Funding infusion

Dalhousie professor Fred Wien addresses the news conference. (Photo courtesy of Chioni McAlister)

The federal government announced reforms that will improve the delivery and access of health services to Aboriginal people and communities.

Ottawa is investing more than $3 million into the Aboriginal Health Transition Fund that will improve the integration of federal and provincial health services and increase participation of Aboriginal peoples. Indian Affairs and Northern development Minister Chuck Strahl was at Dalhousie University Tuesday morning to make the announcement.

“Our government is pleased to announce these important changes in health care services that will better serve the unique needs of Aboriginal people in Nova Scotia,” said Mr. Strahl. “The fund will achieve positive outcomes here in Nova Scotia, improved access and coordination of health services.”

Dalhousie University is a leader in Aboriginal health research and was the venue for the announcement. Dalhousie houses the Atlantic Aboriginal Health Research Program (AAHRP), a program to increase the number of Aboriginal people engaged in health research, and the Mi’kmaq Health Research Group, bringing together Dalhousie faculty with health coordinators from the Mi’kmaq community. The group operates through volunteer efforts, supports health research and conducts the First Nation’s regional health survey.

“We’ve worked hard at the university to build strong supportive relationships with the aboriginal communities of the region,” said Fred Wien, professor with the School of Social Work.

"Today's announcement demonstrates the positive and growing working relationship we have been developing in Nova Scotia," said Angus MacIsaac, Nova Scotia’s deputy premier and acting minister of Aboriginal Affairs. 

The announcement comes as good news to the First Nations community. “We cannot continue with the status quo. Talk is good, but action is better, especially results in our communities,” said Chief Lawrence Paul, co-chair or the Atlantic Policy Congress of First Nations Chiefs. “We’re confident that by working together we can address the problems and issues facing First Nations people.”

Minister Strahl stressed the funding is not creating a new health care system, but improving existing services for Aboriginals and drawing on partners like Dalhousie. “This money will allow us to have places like Dalhousie participate in these projects to improve Aboriginal health services,” he said.

The Aboriginal Health Transition Fund provides transitional funding to provincial and territorial governments and First Nations, Inuit and Métis organizations and communities in three areas:

• Integration: to support First Nations and Inuit communities in improving the coordination and integration between provincial/territorial health systems and health systems within First Nations and Inuit communities;
• Adaptation: to support provincial and territorial governments in adapting their existing health programs to the unique needs of all Aboriginal peoples;
• Pan-Canadian: to support cross-jurisdictional First Nations, Inuit and Métis priorities or shared priorities in adaptation and implementation initiatives.