Dehcho First Nations Grand Chief Herb Norwegian is the latest Indigenous leader to criticize the NWT government’s decision to scrap the leadership council that oversaw its health authority.
Health minister Lesa Semmler dissolved the NWT Health and Social Services Leadership Council earlier this month.
She appointed a public administrator, veteran Saskatchewan healthcare leader Dan Florizone, in its place.
The health authority’s senior managers, who reported to the council, remain in post.
Semmler said a full-time administrator would provide “enhanced strategic direction” to those managers compared to the part-time council. The outgoing chair of the council, Gerry Cheezie, said the council itself had not been consulted.
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The Dene Nation had already criticized the move, saying it had “significant concerns regarding governance, accountability, and the overall effectiveness of health services.”
Grand Chief Norwegian added his voice in a press release on Thursday.
“The Government of the Northwest Territories’ mandate emphasizes collaboration with Indigenous governments. Why were Indigenous governments not consulted, or at the very least advised that GNWT was considering this decision?” Norwegian asked.
“At a time when Indigenous governments are playing an increasing role in delivery of health and wellness programs, the failure to engage Indigenous governments in discussions about this major step is shocking and feels like going back to the old ways of colonial decision-making by the GNWT, with no consideration of Indigenous government perspectives.”
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Norwegian said he worried that the use of a public administrator – rather than a council whose members represented regional wellness councils – could mean “regional voices will be ignored while decisions are being made that affect our residents and communities.”
He said Indigenous governments “must be partners” in dealing with the challenges facing the NWT’s healthcare system, which is critically short-staffed.
Semmler has said the GNWT will use its meetings with the Council of Leaders – a broad group of Indigenous governments – and a dedicated healthcare working group to ensure the voices of Indigenous residents continue to be heard.
Norwegian urged the minister to promise that regional wellness councils, which act as advisory groups and are not being scrapped, will “have direct access to decision-making processes to continue guiding decisions about our health and social services system.”
“Unless there is meaningful Indigenous government input into decisions about health system sustainability,” he wrote, “there is a risk that operational decisions may create more hardship for Indigenous people in accessing health and social programs and services.”
