1. Authority

Under the Chiefs in Assembly authority of AOCC. Resolution 01/24 dated June 26/01, a politically represented health structure was established and charged with the responsibility.

The Chiefs Committee on health representative has the authority from the designating organization to make recommendations and decisions aimed at fulfilling the mandate and objectives directed by the Ontario Chiefs in Assembly.

2. Accountability

The Chiefs Committee on Health is accountable to the Chiefs in Assembly, and the Political Confederacy. Any questions on the Chiefs Committee Health mandates shall be referred to the Political Confederacy. The Committee will report decisions made within the mandate and progress at the All Ontario Chiefs’ Assemblies or when necessary to the Political Confederacy.

The Chiefs of Ontario Health Coordinator the Health Coordination Unit, and Corporate Services are accountable to the Chiefs Committee on Health, and the Health Portfolio of the Political Confederacy .

3. Mandate

The mandate of the Chiefs Committee on Health is to protect and maintain our Treaty and Aboriginal Rights to health and to provide advice, guidance and recommendations to the Ontario Regional Chief, Health Portfolio of the Political Confederacy, Political Confederacy and the Chiefs in Assembly on matters pertaining to First Nations health.

Sub-committees may be established as deemed necessary by the Chiefs Committee on Health and would be subject to financial considerations and review and approval of the terms of reference and selection of representatives.

4. Objectives

The Chiefs Committee on Health will work to promote social progress and an improved quality of life and health for First Nations in Ontario, by:

• Advocating for the protection, recognition and implementation of First Nations, Aboriginal and Treaty Rights in Health;
  
  
• Advising on policies, legislation, programs and research to ensure these are implemented based on the best interests of First Nations;
  
  
• Establishing and carrying out effective communication and liaison strategies with First Nations and other networks.

These objectives will be carried out within the mandated, Charter and Declaration of First Nations of the Ontario Chiefs in Assembly.

7. Chiefs Committe Composition

A designated core committee will consist of 1 Chief representative and/or a political leadership representative, from each of the Political Organizations and 1 Chief of the Independent First Nations, and will be confirmed in writing by each of the organizations. (eg: Health Portfolio of the PTO).

PTO’s will also appoint alternate, chief/ political representative to the Committee.

Committee meetings will be open to all interested First Nation Chiefs and/or appointed political representatives.

The Committee will be chaired by the Political Confederacy member with the portfolio for health.

The Committee will be co-Chaired by a Committee member as designated by the Chiefs Committee on Health.

The Ontario Regional Chief will be an ex-officio member of the Chiefs Committee on Health.

8. Duration of the Terms of the Members

Duration of the term for PTO representatives and the Independent representative to the Chiefs Committee on Health will be determined through the PTO/IFN processes.

Duration of the term as the Political Confederacy Health Portfolio member will be determined by the Ontario Regional Chief and Political Confederacy and may be subject to portfolio changes.

Co-Chairperson as designated by the Chiefs Committee on Health may be subject to change following the Regional election of the Ontario Regional Chief.

9. Decision-Making

Every effort will be made to address the concerns of all PTO regions until consensus is met.

10. Committee Meetings

Chiefs Health Committee meetings will take place a minimum of 4 times per year or as determined by the Political Confederacy.

Dates and location will be established in as much advance as possible and may be subject to change based on the availability of Committee members and subject to the Political Confederacy Health Portfolio holder.

A quorum of the Committee members shall be three members.

Representatives must demonstrate commitment to attend meetings and an absence of three consecutive meetings will be subject for discussion by the Chiefs Committee on Health and the Political Confederacy.

Travel, hotel and meals will be reimbursed for Committee members or appointed alternates only, as per the Chiefs of Ontario travel policies.

Every effort will be made to book travel in as much advance as possible to ensure cost-efficiency and to ensure that advances for expenses can be prepared prior to meetings.

Every effort will be made to have meetings start on time, as the agenda outlines.

