Health authority gets first Indigenous board member
The Nova Scotia Health Authority's board of directors is acknowledging the need for more voices that reflect the province's diversity in its decision-making.
That acknowledgement was paired with action at the authority's annual general meeting Tuesday, as the board announced the appointment of its first Indigenous member since its establishment in 2015.
Stephen Augustine, who started his term Wednesday, is the hereditary chief of the Mi'kmaq Grand Council and associate vice-president of Indigenous affairs and Unama'ki College at Cape Breton University.
“We've been here for thousands of years,” Augustine said in an interview Wednesday. “Our mental health and capacity to live healthy on the land is a strong component within our culture and we're happy to share that with whoever is interested.”
Augustine said he believes his appointment is the first step towards change.
“I'm very familiar with the issues that our culture and society is facing, so I can help educate the Nova Scotia Health Authority board of directors and whoever we get involved with and consult with.”
He added that he hopes to relay not only the needs but also the medicinal knowledge of Indigenous people in the province.
“A lot of our people … our elders, the knowledge holders, they know a lot about the land, and our connection to the land and all the positive medicines that come from the land,” he said.
Board chairman Frank van Schaayk said he had been in discussion with Augustine to join the board for about a year.
“We certainly were interested in having him come and help us understand and design policy with the voice of the Indigenous people,” van Schaayk said.
According to van Schaayk, the board has not predetermined which issues Augustine will help address regarding Indigenous health.
“That's why we're bringing Mr. Augustine to the table, to help us have conversations and identify the right priorities.”
But having conversations is just the beginning, he said.
“I can tell you that both Brendan Carr, the president and CEO, and myself are absolutely committed to turn that into action,” van Schaayk said.
For now, Augustine said he will get acquainted with his role, the health authority and provincial bylaws and statutes.
Before Augustine's appointment, all board members were white men and women.
Van Schaayk said the board is not diverse enough to reflect Nova Scotians, and that needs to change.
“If we're designing healthcare systems and service delivery for Nova Scotians, then we really need to have the voices of all Nova Scotians at the table.”
He said the board is working towards appointing more board members “of diverse races and backgrounds.”
“We'll attract at least one other person to the board who will hopefully bring perspective from other communities such as the Black community and the 2SLGBTQ+ community.”
At the annual general meeting, van Schaayk also announced the authority's commitment to ensure future community engagement sessions are held in spaces accessible and welcoming to marginalized groups.
The groups include the Black and Indigenous communities, people of colour, people with disabilities and the 2SLGBTQ+ community.