​The First Nations Health Authority (FNHA) and the Southern Chiefs' Organization (SCO) held a valuable and informative knowledge exchange on July 25 in Vancouver. The SCO represents 34 Anishinaabe and Dakota Nations in what is now southern Manitoba. In attendance were several FNHA executives and two SCO representatives.

Many of issues the SCO is facing in delivering high quality wholistic health care to their First Nations communities echo those faced by the FNHA.

“During our health transformation journey, FNHA has adopted certain approaches but has also had to pivot and adapt along the way. We're happy to share what we've learned," said Richard Jock, the FNHA's Chief Executive Officer.

In the 2019 the SCO Health Transformation was created with a goal of developing a community-driven, Nation-led health care system that will close the health care gap between their First Nations community members and non-First Nations people in Manitoba. This January, the SCO published “Decolonization: Recognizing First Nations Sovereignty." The report concluded the health inequities facing their First Nations communities are a direct result of colonialism and to change their health outcomes, the SCO will need to take control of their own health care delivery using First Nations knowledge and doing.

Grant Humphrey, Vice President of Health and Infrastructure and Michelle Monkman, Vice President of Health Services and Programs presented on behalf of the SCO. Some of the challenges facing the SCO include updating outdated guidelines for community health centres, ensuring stable and long-term funding, how to deliver high quality health care to First Nations people living in diverse locations that range from rural and remote to urban settings, incorporating Indigenous knowledge and ways of doing while also combatting anti-Indigenous racism and discrimination in the health care system.

“We appreciate and thank the BC First Nations Health Authority for their willingness and openness in hosting a knowledge exchange with the Southern Chiefs' Organization," said Monkman. “In the process of exchanging knowledge, we learn from one another and foster new capacities for action. This action will translate into health system transformation that will better meet the needs to the First Nations individuals, families and communities that we work alongside."

The presentation also went over some of the innovative ways the SCO is delivering health care to their members. These methods include telehealth, working with educational institutions to not only bring awareness of cultural safety and humility but also ways to improve the professional development of health care professionals.

After their presentation, FNHA representatives presented on some of the challenges the organization faced when taking over health care for First Nations in BC and some of the innovative programs such as telehealth and using drones.

This knowledge exchange was a valuable forum for both the FNHA and SCO to learn from each other.