The First Nations Health Consortium (FNHC) is an organization that was conceived in November 2016, and formally founded in February 2017.  It is a collaboration between four First Nations health organizations from Treaty areas 6, 7, and 8 in Alberta: Bigstone Health Commission, Kee Tas Kee Now Tribal Council, Maskwacis Health Services, and Siksika Nation. The FNHC is guided by a vision of continuity of care, a commitment to First Nations development and delivery of services, and a focus on fulfilling First Nations children’s rights to services that meet their needs.

First Nations Health Consortium (FNHC) Enhanced Service Coordination; the link between the child and the needed program, service, supplies, equipment and support, in accessing education, health or social programs to meet the child’s needs.

Serving all First Nations people living on and off reserve in Alberta, FNHC strives to reduce the stress of navigating service systems and provide resource links to all Albertans.  FNHC is comprised of a multi-disciplinary team of nurses, educators and child & youth/social workers that share their knowledge of existing resources across the province allowing us to connect First Nation families to service providers, support families in the Jordan’s Principle application process and advocate for children, their families and communities.

A progressive and caring organization with representation from Treaty 6, 7 and 8, FNHC is funded by the Federal Government through Jordan’s Principle – Child First Initiative.

In 2007, the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society advocated for all First Nations and Inuit children to receive supports and services through the creation of Jordan’s Principle: A Child-First Initiative. This initiative calls upon the government of first contact to ensure First Nations and Inuit children have access to public services on the same terms as other children.  As a result of multiple Canadian Human Rights Tribunal (CHRT) rulings, First Nations and Inuit children now have equal access to health, social and education services both on and off reserve through Jordan’s Principle.

The 11 partner Nations of the First Nations Health Consortium are: Bigstone Cree Nation, Loon River First Nation, Lubicon Lake Band, Peerless Trout First Nation, Whitefish Lake #459 First Nation, Woodland Cree First Nation, Samson Cree Nation, Louis Bull Tribe, Montana First Nation, Ermineskin Cree Nation and Siksika Nation.

The Consortium provides a Regional coordinated approach to enhanced service coordination to all First Nations residing on and off reserve (approximately 47% of applications are from off reserve).

FNHC is comprised of a multidisciplinary team of nurses, educators and child & youth/social workers that share their knowledge of existing resources across the province.

This allows us to connect First Nation families to service providers and
provide resource links to all Albertans.

Advantages of Enhanced Service Coordination

❖ Reduce stress of navigating service systems and Jordan’s Principle applications
❖ Link families to provincial and federal resources
❖ Work collaboratively with other service providers
❖ Advocate for the children, their families and communities
❖ Support the family in telling their story
❖ Support a community driven application
❖ Provide assistance to families with the appeals process

X