By Metis Nation of Saskatchewan

Taking Care Together

Metis Nation of Saskatchewan Hosts Health Conference

Feb 5, 2024 | 8:56 AM

The Métis Nation–Saskatchewan (MN–S) health team is hosting its first Métis health conference February 2 and 3, 2024.

The goal of the ‘Taking Care Together: Aging into Well-Being’ Métis health conference is to connect Métis citizens with health professionals and decision makers to build relationships, identify systemic gaps, and collaboratively determine effective initiatives that can lead to positive patient outcomes.

MN–S President Glen McCallum said, “As the government representing Métis people in Saskatchewan, it is important that we engage with our citizens to establish an understanding of their realities, North, Central and South. It is only then we can work with our partners to develop a distinctions-based and focused plan.”

The theme for the inaugural gathering is ‘Taking Care Together: Aging into Well- Being’. Kiishpin kwaayesh pishkaapamishooyaahk naawut kinwaysh ka pimaatishinaan is the Michif way of saying, “If we take care of ourselves in a good way we’ll live a long life.”

“Over the last three years, our health team has been meeting with citizens, listening to personal health care experiences, and identifying ways to introduce more distinctions-based services that provide better outcomes for Métis citizens,” said MN–S Health Minister Marg Friesen. “The health and wellbeing of all our citizens from infants to seniors is a top priority.”

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The two-day event features keynote addresses from Métis physician, Jessica Dunkley and Indigenous governance expert, Karen Diver with break-out sessions on topics from Métis palliative care to continuing care for all citizens, specifically for Elders and seniors.

During the opening day of the conference, partners from MN–S and the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) reaffirmed their commitment to work together to ensure better Métis representation in all areas of the health care 2 system to achieve better outcomes for patients by providing a culturally safe environment.

“The SHA’s relationship with Métis Nation–Saskatchewan is based on a common goal of improving the health status of Métis people in Saskatchewan,” said Saskatchewan Health Authority CEO Andrew Will. “Through this renewed MOU, we are reaffirming our intentions to strive towards better health outcomes for Métis patients through ongoing partnership and engagement.”

“Building on the MOU first signed with SHA in 2018, ensures our work continues to be recognized by and within the provincial healh care system,” added Friesen. MN–S Health has also partnered with Indigenous Services Canada to bring Métis citizens with lived experience, relevant health professionals, and policy makers together with space for meaningful dialogue and positive change. The conference is an opportunity to strengthen and expand our partnerships while prioritizing care for Métis citizens across the age spectrum and considering diverse care needs and unique experiences throughout the province.

This inaugural conference will provide the foundation for MN–S government priorities for the health and wellbeing of our aging Métis citizens.

About Métis Nation–Saskatchewan: Métis Nation–Saskatchewan (MN–S) is built on a foundation of Métis identity, culture, values, and language. Empowered by the Métis within Saskatchewan, MN–S works to advance Métis rights and strengthen capacity. MN–S represents the political, socioeconomic, cultural, and educational interests of the Métis in the province through an elected representative system at local, regional, and provincial levels. Social media Links: @MNSask, @metisnationsask