Thank you.
[Witness spoke in Wendat and provided the following text:]
Kwe, Eskenonhnia ichies’, Marjolaine Siouï Wendat endi’.
[Witness provided a French version, translated as follows:]
Good afternoon, I hope you're all doing well. My name is Marjolaine Siouï, and I am Wendat.
[Translation]
We would like to thank you for your invitation. We wish to acknowledge the unceded territory of the Algonquin Nation and the nations where we are.
I join you from my community of Wendake. I will share our presentation with my colleague, Mickel Robertson.
We will present some of the issues that are opportunities that we are collectively seizing to revive the economy and contribute to improving the health of our populations.
The examples we're going to present today are drawn from a report card that was produced by the Assembly of First Nations Quebec-Labrador.
When the First Nations population across the country is faced with major health issues, consistency is essential. Despite the investments made to support communities and businesses since the beginning of the pandemic, it is extremely difficult for many of them to be part of an economic recovery without the support and formal commitment of the provinces and the federal government, an essential condition for any progress in relations with First Nations.
As you know, an individual's health status is influenced by determinants and their environment. We note an urgent need to obtain telemedecine services from health and social services professionals and to access teaching staff in order to keep in touch and break the isolation and distress experienced by many of them.
Providing quality care and services also requires investment in the development, support and implementation of digital and information strategies for First Nations. The current situation demonstrates with certainty that laws and policies do not allow for adequate monitoring of information or surveillance of the health status of these determinants for our populations.
We need to strengthen our governance and capacity to ensure greater control and better management of our information. We cannot ignore overcrowding, lack of housing and infrastructure. For example, we also need to increase the number of seniors' residences in communities to protect our custodians of our traditional knowledge and cultures. This phenomenon has been mentioned many times, not to mention the shortage of staff, training needs and low salaries.
Despite the efforts and investments, we continue to face several constraints and difficulties in accessing PPE. A greater involvement of First Nations in decision-making processes is essential when developing strategies for the supply of equipment, testing—this was discussed earlier—and also vaccination, which is eagerly awaited.
Although the federal government has recommended that provincial and territorial governments work with First Nations, much more adapted communication strategies must be developed to inform and sensitize our populations about the benefits and also the disadvantages that the arrival of new vaccines could represent.
Finally, several essential workers spoke about both the vulnerability they felt working on the front lines and the vulnerability of the weakening health care system. Succession planning is needed. It is necessary to ensure that external personnel are trained and sensitized to the concept of cultural safety. The issues presented can all be resolved and seen as opportunities for economic development. However, this willingness and vision must also be shared by all.
I'll now turn things over to Mr. Robertson.