Northern Peoples’ Wellness: Together, we will work with First Nations to transform health and wellness services and improve health outcomes for First Nations people in the north. (KIM) was established to work towards a new health system that will better respond to the needs of northern First Nations people in Manitoba. KIM supports health and wellness services for 23 Sovereign First Nation communi
ties in northern Manitoba with a focus on equitable care, addressing racism in the health care system, responsiveness to emerging needs, and filling gaps in the health care system. This is accomplished through advocacy, collaboration, and integration with the First Nation communities, and federal/provincial partners. This new system will be developed through speaking directly to healthcare experts and communities and negotiating with systems so that services can be tailored to meet the needs of each First Nation and northern First Nations as a collective. KIM is governed by a three-part structure led by First Nations and is inclusive of 23 political leaders appointed by each of 6 caucuses and a 5 to 11 member board of directors with preference in selection to persons with experience in the health sector. KIM's purpose and objectives are as follows:
- to aid northern First Nations to achieve wellness (minoayawin) with respect to the sovereignty of each Nation.
- to articulate and communicate the benefits of health initiatives undertaken by the entity to the northern First Nations communities, inclusive of leadership and the people.
- to establish priorities on health in order to respond to the service needs related to governance, capacity, training, infrastructure, and best practices.
- to increase access to physician services on-reserve equivalent to, or better than, the accepted standard of care, as regulated and prescribed by the Province of Manitoba and the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Manitoba.
- to expand primary care service delivery.
- to increase public participation in health care delivery.
- to coordinate and integrate health care delivery collaboratively and in partnership.
- to increase access to medical screening, disease location and early diagnosis and treatment.
- to identify and respond to health-related service gaps and facilitate timely access to specialized health related services.
- to administer, deliver and flow through funding and other assets and apply such funds and assets for health-related services being provided directly or indirectly to First Nations of northern Manitoba.
- to research, plan, develop and implement a framework acceptable to First Nations on the transition of health programs to First Nations control.
- to improve health care outcomes and provide better access to health care for First Nations people.
- to provide culturally safe traditional healing approaches to support and improve the health and well-being of First Nations people.
