BC First Nations Health Authority Mark Historic Health Services Takeover Northwest First Nations groups react to the changeover in services Katherine Dow 10/1/2013 http://www.cftktv.com/News/Story.aspx?ID=2054200
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- It's being hailed as a historic day in aboriginal self-governance. The BC First Nations Health Authority officially took over management on October 1 of Health Canada's First Nations Inuit Health Branch. This represents the transfer of dozens of nurses stations and health care centres across the province, as well as an operating budget from the federal government of $377 million and $4.7 billion from the province over 9 years. Grand Chief Doug Kelly, chair of the First Nations Health Authority says the takeover from the federally-run Health Canada service is a milestone for First Nations people across Canada. "We're beginning the journey to reclaim our independence by having the federal government and the province of British Columbia share with us the responsibility for the care and well-being of our own citizens," Kelly said. Chief Rick McLean of the Tahltan First Nation says the new authority will be less rigid with the budget, allowing communities to re-allocate program dollars to certain areas of need. For the Tahltan, that's more seniors services for their more elderly communities. "So if we're able to move money around to different programs that are needed in the community, that will give us that flexibility," Chief McLean explained. Still, he says he's worried that this new entity could become riddled with the same issues that bogged down the old, federally-run service. "We're deeply concerned that we may be creating another bureaucracy where a bunch of money doesn't get funneled down to the community, and the whole goal is to get more dollars at the community level," he said. Meanwhile, deputy chief Frank Alec of the Lake Babine Nation has similar concerns. He says the old, federally-run system didn't reflect his community's needs for hollistic approaches over traditional medicine. He says this time around, they're being cautious that their community's specific needs are being met. "We know that the transition is happening, and beyond the transition is what our needs and demands -- this is where our needs and demands will definitely be a big concern," he said. As of Oct. 1, the FNHA now manages about 300 staff member and a federal budget that funds healt-care specific social workers, dentists and nurses for about 150,000 Aboriginal people throughout the province.
