National Indian and Inuit Community Health Representatives Organization
Summary of Proceedings
Annual General Meeting – July 27, 2001

The Delta Hotel : Site of the AGM

NIICHRO’s Annual General Meeting and National Training Session was held
in Vancouver, British Columbia from July 26-29, 2001. The theme for 2001 was
“Health Teachings for Our Future." The theme is an important reminder to
CHRs to always look to the future. Although the past may seem ever-present,
we must find ways to help our people survive and prosper throughout the
generations. The future is also an important element as we move further
into the 21st century. The role of the CHR will continue to change as
technology advances and new health techniques are developed.

Rooftops of Vancouver

Oliver Okemow - President of NIICHRO

“CHRs must be reminded to concentrate on the needs of their communities.
The education and prevention programs that have helped so many people
in communities will continue. Goals can be met with the proper resources
as long as we see the future and all of its possibilities.”

Elder Elizabeth Paul - Mi’gmag Elder from Nova Scotia

“We are here to hear special presentations and speakers discussing many
issues. I hope we will be like sponges, and that we can take the information
and absorb it well and take it back to our communities. I ask the Creator to
help the CHRs and the health workers in their bands to come together and
ensure that issues are heard at health sessions. We are especially
challenged by HIV/AIDS. I have a lot of respect for my community’s
elected leaders like the Chiefs and others, but I was disheartened at one
conference that they didn’t seem to care that I was going to give a
presentation on HIV/AIDS. Finally, I told them to listen to what I had to
say, if not for their lives, for the lives of their children and grandchildren.
We must make sure that the leaders listen - even if we have to use crazy
means - to increase community activity and access to resources.”

Keith Conn - Acting Director General of Community
Health Programs, First Nations and Inuit Health
Branch, Health Canada

“NIICHRO has worked hard providing CHRs with effective materials to help
educate their communities. Health Canada will continue to work with
NIICHRO on future projects:

In the fall, in collaboration with NIICHRO, launching an initiative
for community-based approaches on tobacco control and tobacco
demand reduction strategies.
Canada will host the International Conference on SIDS in 2004.

The role of the CHR has evolved over time, in the old days bringing
wisdom from Elders and more recently, learning to become a CHR
at college. Training has also advanced and now attracts new people
to the CHR profession. Becoming a CHR offers many more prospects
to get ahead and climb a ladder of experience than ever before. These
opportunities show that the role of the CHR is held in high regard as a
vital part of the community health care team. We have to look at ways
to continually strengthen the role of the CHR to retain good people.
Funding for training has also changed over time with the Medical Services
Branch changing the way it provides money for CHR training. Rather than
having a lump sum to send everyone to one training program in their region,
communities now decide how best to allocate training funds within their
community.

Recent research has shown many successes in communities that
administer their own distribution of funding and handle their own programs.
Many communities that have taken on more responsibility and more
autonomy with social programs have lower suicide rates than communities
that do not have the same opportunity. The more some communities work
together in managing affairs, the lower the suicide rates are. We must not
focus solely on the problems in communities but try to see the successes
as well. We are making progress and we are moving in the right
direction. CHRs have made a tremendous contribution to the progress of their
communities. The government and NIICHRO must
continue their strong support for CHRs as they move toward the future.”

Elaine Johnston - Assembly of First
Nations Health Directorate

“Health teachings for the future” is an important theme because CHRs
are health and healing warriors.

“We have our past, the gift of the present and the unknown of the future.
The state of being present occurs when we are in balance with life and
ourselves - when we are serene and at peace with our surroundings. When
we are haunted by the past or when we fear the future, we cannot be fully
present and experience what is happening now. We need to heal the
traumas of our past to live in the present and look forward to our future.
We must be mindful that what we do today affects seven generations
into our future. CHRs are fundamental role models for positive living.
Every time we choose generosity, compassion and being of service we
set ourselves on a path of lessons and growth. Despite what goes on
around us, we must maintain our personal balance. We must laugh.
Our relationship to the land is just as essential. To be amongst the
trees, to touch the land and the water brings peace.”

Gary, from Kahnawake, the AGM van driver!

The Assembly of First Nations is comprised of people of diverse
First Nations cultures. The AFN and NIICHRO can assist in the healing
process as we move forward to change in the future. We must try giving
thanks for ten things each day - the present – in order to live in the here
and now.

Some of the initiatives that the AFN is
looking at or is currently involved in are:

Canadian Prenatal Nutrition Program (CPNP) evaluation
Development and transfer of the First Nations Health Information System
The Diabetes initiative
Home care
The non-insured health benefits directors
The issue of prescription drug abuse
HIV/AIDS
Environmental Health
Housing programs
Safe drinking water
Mental health
Suicide advisory panel
Telehealth and health renewal

The Assembly of First Nations passed a resolution against governance
legislation introduced by Indian Affairs and Northern Development Minister Robert
Nault. The AFN gave the Minister 30 days to respond. What is made
clear in the resolution is that First Nations have an inherent right to
the land. The AFN also believes that the governance legislation is
getting bypassed and the leaders are not having their say regarding
governance issues.

Velma LaBillois - Vice President of NIICHRO

NIICHRO’s initiatives and projects in 2000-2001:

The AGM and National Training Session 2000 in
Winnipeg, Manitoba, was attended by 280 CHRs and health workers.

NIICHRO was involved in designing and building the Canada Prenatal
Nutrition Program – First Nations and Inuit Component website.

At the AGM and National Training Session in Vancouver in
2001, 80 CHRs will receive training on the CPNP website.

NIICHRO developed culturally relevant training tools and a
training program for a project called Spirit in Motion: Active Living
for Aboriginal Seniors. This project included a training manual, an
instructional video, an In Touch magazine, two and a half days of “Train the Trainers”
instruction and three days of training at the National Training Session held
in Winnipeg in November 2000.

NIICHRO developed an information booklet to promote the use and
accessibility of antiretroviral therapy.

NIICHRO produced and updated the National Aboriginal
Diabetes Association’s Resource Directory.

NIICHRO researched and wrote three issues of In Touch
with topics on Injury Prevention, Diabetes and HIV/AIDS.

NIICHRO conducted a national consultation/need assessment on the
involvement and impact of the First Nations and Inuit Health Information
System (FNIHIS) on the role of Community Health Representatives. NIICHRO
researched and wrote a comprehensive literature review, conducted a
quantitative survey and held four focus groups.

NIICHRO developed a document entitled "Past, Present and Future
of NIICHRO" that consists of a review of basic literature,
programs and policies on each issue area as it relates to CHRs.

NIICHRO is involved in various consultation processes, committees
and conferences, reviewing relevant literature, consulting with CHR
membership and drafting a series of position papers.