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COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT & INTER-GOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS DEPARTMENT
ABOUT COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT & INTER-GOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS DEPARTMENT
The Community Engagement & Intergovernmental Relations Department was established to achieve greater coordination and collaboration among First Nations, federal and provincial governments to address common health issues specifically for First Nations in Manitoba. The Unit also supports planning, coordination, engagement, research, and participation of First Nations at the regional-level. Current and on-going initiatives and projects in this area are described in more depth below.
Please click on the links to find out more about the projects Community Engagement & Intergovernmental Relations Department is involved in.
INTERGOVERNMENTAL COMMITTEE ON MANITOBA FIRST NATIONS HEALTH AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT
The Intergovernmental Committee on Manitoba First Nations Health and Social Development (ICMFNHSD) is the first step for federal, provincial and First Nation governments to work collaboratively to address First Nation health priorities. The goal of the ICMFNHSD is to address key issues affecting the health and well-being of First Nations citizens. The ICMFNHSD works to achieve this goal through developing innovative and sustainable strategies and solutions to ensure equity of health outcomes comparable to that of other Canadians.
The ICMFNHSD consists of three levels; the Grand Chief & Ministerial level, the Senior Official Steering Committee (SOSC) and the Technical Working Group, all of which have representatives from First Nations, federal, and provincial governments. The Senior Official Steering Committee establishes strategic priorities for the Technical Working Group which sets the direction for the work plans and strategic plan.
The SOSC functions as an instrument for:
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Information sharing and dissemination of information
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Advocacy for change
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Partnership and respect
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Priority setting
The members of the Technical Working Group have been appointed by their respective departments to participate in the ICMFNHSD process. It is the role of each member to bring their knowledge and expertise in the area of First Nation health and the programs and policies within their respective organizations to: undertake ongoing problem solving; share information; and coordinate efforts to improve health outcomes for First Nations people.
MANDATE
Based on government-to-government relations, the ICMFNHSD will identify key issues, investigate, and inform policy makers and decision makers to act on sustainable strategies and solutions, and explore opportunities to ensure First Nation health and well-being outcomes are comparable to other Canadians.
MANITOBA FIRST NATIONS HEALTH TECHNICIANS NETWORK (MFNHTN)
The Manitoba First Nations Health Technicians Network is comprised of Manitoba First Nations Tribal Council and Independent First Nations Health Directors. The network meets 3-4 times per year (when resources are secured and cost-shared between departments at FNHSSM). The meetings serve as a forum for communication and dialogue on collective health issues, research, knowledge exchange, priority development and advocacy efforts.
ASSEMBLY OF FIRST NATIONS CHIEFS COMMITTEE ON HEALTH (CCOH)
The CCoH works to promote social progress and an improved quality of life and health for First Nations in Canada by; advocating for the protection, recognition and implementation of First Nations treaty rights in health; analyzing policies legislation, programs and research. Establishing and carrying out effective communication and liaison strategies with First Nations and other networks. The CCoH provides policy and governance advice to the Assembly of First Nations National Executive Council of Chiefs.
ASSEMBLY OF FIRST NATIONS NATIONAL HEALTH TECHNICIANS NETWORK (AFNNHTN)
The National Health Technicians Network supports and is accountable to the AFN CCoH. The mandate of the NFNHTN is to utilize technical expertise and knowledge of regional and community level health issues to provide recommendations, develop positions, and technical expertise for First Nations health. To provide technical support for the CCoH members.
On-going intergovernmental communication and relations between the Joint AFN & FNIHB Senior Management Committee Meeting with participation by the CCoH and the NFNHTN is a continued success with regions having direct access to policy authorities within the Federal Health spectrum.
NATIONAL ABORIGINAL YOUTH SUICIDE PREVENTION STRATEGY (NAYSPS)
Through limited funding received from Canada under NAYSPS, our unit coordinates the development of a community-based suicide prevention gatekeeper training called Na Ki Chi Toon Pimatiziwin that utilizes a “two-eyed seeing” approach, integrating First Nations culture, language, history, and learning approaches with Western, biomedical best-practices in suicide intervention and gatekeeper training. This work is guided by a Steering Committee comprised of First Nation experts in mental wellness and life promotion/suicide prevention from all tribal areas in Manitoba.
DISTINCTIONS‐BASED INDIGENOUS HEALTH LEGISLATION CO‐DEVELOPMENT
IRCE staff are part of a Legal and Technical Working Group leading work on Distinctions-based Indigenous Health Legislation Co-development to promote participation of Manitoba First Nations in control and delivery of health through this health legislation “co-development” process.
ANTI‐INDIGENOUS RACISM PROJECT
The FNHSSM is dedicated to addressing all forms of racism in the health care system to ensure First Nations Peoples have equitable access to care and to close the existing health gaps between First Nations and all other Manitobans. A team of dedicated FNHSSM staff, including staff from our unit, have researched, delivered and continue to evaluate the 8 - 10 week training for health care providers entitled, “Disrupting Anti-Indigenous Racism: Moving beyond cultural sensitivity in health care”. The training seeks to address systemic racism in healthcare through the interruption of knowledge transfer from preceptors to trainees.
LONG-TERM AND CONTINUING CARE (LTCC)
Building upon the findings of the FNHSSM's long term and continuing care engagement initiative, we developed a project called “Translating First Nations’ Expertise into Action and Practice for the Care of our Relatives.” The Goal of this project is to develop long term and continuing care standards and to identify pathways for integration of these standards into legislation and policy. More specifically, the objectives of this project are to:
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Build upon FNHSSM engagement on LTCC and engage key partners to develop Manitoba First Nations long term and continuing care standards;
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Pilot implementation of Manitoba First Nations long term and continuing care standards and document challenges and successes; and
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Validate Manitoba First Nations LTCC standards with key partners and identify pathways for integration of these standards within legislation.
PAST RESEARCH & COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT EFFORTS
Our Unit has led the coordination of several regional community engagement and research projects that are now complete. In 2022/2023, we conducted a qualitative study to explore the lived-experiences of First Nations adults living with exceptionalities in Manitoba, with a particular focus on their experiences and perspectives around on- and off-reserve disability services, programs, and supports. In the same year, ICMFNHSD staff developed an approach to facilitate regional engagement in partnership with Manitoba First Nations and Indigenous Services Canada to co-develop a comprehensive First Nation Holistic Continuum of Long-Term Care. Reports on the outcomes of these reports are linked under “Resources.”
RESOURCES
OUR TEAM
Amanda
Director of IRCE
Cheryle
Anti-Racism Project Lead
Erynne
Senior Policy Advisor
Marilyn
Administrative Assistant
Michelle
LTCC Coordinator
Last Updated: 2024-06-03