Governance

Le7 te Melámen Health Society, formerly Secwepemc Health Caucus, is comprised of 17 independent nations.

Le7 te Melámen Governance Structure

Le7 te Melámen Health Society is governed by the Le7 te Melámen Board, Chiefs, Health Directors, and supporting staff members. Together they set and help implement the policies for our organization in order to better support health and wellness of First Nations peoples in Secwépemcúl’ecw.

Learn more about the people who operate Le7 te Melámen Health Society.

Our Health Society

BC First Nations Health Governing Structure

Delivering high quality, culturally centered health care to the people of our three sub-regions, spread over 145,000 square kilometers requires a united effort from organizations invested in their well-being.

Guiding Principles

We are guided by the principles adopted from the 7 Nations Unity Declarations as well as the five main principles laid out in the Canada Health Act.

Principles of the 7 Nations Unity Declarations

  • Health and Wellness Outcomes and Indicators will be defined by each Nation.
  • Partnerships will be defined by each Nation.
  • Agreements will be negotiated and ratified by the Nations.
  • No Nation will be left behind; needs are addressed collectively.
  • The federal fiduciary obligations must be strengthened, not eroded.
  • Services will be provided to all of our people regardless of residency/status.
  • Adequate funding will be provided for our corporate structure(s).
  • Socio-economic indices will be incorporated into planning and projections – plan for 7 generations.
  • Negotiations will be interest based – not position based (Nations define).
  • Community hubs will be linked to the health governance process.
  • Documents will be kept simple and understandable.
  • The Interior Leadership caucus will meet regularly.
  • Liability will be minimized; the Nations will inherit no liability from other entities.
  • Celebration will be included in all activities.
  • The speed at which development occurs will be determined by the Nations.
  • The authority to govern rests with each Nations, as does the responsibility for decision-making.

Canada Health Act

  • Public Administration: All administration of provincial health insurance must be carried out by a public authority on a non-profit basis. They also must be accountable to the province or territory, and their records and accounts are subject to audits.
  • Comprehensiveness: All necessary health services, including hospitals, physicians and surgical dentists, must be insured.
  • Universality: All insured residents are entitled to the same level of health care.
  • Portability: A resident that moves to a different province or territory is still entitled to coverage from their home province during a minimum waiting period. This also applies to residents which leave the country.
  • Accessibility: All insured persons have reasonable access to healthcare facilities. In addition, all physicians, hospitals, etc., must be provided with reasonable compensation for the services they provide.

Our Mission, Vision, and Values

We use our mission, vision, and core values to guide and shape our actions and remind us of why the work we do is so important to the overall well-being of not only the individuals of our Nation but the Secwépemc Nation as a whole.

Our Mission

We strive to educate, facilitate and empower Secwépemc individuals, families and communities in achieving their desired wellness by advocating, collaborating and coordinating the Le7 te Melámen Health Society, guided by Secwépemc culture.

Our Vision

All our relations healing and healthy together.

Our Core Values

Respect + Equality + Accountability + Transparency + Honesty = Unity

We uphold the values of respect, equality, accountability, transparency, and honesty in every aspect of our work, especially our interactions with people seeking our support, each other, and the broader community of healthcare professionals and administrators.

By living these principles, we all move towards a brighter future of unity and collective wellness where these values can be present more naturally.