Improving health care for Indigenous peoples in the Fraser Salish region, and addressing systemic racism are goals of a renewed Fraser Partnership Accord.
B.C. Health Minister Adrian Dix signed the accord with reps from Fraser Salish Regional Caucus, Fraser Health, and M茅tis Nation B.C. at the Shxwh谩:y Village Cultural Centre, near Chilliwack, in a traditional longhouse ceremony on Feb. 1.
鈥淎s Minister, I think we鈥檝e made a little bit of progress but Indigenous-specific racism exists in our health care system, and it is only through committed partnerships like this one we are signing, the Fraser Partnership Accord, that will see us continue down our road to eliminating racism in our health care system,鈥� Dix said.
The accord cements a 鈥渇ull and meaningful partnership鈥� in both decision-making and service delivery 鈥渇or the betterment of health outcomes for all Indigenous Peoples living in the Fraser Salish region.鈥�
The concept of Letse鈥檓ot, meaning 鈥渆veryone working together鈥� in Halq鈥檈m茅ylem, is embodied in the details of the accord signed by the Fraser Salish Regional Caucus and, for the first time, M茅tis Nation B.C., making them full and equal partners at local and regional levels.
The agreement the reps signed makes a ground-breaking pledge to 鈥渄o better, be better鈥� in a way that鈥檚 never been enshrined before.
Grand Chief Willie Charlie, explained elements of the signing ceremony to those attending in the longhouse, and underlined that thanks to the accord they will be involved in the decision-making to transform the system.
鈥淭he accord is a step in the right direction to ensuring we don鈥檛 repeat the wrongs of the past and that we create a better future of care for everyone,鈥� Charlie said. 鈥淭his collaborative approach allows Indigenous voices to be part of that change.鈥�
M茅tis Nation B.C. Health Minister Louis de Jaeger said it was the first accord to include the M茅tis Nation B.C. as a signatory working toward more equitable practices.
鈥淲e must work collaboratively amongst our Nations to protect our people and advocate for health equity and culturally safe spaces at every point of contact,鈥� de Jaeger said. 鈥淓verything around us evolves over time, so does practical health care and so do we.鈥�
The accord was first signed in 2011, and amended in 2020. The updated version strives to incorporate traditional cultural ways and modern health practices to improve health and wellness for all people in B.C.
鈥淥n behalf of Fraser Health, we are proud to sign this partnership accord that will empower our Indigenous communities with greater involvement over the delivery of health services,鈥� said Jim Sinclair, Fraser Health board chair. 鈥淭his collaboration marks a significant stride towards fostering culturally safe and racism-free care in all of our facilities.鈥�
The Fraser Salish Regional Caucus represents the St贸:l艒 Nation, St贸:l艒 Tribal Council and independent communities in the Fraser Salish region with the goal of supporting the well-being of all First Nations people living in the region, regardless of nationhood, status or residence.
M茅tis Nation British Columbia is the governing Nation for M茅tis people in B.C. and represents more than 24,000 registered M茅tis citizens. More than 6,200 M茅tis live in the Fraser Salish region.
The accord dovetails with the United Nations鈥� Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) and B.C.鈥檚 Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (DRIPA), and aims to establish a culturally safe health-care system in B.C. that is free of Indigenous-specific racism through the implementation of advice and recommendations made in the In Plain Sight report.
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