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Attawapiskat PUBLIC STATEMENT First Nation Praying for a Renewed Health Service Relationship

Kashechewan First Nation Mushkegowuk Council’s Deputy Grand Chief Rebecca Friday, is in final (4th) day of a Spiritual Fast Ceremony in a traditional teepee outside the Weeneebayko General Hospital in Moose Factory. The fasting ceremony and prayer is very Fort Albany sacred and spiritual. During this ceremony Deputy Grand Chief Friday did not First Nation consume any food but basically drink water. Upon completing this sacred ceremony Deputy Grand Chief Friday is hoping that all levels of government will come together in a renewed spirit and relationship to begin implementing changes that Moose aim to improve our quality of health care in the far north of northern . First Nation

“Prior to 2007 our health care system was fragmented, fractured and had big gaps. Taykwa Tagamou Our People were falling through the cracks. Sadly, the gap is as wide as it was prior Nation to the signing of the Integration Agreement 10 years ago and our People are still falling through the cracks. That wasn’t the vision and hope. We need to get back to Chapleau Cree the drawing board, roll up our sleeves and do something because we have been First Nation saying how poor the system is. I implore our partners to come to the table followed with action” says Mushkegowuk Council’s Grand Chief Solomon”.

Missanabie Cree First Nation Grand Chief Solomon goes on to say “When we signed the Weeneebayko Area Health Integration Framework Agreement (WAHIFA) in 2007, the 4 coastal communities of the Mushkegowuk that signed the agreement firmly believed that if implemented in full as understood and agreed to, the agreement was supposed to provide us with an advanced health care system that is far-far better than what we have today.”.

Incorporated under the Public Hospital’s Act in 2010, the Weeneebayko Area Health Authority (WAHA) is responsible for the implementation of the WAHIFA.

“We are in full support of Deputy Grand Chief Friday’s spiritual fast for an improved health care system for our people, and we greatly appreciate her for the sacrifices she is making for us and wish her a safe journey” says Taykwa Tagamou Nation Chief Bruce Archibald.

For more information or to speak with Deputy Grand Chief Rebecca Friday, she can be reached at her office in Moose Factory on Thursday, January 11, 2018. 705 658 4222 ext. 106