FSIN MEDIA RELEASE
For Immediate Release: November 24th, 2022
The Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations calls for inclusion in health care management
Treaty 6 Territory, Saskatoon, SK – The Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations calls for inclusion in health care management with the provincial and federal governments to address the quality of care provided to First Nations people.
“First Nations people have always implemented their treaty rights to health and the medicine chest. Adequate health care was one of the top items for First Nations. The health care system is not adequate. It’s failing many First Nations people not only in this province but right across Canada. We strongly encourage the government to make this a priority for First Nations involvement and management,” said FSIN Chief Bobby Cameron.
Cameron says with COVID-19, flu and respiratory illness at an all-time high, the lack of resources in emergency rooms and hospitals is affecting First Nations peoples’ treaty rights to health care.
“This is why we as First Nations people and leaders will continue to push for our own First Nations hospital, driven and guided by our First Nations health experts based on the medical chest clause,” said Cameron.
FSIN supports a First Nations mother from Gordon’s First Nation, Janna Pratt, who endured a twenty hour wait with her daughter in a Regina hospital’s emergency department.
“This is the worst that emergency has ever been,” said Pratt. “It’s not just us, my sister-law’s whole family was sick and had a similar experience.”
On November 13th, Pratt says her four-year-old daughter Jrema had a seizure that lasted over 30 minutes. It was unlike previous seizures and the worst she’s ever seen. Pratt administered rescue medication but saw no improvement in the child, so she called paramedics. The paramedics administered more medication but were also unable to improve Jrema’s breathing and the mother and daughter were transported to the Regina General Hospital emergency department. There they waited over twenty hours for a hospital bed for Jrema.
“Our experience allows us to speak for everybody. I’m trying to get help not only for her but for everyone else,” said Pratt.
Six days after her daughter was born in 2018, Jrema was diagnosed with brain cancer and now lives with five malignant brain tumors. During her first year of life, she spent over 70 days in hospital. Jrema completed a round of chemotherapy during the first year of her life. She has had numerous surgeries related to her brain tumors, cancer treatment and shunts. Pratt says Jrema is in and out of the hospital about ten times a year.
“Because I’m visibly native, I wear it with pride, so they see that I’m native and some doctors have asked inappropriate questions about my pregnancy when she’s already three and four years old, like to blame me for making her this way. And that’s just not fair, when I’m there trying to get help for her. It makes me feels like I’m to blame and I’m not. The high-risk prenatal doctors failed us,” said Pratt.
Pratt had genetic screening tests done during her pregnancy with Jrema.
“I feel like Jrema belongs to all of us. Her struggle stands as an example that change is needed,” said Pratt.
After 16-years working for SaskTel, Pratt says she quit her job last year as she struggled to balance the demands of Jrema’s medical care, family and employment.
“I tried to maintain it all but had to give it up to look after her,” said Pratt.
About FSIN
The Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations represents 74 First Nations in Saskatchewan. The Federation is committed to honouring the spirit and intent of the Treaties, as well as the promotion, protection and implementation of the Treaty promises that were made more than a century ago.
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For more information, please contact:
Jordan Scott, Communications Officer
Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations
Office: (306) 665-1215
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