Chief Bobby Cameron of the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations (FSIN) along with the Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Indigenous Services, announced today that the FSIN will be establishing the first ever First Nations Health Ombudsperson's Office in the province of Saskatchewan. Indigenous Services Canada is providing $1.17 million to support this work.
The First Nations Health Ombudsperson's office will ensure First Nations have a point of contact where they feel safe to be able to report incidents of discrimination when accessing health care services in Saskatchewan. The Ombudsperson Office's team of advocates will work with individuals and their families to bring systemic concerns to the attention of federal and provincial health organizations for resolution. The Office will also assist in determining options to resolve conflicts or concerns for overall system change improvements.
Until now, Indigenous peoples who have faced racial discrimination when seeking health services in the province have had little to no recourse in addressing problematic and challenging experiences. Establishing the First Nations Health Ombudsperson's Office is one important step of many to improve supports and accountability in Canada's health care systems.
Addressing anti-Indigenous racism in our health care systems is work that needs to be done across the country. Recognizing Indigenous Knowledge, ensuring cultural safety and supporting Indigenous-led health services are central to achieving this goal.
The Government of Canada will continue to work with Indigenous and non-Indigenous partners across the country to ensure that First Nations, Inuit and Métis have recourse - no matter where they seek services - when they experience instances of racism and discrimination in our health systems.
