Series Description
Visioning the Future is a series of webinars offering a vision for First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Peoples’ public health. These webinars are a development of the National Collaborating Centre for Indigenous Health’s 2021 publication, Visioning the Future: First Nations, Inuit, & Métis Population and Public Health, a collaborative report offering a vision for First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Peoples’ public health. Privileging Indigenous knowledges, the commissioned report complements the Chief Public Health Officer’s 2021 public health vision report, A Vision to Transform Canada's Public Health System.
Webinar Overview
The third webinar in the series offers public health visions articulated by three National Indigenous Organizations: Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, Métis National Council, and the Assembly of First Nations. Representatives from each organization will present an overview of the current reality for the population each represents before considering how that reality should change and making recommendations for how to get to that change.
Speakers
Natan Obed is the President of Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami. He is originally from Nain, the northernmost community in Labrador’s Nunatsiavut region, and now lives in Ottawa. For 10 years he lived in Iqaluit, Nunavut, and worked as the Director of Social and Cultural Development for Nunavut Tunngavik Inc (NTI). He has devoted his career to working with Inuit representational organizations to improve the wellbeing of Inuit in Canada.
Cassidy Caron is a Métis woman with roots in the historic Métis communities of Batoche and St. Louis, Saskatchewan. She grew up closely connected to her Métis traditions, heritage and culture and is driven by her family and community values of respect, honesty, collaboration and responsibility. Cassidy is the first elected woman to hold the office of President of the Métis National Council. At 29 years old, Cassidy is still considered a youth in her community.
Cassidy is a Nation-builder. Utilizing the knowledge, skills and perspectives acquired through her formal education, professional and political experiences, as well as through her deep community involvement, Cassidy’s goal is to explore and utilize innovative approaches to community development and Nation-building, which promote effective collaboration and deeper understanding between Indigenous peoples and all Canadians.
As an entrepreneur, Cassidy has advised and evaluated both provincially and nationally administered programs that aim to serve and support Indigenous peoples and communities across Canada. She has also supported the implementation of initiatives in, by and for Indigenous communities throughout Canada in a variety of sectors—all of which sought to achieve an overarching goal of restoring balance and wellness to Indigenous communities.
David Pratt, 1st Vice-Chief of the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations (FSIN), is a member of Muscowpetung Saulteaux First Nation located in the unceded, traditional and ancestral lands in Treaty 4 territory, Vice-Chief David Pratt knows and understands the importance of maintaining close ties to family, community, culture, and connections to the land.
Vice-Chief David Pratt is currently in his second term (4 years, 5 months) as an Executive member for the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations (FSIN), a Treaty and Inherent Rights organization that represents 74 First Nations which encompass the Cree, Dënësųłinë́, Saulteaux, the Dakota, Nakota, and Lakota.
He is an advocate of life-long learning, combining traditional and western knowledge, and strongly believes that revitalizing language is a passageway to strengthening community connection. As a Treaty and Inherent Rights champion, he continues to work tirelessly relying on traditional laws, values, and advice and the support of Elders’, Traditional Knowledge Keepers’ (TTK) and Indigenous Knowledge Keepers’ (ITK)
He continues to inform and bring awareness to a variety of issues that affect First Nation people, bridging gaps in areas of human rights, duty to consult, fighting systemic racism, and discrimination. Learning from the past to right the wrongs, Vice-Chief David Pratt is an eloquent speaker, and can often be heard championing alongside the FSIN Executive for the implementation of UNDRIP, TRC’s Calls To Action, and the MMIWG Calls for Justice.
Vice-Chief David Pratt holds a Bachelor of Education degree, Indian Teacher Education Program (ITEP) from the University of Saskatchewan which he successfully completed and graduated with distinction in 2016. His main goal continues to be improving the lives of First Nation people both locally, provincially, and nationally.
Learning Objectives
- Examine current inequities in mental and physical health among First Nations, Inuit, and Métis populations.
- Consider the social, political, and historical contexts that have been the fundamental drivers of these inequities.
- Understand how re-establishing Indigenous Peoples’ health systems and ways of knowing and being are vital to overturning these inequities.
- Explore practical strategies for achieving health equity.
Webinar Resources