Mission

MINO BIMAADIZIWIN OF THE ANISHINABEK
(Good Health for Our People)

Vision

GHIMEKANAHMUNG MINO BIMAADIZIWIN
(We Will Work Together on Good Health)

The Health Secretariat of the Union of Ontario Indians consists of fourteen staff members who work at Nipissing First Nation (North Bay office), Curve Lake First Nation and Fort William First Nation. The Health Secretariat staff performs a variety of duties that include Policy Analysis, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Education, HIV/AIDS Education, Community Wellness Coordination, administration, reporting, and overseeing a variety of programs that provide funding to Anishinabek First Nations.

The Federal and Provincial Policy Analysts analyze health issues that address the health needs of the Anishinabek communities. The basic role of the policy analyst within Health at the Union of Ontario Indians is to serve as a policy advisor and provide strategic direction to the Health Director and Anishinabek Advisory Council on Health. This could include drafting briefing notes, policy papers and other related documents as assigned.

The Health Secretariat staff act as administrative support to the Anishinabek Advisory Council on Health, the Anishinabek Chiefs Committee on Health, and the Chiefs of Ontario Chiefs Committee on Health. Their objectives are:

• Primary responsibility is to provide technical and coordination support.
• Support analytical requirements of the Anishinabek Advisory Council on Health and the Chiefs Committee on Health as determined by the Health Director.
• Performs duties assigned to the Health Secretariat.
• Deliver predetermined services as mandated periodically.

 The Union of Ontario Indians Health Secretariat consists of the following employees:

Jamie Restoule, Health Director, North Bay office

Tony Jocko, Health Policy Analyst (Federal), North Bay office

Lisa Palangio, Health Policy Analyst (Provincial), North Bay Office

Laurie C. McLeod, AHWS Policy Analyst, North Bay office

Jody Cotter, HIV/AIDS Educator, North Bay Office

Karen Linklater, Admin Coordinator, North Bay Office

Patricia Campeau, Administrative Assistant, North Bay Office

Laurie McLeod-Shabogesic, FASD Program Coordinator, North Bay Office

Laura Liberty, FASD Regional Worker, Lake Huron Region, North Bay Office

Lynda Banning, FASD Regional Worker, Northern Superior Region, Thunder Bay Office

Chochi Knott, FASD Regional Worker, Southeast-Southwest Region, Curve Lake Office

Crystal Cummings, Program Coordinator, Healthy Babies Healthy Children, Responsible Gambling and Diabetes Education, Curve Lake Office

Janine McCue, AHWS Community Development Worker, Curve Lake Office

Bridget Taylor, Office Assistant, Curve Lake Office

Area Health Boards

The Area Health Boards (AHB) are local organizations that are comprised of First Nation community members delegated to represent their communities at the AHB level. The role of the Area Health Boards is to identify the common health related interests of the First Nation communities they represent and to bring those interests forward to the Anishinabek Advisory Council on Health.

Anishinabek Advisory Council on Health

Pursuant to the Union of Ontario Indians general mandate of advocacy and support, the Anishinabek Chiefs in Assembly mandated the Anishinabek Advisory Council on Health for the purposes of assisting in advocacy and support of health related issues.

And more specifically to identify and bring forward issues of concern on behalf of the Anishinabek, for action or recommendation for political advocacy, by the Anishinabek Chiefs Committee on Health through:

• Identifying common health related interests in the Anishinabek Territory;
• Gathering and sharing information;
• Prioritizing these interests in terms of health related needs;
• Strategizing action plans to address these needs; and
• Effective implementation of action plans, once approved by the Anishinabek Chiefs Committee on Health.

The Chairperson of the Anishinabek Advisory Council on Health will report to Leadership Council through the Anishinabek Chiefs Committee on Health.

Anishinabek Chiefs Committee on Health

The purpose of the Anishinabek Nation Chiefs Committee on Health is to provide a forum that links political vision with the technical expertise of the Anishinabek Advisory Council on Health. The Anishinabek Chiefs Committee on Health shall:

• provide political advocacy at the Anishinabek, Provincial and National levels for issues identified by the Anishinabek Advisory Council on Health;
• solicit the advice and direction of First Nations and Anishinabek Nation members on health issues;
• report on progress of issues to their respective regions and individual Anishinabek Nation communities including First Nations;
• recommend ways of implementing direction received from regions, First Nations, and Anishinabek Nation members;
• recommend ways to review and redirect feedback received from regions, First Nations, and Anishinabek Nation members, and
• oversee the implementation of recommendations concerning issues addressed by the Anishinabek Advisory Committee on Health.

The key objectives of the Health Secretariat will be to support consultation and communication amongst the Anishinabek Chiefs Committee on Health, the Anishinabek Advisory Council on Health and the various entities which form our key partnerships including funding agencies, health institutions and related organizations.