Summary of NACHA Summit

April 16-17 , 2004
Vancouver , British Columbia

NACHA Summit

The third Aboriginal Summit on HIV/AIDS took place in Vancouver on April 16 th and 17 th, 2004. There were 55 representatives of the aboriginal community making up four caucuses: Community, First Nations, Inuit, and Métis.

Opening and Commemoration

Elder Fred John from the NlhaΓkāpmx Nation opened the Summit with a prayer and drum song welcoming delegates to the territory. The four co-chairs, Renee Masching (First Nations), Art Zoccole (Community), Elena Labranche (Inuit) and Sheila Genaille ( Métis ) welcomed guests. "Honouring All our Relations", a video made by Quinn Wade, former NACHA member, was shown. Attendees were invited to write the na mes of those who have died from AIDS, and those living with or affected by HIV/AIDS on a commemoration list posted on the wall.   A Qullik, an Inuit lamp, was lit in memory of Todd Armstrong, former Inuit Caucus Co-Chiar, and Zipporah Ypma.

Progress Report 2001- 2003

A presentation was made on the accomplishments and progress of NACHA from 2001 to 2003.  

Report from Health Canada

Grafton Spooner, Acting director of the HIV/AIDS Policy, Coordination and Programs Division, spoke about the Canadian Strategy on HIV/AIDS, the annual $42.2 million contribution from the federal government. Together, Health Canada's Population and Public Health Branch and First Nations and Inuit Health Branch spend $5.9 million to fight HIV and AIDS in the Aboriginal community. He also noted that the March 2004 Federal Budget had signaled the creation of the Public Health Agency of Canada. Mr. Spooner noted the role of NACHA in providing advice on several recent issues, notably the creation of a Canada-wide Action Plan on HIV/AIDS.

Evaluation - Preliminary Findings and Response

Mary Jamieson of Native Management Consultants presented the preliminary findings of the Evaluation of NACHA that she had conducted over the Spring of 2004. She presented several recommendations, including the following:

• Rework NACHA's mandate to reflect its primary role as an advisor to government on HIV/AIDS issues related to the Aboriginal people of Canada.
• Develop a template that can be used when providing advice to government, much like the tool developed respecting "emerging issues and priorities and ensure its consistent use.
• Rework objectives so that progress is possible and measurable.
• Undertake the development a 3 to 5 year Strategic Plan and build NACHA committees and collaborative efforts/partnerships around the work identified through the plan.
• Consider contracting an independent facilitator for NACHA meetings so that processes, once agreed to, are followed and to allow for the active participation of co-chairs.
• Consider the benefits and drawbacks related to Aboriginal people and HIV/AIDS of restructuring NACHA from its present form to a Ministerial appointed body.
• Consider reducing the number of NACHA members to twelve rather than twenty-four.
• A dedicated staff person should be appointed to work in the Secretariat exclusively for NACHA.

The next morning there was an in-depth discussion of the Evaluation Recommendations, with a focus on the suggestion to reduce the overall membership. It was decided that each caucus would choose four new NACHA members and identify a list of alternates. It was decided that the other recommendations would be addressed by the new NACHA membership.

Aboriginal EpiNote

Dana Reid of the Surveillance and Risk Assessment Division, Health Canada, presented the draft Aboriginal EpiNote prepared in consultation with NACHA's Ad Hoc Working Group on Surveillance. The response was generally positive, although concerns were raised about making the EpiNote accessible to frontline organizations.

New NACHA Membership

The individual caucuses then met separately and selected the following members:

Métis Caucus

Bernadine Grant
Richard Kotowich (Co-Chair)
Duane Norris
Celena Piche

First Nations Caucus

Margaret Akan
Julie Desautels (Co-Chair)
Renee Masching
Doris Ronnenberg

Inuit Community

Harry Adams
Franco Buscemi (Co-Chair)
Henry Kudluk
Aideen Reynolds

Community Caucus

Kevin Barlow (Co-Chair)
Ken Clement
LaVerne Monette
Trevor Stratton

Priorities for NACHA to Address

The attendees summarized the following issues for the new NACHA membership to consider and formulate advice:

• Coordinated action on Hepatitis C
• Need for operational funding for Aboriginal Service Organizations
• Clarification of the relationship with CAAN
• Need for NACHA to consult with their communities
• Development of a Strategic Plan and Workplan and Communications Materials
• Need for heightened HIV/AIDS awareness at regional/provincial and national level
• Concern about communicating to vulnerable populations in accessible language
• Need for better epidemiological data, broken down by Aboriginal population
• Improved information on Métis and HIV/AIDS
• Need to clarify role of NACHA Secretariat
• Need for increased funding to Aboriginal HIV issues and groups