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Background/"Why"

Moving Forward Together

In order to take advantage of our very real opportunities arising from the settlement of land claims and self-determination we need strong families and healthy citizens.  Good health starts in the home with the family and with the individual, and in particular with the child.  Steps must be taken to improve our health and we must continue to place health as the priority.  

It is our traditional teachings that guide us and direct us to care for our entire families.  Sadly, however, poverty remains a critical factor in the lives of many of our citizens and is especially hard on our children.  As we all know, with poverty comes overcrowding in substandard housing. The structure of many of our on-reserve homes have inadequate insulation, poor wiring, and often have mould.  These physical conditions severely affect our health.  With overcrowded homes we have found that it is very difficult to prevent contagious diseases such as the common cold, the flu, and now we face the H1N1 Virus with the same concerns.  Poverty also restricts our ability to acquire adequate and correct food which also leads us toward diabetes and other diseases. 

The health of our citizens is a shared responsibility. It is the responsibility of our Nations, Canada, BC and our citizens.  We must work cooperatively if we are to be comprehensive in addressing our health issues.  Every effort needs to be made to ensure support is provided by all levels of government to our citizens as we walk our own path in life. The First Nations Summit, the UBCIC and the BCAFN must also work collectively for the greater good in support of our Nations, our families and our citizens.

In looking to meet the needs of our people as we overcome the legacy of colonialism, significant resources are needed for healing and healthcare.  It is important that First Nations work together with both the federal and provincial governments in order to develop a long-term strategy towards securing a sustainable First Nations health system, and to create meaningful steps towards closing the socio-economic gap between our communities and those of non-aboriginals.

In many of our communities and in our homes this has happened, or is happening, as poverty gives way to prosperity and where there have been adequate programs and services to address the legacy of colonialism.  We need to share these experiences and build the confidence and hope in those communities and with our fellow citizens where the path to good health is taking a little bit longer.  BCAFN believes we can turn our health issues around in one generation – we have to. There is too much at stake. With this change, as one of our leaders expressed it to me, “Our social and economic future can soar with only the sky as our limits.”