First Nations and Métis Engagement

The First Nations and Métis Health (FNMH) portfolio was created when the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) was formed in 2017. The portfolio includes two branches: First Nations and Métis Relations (FNMR) and First Nations and Métis Health Services (FNMHS). FNMH works to offer specialty services to ensure that SHA is a culturally safe place for First Nations and Métis residents, patients, families and employees. Using innovative and collaborative approaches, FNMH helps the SHA provide family and patient-focused programs and services for First Nations and Métis people in Saskatchewan.

First Nations and Métis Relations uses the focus on engagement to promote principles that will support and guide successful engagement with First Nations and Métis people and communities. The following resources offer information that supports such engagement:

• Cultural Responsiveness Framework, Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations (FSIN) 2013;
• Honouring the Truth, Reconciling for the Future, Summary of the Final Report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada, and Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada: Calls to Action;
• Indigenous Health—Summary of Findings;
• Indigenous Research Level of Engagement Tool (IRLET), Saskatchewan Centre for Patient-Oriented Research (SCPOR). This tool measures the degree to which a given project meets patient-oriented research criteria in the context of Indigenous communities;
• Office of the Treaty Commissioner has many useful resources. A helpful overview of the Treaties is Treaty Essential Learnings: We Are All Treaty People (2002);
• The RIPPLES of Meaningful Involvement: A Framework for Meaningfully Involving Indigenous Peoples in Health Policy Decision-Making, International Indigenous Policy Journal.