Medicine Chest Event Draws International Visitors

Medicine Chest Event Draws International Visitors

Tuesday, July 22, 2008 at 15:16

About 700 people from as far away as Hawaii and New Zealand are gathering at the Thunderchild First Nation today through Thursday.

Their plan is to discuss how to take control of health care — and they’re considering taking their case to the United Nations.

A declaration on the issue will be signed by Thursday.

This week’s event is called the “Medicine Chest Gathering”, named after a clause in an 1876 treaty.

Eldon Okanee of Thunderchild’s treaty office says the event was organized because traditional medicines and traditional healers are not recognized by governments in Canada.

The event was organized by the Thunderchild First Nation, the Onion Lake First Nation, the Big Island Lake Cree Nation and the Confederacy of Treaty 6 First Nations of Alberta.