Health in the Northwest Territories: Trilateral Meeting Held in Yellowknife
Press Release
Yellowknife (Februa y 13, 2024) – Indigenous leaders, Premier R.J. Simpson,
Minister Lesa Semmler of Health and Social Services, Mark Holland, Minister of
Health Canada and Patty Hajdu, Minister of Indigenous Services Canada and
Member of Parliament Michael McLeod met in Yellowknife today.
The trilateral meeting was a commitment of the Government of Canada related to
“Working together to improve health care in Canada” and is part of ongoing
commitment amongst governments that serve the Northwest Territories, and in
particular Indigenous populations, to collaborate further.
Leaders discussed territory-wide health issues that are of priority concern and
Northern and Indigenous-led solutions that will improve access to health services
and equity in health outcomes for First Nations, Inuit, and Métis including Modern
Treaty holders and Self -Governing Indigenous governments. This included
implementation of the new bilateral health agreements, ongoing conversations
around Non-Insured Health Benefits including medical travel and dental care,
mental wellness, addictions recovery and community-based care. Leaders also
discussed health-related impacts related to climate change such as wildfire and
flooding.
Leaders attending the meeting included:
Grand Chief Ken Kyikavichik, Gwich’in Tribal Council (virtual)
Grand Chief Herb Norwegian, Dehcho First Nations
Grand Chief Wilbert Kochon, Sahtu Dene Council
Grand Chief Jackson Lafferty, Tłı̨chǫ Government
Chief Clifford Daniels, Tłı̨chǫ Government
Chief Alfonz Nitsiza, Tłı̨chǫ Government
Chief Adeline Football, Tłı̨chǫ Government
Chief Eugene Hope, Acho Dene Koe First Nation (virtual)
Chair Charles McNeely, Sahtu Secretariat Incorporated
Ɂekw’ahtı̨dǝ́Danny Gaudet, Délı̨nę Got’ınę Government (virtual)
President Marc Whitford, North Slave Métis Alliance
Chief April Martel, Kátł’odeeche First Nation
Chief Steve Vital, Nahanni Butte Dene Band
Vice President Paul Harrington, Northwest Territory Métis Nation
Premier R.J. Simpson, Minister of Executive and Indigenous Affairs and
Minister of Justice, GNWT
Minister Lesa Semmler, Minister of Health and Social Services, GNWT
Minister Mark Holland, Health Canada
Minister Patty Hajdu, Indigenous Services of Canada (virtual)
Member of Parliament Michael McLeod
Delegates also attended from the following governments:
Evelyn Storr, Inuvialuit Regional Corporation
Patsy Schaefer, Co-Interim CEO, Salt River First Nation
Jennifer Drygeese, Health and Wellness Director, Yellowknives Dene First
Nation
For more information, contact:
Advisor/BandBoydClark Manager Acho Dene Koe First Nation 306-681-5171 Executive Director AkaitchonnieBouch
867-3934Territory-3313 Government
ChiefPaulinaExecutiveRoche Officer
867Délı̨-n589ęGot’-8100,ı̨nęGovernmentext106
ChiefAngelaExecutiveTripathyOfficer
867Gwich’in-777-Tribal7927 Council
CommunicationsElizabethKolb Advisor
867Inuvialuit-777-7055Regional Corporation
ActinglexGreslChief Executive Officer Kátł’odeeche First Nation 867-874-6701
Band Manager
NahanniSohmScrimani
Butte Dene Band
867-669 -0242 ext. 207
PresidentMarcWhitford
North Slave Métis Alliance 867-669-7442 ExecutiveUrsulaVogtDirector
Northwest Territory Métis Nation 867-872-2770
ExecutivePatsySchaeferAssistant
867Salt -River872-2986First Nation
ExecutiveOrlenaModesteDirector
867Sahtu-589Secretariat-4719 Incorporated
Tłı̨chǫBerthaExecutiveRabesacaOfficerZoe
867Tłı̨chǫ-392Government-6381
CommunicationsToddManager,SasakiPublicAffairs and
Government of the Northwest Territories 867-767-9168 ext. 15015 PressReemSecretaryShe
Office of the Honourable Patty Hajdu Minister of Indigenous Services and Minister responsible for FedNor Reem.Sheet@sac-isc.gc.ca PressChri topherSecretaryAoun
Office of the Honourable Mark Holland Minister of Health
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