfire crisis, and how they can respond better in future. Presenters heard from leadership that First Nations needs to be more fully consulted on emergency planning, and that more funding needs to go directly to communities.
Text polling during the panel revealed:
• 29% of respondents felt their communities were aware of available resources for emergency planning
Supporting children and youth
Day three focused on youth, with a presentation on child and youth mental health from Martin Bartel and Robert Lampard (MCFD) and a presentation on early years services from Stephane Novak (Service Canada) and Emily Horton (MCFD) and Corinne Sagmeister from the Provincial Office of the Early Years.
As Martin Bartel and Robert Lampard noted, their purpose was to learn how to "walk together better" with First Nations, gathering feedback on youth mental health services. While many of the discussion’s themes were familiar—including the need for direct consultation with communities and more integrated services—one story in particular stood out.
Jeanie Kay-Moreno, Councillor for Chawathil, shared a personal story of advocating for a family member to access mental health services in the Fraser Valley. The family member’s anxiety attacks fell through the gaps: too urgent to wait the usual time for psychiatric support, but not urgent enough for hospital support. She waited months to simply receive assessment. Her story of navigating a complex system touched the hearts of many in the room, and drew attention to the barriers that stop youth from receiving the support they need.
Similar issues were brought up during the early years session later in the day. Emily Horton (MCFD) acknowledged a lack of coordination within the system and that the ministry is looking to support integrated services over the longer term.
Another concern during this session was that childcare programs don’t always represent traditional ways of parenting. Corinne Sagmeister agreed and pointed out that "our Indigenous communities have always known the importance of the early years; we have always valued our little ones as future leaders."
First Nations Health Directors Association update
The Fraser Salish Caucus closed with an update from the First Nations Health Directors Association (FNHDA), led by Board Member Peter John of Chawathil Nation. Peter announced a new Board Member from the Fraser Salish Region, Janice George of Sts’ailes Nation, welcoming her on behalf of the Board of Directors. He also presented on the New Societies Act, FNHDA’s recent work on lateral kindness, two Inspiration Award winners from the Fraser Salish region, and new professional development programs.
Throughout Caucus, the Fraser Salish people expressed a clear desire for unity—unity of services, but also for their service providers and for each other. Over the course of three days, delegates came together as partners and Nations in the spirit of naut’sa mawt.