FSIN vice-chief Kimberley Jonathan and FSIN Senator Ted Quewezance speak on behalf of chiefs declaring crisis. Photo by Joel Willick
Three First Nations in Saskatchewan are declaring a major health crisis in their communities.
The Chiefs of Cote, Keeseekoose and Key First Nations say their communities have experienced around 100 deaths in the past year alone.
The leaders say many of these deaths are attributed to addictions, violence and several other health issues.
“We are in a crisis; we need help and we need it now,” says Cote First Nation Chief Norman Whitehawk.
On February 27, 2016 four people died on Cote First Nation.
“Our communities are in a constant state of grieving,” says Chief Whitehawk.
In a letter to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Premier Brad Wall and other federal and provincial ministers the three chiefs say the deaths and continual grieving with no plans of intervention perpetuates the ongoing crisis.
The letter is asking the leaders to attend a health planning and intervention meeting in one of the communities as soon as possible.
Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations Vice-Chief Kimberly Jonathan says she supports these communities call for better access to health care.
“First Nations face numerous barriers in accessing medical professionals – especially on-reserve,” says Jonathan. “The provincial health system must be equally accessible to all citizens of this province.”
FSIN Senator Ted Quewezance spoke on behalf of the three chiefs at a media event in Saskatoon on Monday. Senator Quewezance says there are far too many funerals on these reserves. He says on average Canadians will attend seven to 10 funerals in a year, but just this last year alone these chiefs would have attended 50 to 60 funerals.
“We haven’t got time to grieve because we have funerals every week,” says Senator Quewezance. “And it’s all pertaining to the health-care system.”
One specific area of contention among the chiefs was the methadone clinic in the neighbouring community of Kamsack. They say Sunrise Health Region funded the clinic without consulting the surrounding First Nations.
Senator Quewezance cited a report where a Health Canada consultant claimed that many addiction problems actually escalated after the establishment of a methadone clinic.
“The drug methadone has a profound impact on the community,” says Senator Quewezance. “From day one our chiefs spoke out against the program.”
Senator Quewezance also shared his own personal story. He says his son passed away this past November.
“For 13 weeks they diagnosed him with sclerosis of the liver and two days before he died they said he had meningitis of the brain,” says Quewezance. “Our people are sent to Yorkton then back home, Regina back home and guess what, all the people who are sent home come home and die.”
“Our request is simple,” says the FSIN senator. “We are asking for basic medical care that has been denied to First Nation patients. We want equal access to health care just like the rest of Canada.”
The leaders say they will convene a meeting that will not end until the federal and provincial governments commit to a solution and agree to implement it.