Health & Social Secretariat

Dene Health Mission Statement

“We, as First Nations accept full responsibility as keepers of Mother Earth to achieve the best quality of life and health for future generations based on our traditions, values, cultures and this will be achieved through the development of a health system model, research policy analysis, communication, and development of national strategies for health promotion, prevention, intervention and aftercare.”

The objectives of the Dene Nation’s Health Department is to inform and educate on health and social issues through prevention, promotion and cooperation with communities and government agencies, both territorial and federal.

The Dene Nation collaborates with the Denendeh Health Committee, Assembly of First Nations, First Nations and Inuit Health Branch Health-Northern Region, and the Government of the Northwest Territories’ Department of Health and Social Services.

Denendeh Health Committee
Nursing Advisory
Mental Wellness
NIHB Caucus
Health Transformation
Jordan’s Principle
FNIGC

Denendeh Health Committee

The purpose of the Denendeh Health Committee is to improve the communication of health information between Health Canada, the Government of Northwest Territories – Department of Health and Social Services, Denendeh National Office, Denendeh Regions, and the Dene. The committee communicates through teleconference calls and one face-to-face meeting per year, allowing the Dene People to make responsible and informed choices around changes in health service delivery.

Diane BenwellChair
Denise McDonaldGwich’in Representative
Patricia ModestSahtu Representative
Ted BlondinTlicho Representative
Emelie SaundersAkaitcho Representative
Greg NyuliDehcho Representative
Chief Roy FabianKatlodeeche Representative

Aurora Nursing Advisory Committee

  • Three First Nation graduates this year, six expected next year.
  • The Truth and Reconciliation commitment is now in the Program Resource Manual.
  • All campus faculty participated in the “blanket exercise” to learn about the history of colonialism and its impact on Indigenous peoples.
  • The program is working with the University of Victoria to make Indigenous Peoples of Northwest Territories a mandatory course.

AFN Mental Wellness Committee

  • Proposed draft revisions to the Mental Health Counseling Guide for the IRS Support Program.
  • First Nations Inuit Health Branch Senior Management Committee is developing an approach to address the Opioid Public Health Crisis.
  • First Nations Mental Health First Aid completed its evaluation and sent recommendations to the Mental Health Commission of Canada; a face-to-face meeting has been requested where recommendations were not agreed upon.

First Nations Non-Insured Health Benefits (NIHB) Caucus

The AFN, by direction of the National First Nations Technician Network and the Chiefs Committee on Health, undertook a renewed campaign to demand fundamental changes to the NIHB program. KTCL completed all NWT regional site visits — Fort Simpson, Hay River, Whati, Colville Lake, Lutsel’Ke, and Inuvik — as of August 2016, developing a national report covering dental, vision, pharmacy, medical supplies, and medical travel benefits. The AFN Membership for the NIHB Joint Review Steering Committee is reviewing benefits from each region.

The First Nations Health Transformation Agenda

An extensive document with 85 recommendations for Federal, Provincial, and Territorial governments across mental wellness, addictions, cultural safety, traditional healing, health infrastructure, home and palliative care, health data, primary care, and chronic and communicable disease. Three themes anchor the agenda: Getting the Relationships Right, Meaningful Investments in First Nations Health, and Supporting First Nations Capacity.

  • Connect decision-makers across First Nations, provinces/territories, and the federal government to overcome jurisdictional challenges.
  • Demonstrate success and share promising models of jurisdictional cooperation and innovation.
  • Support First Nations capacity development in health systems governance.

Jordan’s Principle

Jordan’s Principle ensures all First Nations children can access the health, social, and educational products, services, and supports they need, when they need them. The Child-First Initiative provides funding of up to $382.5 million over three years (2016–2019). In the NWT, 108 requests have been made since August 2017 — 57 approved, 3 denied, the remainder pending or referred elsewhere.

To submit a request on behalf of a child, contact Alisar.Ibrahim@canada.ca or call 613-884-2512, or contact Veronica Marlowe at 867-873-4081 (toll-free 1-866-511-4081) at the Dene Nation.

First Nations Information Governance Centre

Headquartered in Ottawa, FNIGC is the permanent home of the First Nations Regional Longitudinal Health Survey (RHS), providing information, research, training, data collection, analysis, and dissemination services to First Nations at the community, regional, and national levels.

Visit FNIGC.ca