11. Roles and Responsibilities of the Committee Members

To carry out the mandate and objectives of the Chiefs Committee on Health as outlined in numbers 3 & 4 of these Terms of Reference, under the authority as set out in number 1. In order to do this, Committee members will:

• Review draft agenda of Chiefs Health Committee meetings that will be sent out prior to meetings and make effort to ensure that items that are to be raised are submitted in as much advance as possible;
  
  
• Review draft minutes of Chiefs Health Committee meetings that will be sent out following each meeting and make effort to provide comments;
  
  
• Ensure that any decisions and recommendations reflect a Regional perspective, and respects and takes into consideration regional organization/territorial variations and processes;
  
  
• Develop and/or establish effective communication mechanisms within each organization;
  
  
• Ensure that regular reports are prepared for the Chiefs in Assembly;
  
  
• Ensure that the Regional Chief and/or other meetings on Health are held to provide an accessible and open forum where participants can regularly gather to discuss First Nations health issues;
  
  
• Review and work with other First Nations initiatives to identify connections and linkages at a regional level;
  
  
• Continue to develop a strategic plan in First Nations health and establish priorities and action plans based on Chiefs Health Committee meetings and other Chiefs meetings;
  
  
• To attend meetings, make presentations or be available for media relations, as required.

12. Roles and Responsibilities of Chiefs Health Committee Chairperson and co-chairperson

The Political Confederacy member with the health portfolio will:

• Preside over all meetings of the Chiefs Committee on Health;
  
  
• Ensure that reports of the Chiefs Committee on Health are provided at the Political Confederacy meetings;
  
  
• Encourage active discussion, constructive input, advice and guidance;
  
  
• Attempt to identify any conflict of interest;
  
  
• Develop meeting agenda and ensure minutes are recorded and distributed in a timely manner, through the Health Coordination Unit. (One week prior to the scheduled meeting)
  
  
• Invite experts and/or other resource people, as necessary;
  
  
• Ensure that all communications and recommendations made by the Chiefs Committee on Health are carried out by the Health Coordination Unit/COO Health Coordinator;
  
  
• Ensure that a quorum will be reached for scheduled meetings;
  
  
• Meet with senior Health Canada officials, as required;
  
  
• Maintain regular contact with Chiefs Committee on Health members;

The Co-Chairperson as designed by the Chiefs Committee on Health will:

• Provide replacement tot he Political Confederacy Health Portfolio members, as required.

13. Roles and Responsibilities of the Health Coordination Unit and Staff

Advocacy:

• To ensure that lobby and advocacy efforts as directed by the Chiefs Committee on Health are carried out;
  
  
• To maintain up-to-date information on First Nations health conditions and provide information upon request;
  
  
• To ensure that First Nations are adequately represented in initiatives as they effect First Nations health;
  
  
• To ensure that First Nations health issues and concerns are raised in various forums and processes by political leaders or others;
  
  
• To advocate, support and assist First Nations in the development or maintenance of regional health strategies, as required;
  
  
• To monitor recommendations made by the Chiefs Committee on Health to ensure effective implementation.
  
  
• Ensure that meeting packages/agenda are sent out prior to meetings.

Analysis:

• To analyse new and emerging Federal/Provincial health policies, legislation, programs and research to determine its impact on First Nations aboriginal and treaty rights in health, and to prepare briefings for the Chiefs Committee on Health;

• To provide technical advice and assistance to the Chiefs Committee;
  
  
• To develop recommendations and options as required for the Chiefs Committee on Health and Political Confederacy Health Portfolio member.

Communications:

• To maintain regular contact with the Chiefs Committee on Health members and take direction from the Political Confederacy Portfolio member and the Chiefs Committee on Health;

• To maintain regular contact with First Nations health and technical personnel and regional organizations;
  
  
• To maintain contact and work in collaboration with other AFN committees and AFN units and provide advice, support, as required;
  
  
• To maintain contact and work in collaboration with Health Canada and other federal departments, as required;
  
  
• To develop means of continuing to enhance and improve the capacity of the AFN to disseminate and collect information as it pertains to First Nations health.

Administrative/Other:

• To regularly brief the Ontario Regional Chief, the Political Confederacy and the Chiefs Committee on Health;
  
  
• To coordinate meetings of the Chiefs Committee on Health;
  
  
• To ensure the minutes of meetings and agendas are prepared and disseminated in a timely and efficient manner;
  
  
• To oversee the administration and finances of the Chiefs Committee on Health funding arrangements.