First Nation Leaders to Declare Health and Public Health Emergency

Tuesday February 23, 2016
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

FIRST NATION LEADERS TO DECLARE HEALTH AND
PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY

TORONTO, ON: Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN) Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler will join with the representatives of the Sioux Lookout First Nations Health Authority (SLFNHA), Sioux Lookout First Nations Chiefs Committee on Health and public health officials to declare a Health and Public Health Emergency for First Nations in the Sioux Lookout region and across NAN territory at a press conference in Toronto this week.

DATE:	Wednesday February 24, 2016
TIME:	10 a.m.
LOCATION:	Sheraton Centre Toronto Hotel Citynd Hall Room 2 Floor 123 Queen Street West Toronto, ON

The Health and Public Health Emergency will be declared to address urgent and long-standing health issues caused by the inequality of health and health care services. First Nation leaders and health officials will issue a declaration calling for immediate, intermediate and long-term action strategies and will call on the governments of Ontario and Canada to take immediate action to address this crisis.

Note to Media: The announcement will be made during the 10th Annual Chiefs of Ontario Health Forum held February 23-25 at the Sheraton Centre Toronto Hotel.

	Nishnawbe Aski Nation Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN) represents 49 First Nation communities in James Bay Treaty No. 9 and Ontario portions of Treaty No. 5 – an area covering two thirds of the province of Ontario in Canada.
	Sioux Lookout First Nations Health Authority Sioux Lookout First Nations Health Authority (SLFNHA) serves 33 First Nation communities in the Sioux Lookout region in Ontario, Canada.

For more information please contact: Roxann Shapwaykeesic, Communications Officer – Nishnawbe Aski Nation (807) 625-4906 or cell (807) 251-6876 or by email rshapwaykeesic@nan.on.ca