Assembly of First Nations

AFN Regional Chief of Alberta

P.O. Box 1688, Maskwacis, AB T0C 1N0
Phone: (780) 585-4238 Fax: (780) 585-4297

April 5, 2016
Honourable Sarah Hoffman
Minister of Health, Government of Alberta
423 Legislature Building
10800 97 Avenue
Edmonton, AB T5K 2B6

Via Email: health.minister@gov.ab.ca

Dear Honourable Minister Hoffman,

I am compelled to write to you regarding the critical need to address racism and
discrimination of Indigenous Peoples within government institutions such as
Alberta Health Services (AHS), whose purpose it is to serve the public good.
Recently, an individual posted a hateful comment on Facebook in the City of Red
Deer in response to the health emergencies that were occurring in
Kaschechewan First Nation, a Northern Ontario fly-in community. This individual
stated, you dont get scabies from water!! Quit living like animals, and
concluded her remarks by stating, The reserves are not going to get better.
I acknowledge Facebook is a public forum and a person should have the
freedom to express their opinions on matters, however, the fact is this person
self-identified as a health care service provider working with AHS. The comments
reflect badly on AHS and highlight this individuals lack of empathy,
understanding and complete insensitivity to a particular client group that she
would come into contact with on a daily basis as a frontline worker.
Racist and hateful comments such as the ones made by an employee of AHS in
a public forum, highlight the fact that public institutions must do a better job of
educating their employees, not just on our cultural differences and our protocols,
but of the need to understand the reality of life on reserve, historical injustices
and the health, social, and economic disparities that have been perpetuated by
chronic underfunding and government policy and practice.
The health situation in Kaschechwan First Nation is urgent and unfortunately not
isolated, and speaks to the larger health and social disparities that rank First
Nations on reserve 63rd on the Human Health Index, while Canadians rank 6th.
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Although issues would vary by region, some of the common factors are poor or
inadequate infrastructure and poor access to health services. First Nations
Peoples on reserve face isolation, lack of emergency services, poor or nonexistent roads, poor housing conditions, overcrowding, lack of clean water,
unsafe drinking water, no transportation, no primary care facility close by, and
limited access to doctors, to name a few.
Improving access to health services is important factor in addressing gaps in
health services for Indigenous Peoples, and a large part of improving access to
health services means addressing racism, which is also inextricably linked to
systemic discrimination. We cannot ignore these critical issues.
We have been aware for a very long time that discriminatory practices are
imbedded within government budgets, policy and practices. In a historic decision,
the Canadian government was found by the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal to
have discriminated against First Nations children and families on reserve.
I commend Premier Rachel Notley for her commitment to renewing and
improving governments relationship with Indigenous Peoples utilizing the United
Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) as a guide,
as well as the directive to the Ministries to conduct a review of government
policy, programs and legislation and to work closely with Indigenous leaders in
doing so. Articles 21 and 24 speak to Indigenous Peoples right to health and
access to health.
Article 21
1. Indigenous peoples have the right, without discrimination, to the improvement
of their economic and social conditions, including, inter alia, in the areas of
education, employment, vocational training and retraining, housing,
sanitation, health and social security.
2. States shall take effective measures and, where appropriate, special
measures to ensure continuing improvement of their economic and social
conditions. Particular attention shall be paid to the rights and special needs of
indigenous elders, women, youth, children and persons with disabilities.
Article 24
1. Indigenous peoples have the right to their traditional medicines and to
maintain their health practices, including the conservation of their vital
medicinal plants, animals and minerals. Indigenous individuals also have the
right to access, without any discrimination, to all social and health services.
2. Indigenous individuals have an equal right to the enjoyment of the highest
attainable standard of physical and mental health. States shall take the
necessary steps with a view to achieving progressively the full realization of
this right.

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Our Peoples deserve to be treated with care, dignity and respect. Hateful
comments or treatment of Indigenous Peoples by AHS employees must be firmly
addressed by officials within your department.
I am looking forward to hearing how the Alberta government will be working with
Indigenous Peoples to address racism in the workplace as well as discriminatory
practices that prevent access to quality health care.
Yours truly,

Craig Makinaw
Assembly of First Nations Regional Chief (Alberta)
CC.

Dr. Verna Yiu, President & CEO, Alberta Health Services

Brenda Huband, Vice President & Chief Health Operations Officer, Central & Southern
AB
Treaty 7 Chiefs
Confederacy of Treaty Six First Nations
Treaty 8 Chiefs (Alberta)
Perry Bellegarde, National Chief, Assembly of First Nations
Isadore Day, AFN Ontario Regional Chief & Executive Health Portfolio