Saskatchewan’s First Nations Health Ombudsperson says First Nation people in the province continue to face ongoing discrimination in the province’s health care systems.
The ombudsperson’s office released its first inaugural report Monday morning.
The advocacy office was officially formed in 2023 following a motion from chiefs at the FSIN assembly in 2017 calling for the development of a First Nations health advocacy office.
The inaugural report from FNHOO covers the time-frame from when the office first formed in July 2023 to March 2025.
Over that time period, the advocacy office says they have received over 500 complaints from First Nations people across the province.
AT an event in Saskatoon speaking on the inaugural report, FNHOO Board Chair Heather Bear, says the report is proof of ongoing racism and mistreatment of First Nations people in healthcare.
“The report paints a stark picture of neglect and inadequacy, highlighting the failure to provide essential services and uphold the sacred Treaty right to health,” said Bear.
The FNHOO report shows that 64 percent of complaints come from healthcare provided under the Saskatchewan Health Authority. Dr. Diane Lafond, the First Nations Health Ombudsperson for Saskatchewan, says the other complaints would include pharmacies, long term care facilities, and ambulances.
Dr. Lafond, however, says their is a path forward
“To move forward, we must confront and address racism within the healthcare system,” she said. “Once we do that, we can move forward together in a good way.”
Dr. Lafond says she will be presenting the report to Saskatchewan chiefs at the FSIN assembly in Yorkton later this week.
The inaugural report from the First Nation Health Ombudsperson’s Office can be found here.