Indigenous Health Committee

The South West LHIN is focused on long-term relationship building with local Indigenous communities. We are committed to working together, where appropriate and possible, to increase First Nation, Inuit and Métis population health outcomes. In all areas of operation, the South West LHIN has sought the advice and guidance of Indigenous communities and health service providers.

The South West Indigenous Health Committee meets bi-monthly and serves as an advisory Committee to the South West LHIN on the following topics:

• Health needs and priorities within Indigenous Communities (First Nation, Métis, Urban and Rural). 
• Opportunities for the integration and coordination of health care services where applicable. 
• Opportunities for alignment with existing Indigenous/First Nation/ Métis regional, provincial and federal health planning structures to improve health outcomes. 
• Opportunities for alignment with existing mainstream health programs and services determined by Aboriginal community and/or Indigenous Health Service Providers (HSPs). 
• Targeted engagements with specific Indigenous populations as it pertains to the work of the South West LHIN and the needs of those populations.

When providing advice to the South West LHIN for planning and health priorities, the Indigenous Health Committee will consider also the resolution of long standing systemic gaps and barriers to quality health care (for example, jurisdictional wrangling, poverty, systemic racism, poorer socio-economic status, gender, levels of isolation, intergenerational trauma and the legacy of residential schools). The Advisory Committee will gather relevant health system information, health status information and data, where available and/or appropriate.  

The Advisory Committee works in partnership with Indigenous health service providers, First Nation, urban Indigenous and Métis leadership, Indigenous communities, mainstream health service providers and the South West LHIN to:

• Increase cross-cultural understanding. 
• Increase culturally safe care. 
• Improve equitable access to care. 
• Improve the patient experience. 
• Improve quality of care. 
• Improve the interface between western and traditional methods and approaches to treatment and care. 
• Improve quality and availability of reliable health information and data for the purposes of health planning as determined by Aboriginal communities. 

Committee members

Indigenous Health Committee's Terms of Reference

Indigenous Health System Planning page  

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