Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  I totally concur with President Obed. Definitely, we need our people to be recognized. I'll give you an example here. With the funded FNIHB, non-insured health benefits, for mental health counsellors here in Saskatchewan there is a list where you have to declare, you do your serv

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Thank you for that question. The sad part about it is the western way, like you said. When there's a crisis in a community and the community declares a state of emergency over a mental health issue, whether it's a string of suicides by youth or overdoses, they bring in the commu

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  They may use them if there's an attempt. They provide the individuals, if they are not successful with the wraparound supports that they need.... I believe the choose life program was funded by ISC and partially by the first nations and Inuit health branch. However, I believe t

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  I don't think so. I will give you an example right now. Some optometrists in the Saskatchewan region are no longer taking NIHB. People have to prepay and then they have to submit their receipts to NIHB, because the optometrists will no longer submit them for them. That's one exa

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  No. I don't think people should be allowed to opt out of NIHB. A lot of the time, they look at our own independent job service health programs first, before they even go to NIHB as a last resort. I guess it's because of the challenges of getting paid, or whatever the issues are

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Thank you, Gary. First of all, it's good to see you virtually. We haven't connected in person for a while, obviously, due to the pandemic. I appreciate that question. Yes, there are issues around the medical transportation particularly for the north. Dialysis treatment is a pr

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Thanks, Gary. I'll be real quick with my remarks. I'm getting feedback here. Definitely, that $2.5 million was a result of Chief Margaret Bear of Ochapowace first nation and Chief Ronald Mitsuing in Makwa Sahgaiehcan—which is in your riding, Gary—declaring states of emergency.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Hello. Thank you for that question. First of all, I want to acknowledge that medical transportation does present a lot of challenges, even in Saskatchewan. A number of our people have come forward, of course, with the rising costs of gasoline now. The mileage is inadequate for

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  How much time do I have, Mr. Chair?

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Okay. I'll try to get it under 45 seconds. First of all, thank you for that question. I do want to say that the traditional healers, the elders in our first nations communities, do a lot of great work that's recognized. I know that they've done some excellent work in terms of h

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  I'd be happy to. The AFN will prepare a brief note for the committee, and we'll forward more information on them. I really appreciate that you're interested in that. It shows that there's some interest in terms of our traditional medicines, our traditional ways and our elders. W

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Thank you for the question. First of all, I just want to say that the work is continuing and is ongoing right now. It's a work in progress. There was some movement on that, but of course the pandemic put the brakes on everything when it came to the very important work that we're

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Thank you for the question. First of all, of course, first nations had our own health care system prior to contact. We relied on a lot of our spiritual and traditional healers, and we still do. A lot of our first nations people utilize both systems of care. If they are being tre

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Oh, my goodness. At the FSIN, and I'm sure at the other regions, we have literally stacks of reports. Recently, the federal government committed to a first nations health ombudsperson and that work is starting. There is encouraging news in Saskatchewan, in that over 70% of the

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  —our people have the right to improved health outcomes. Thank you, Mr. Chair.