March 8, 2024
MAHIHKAN MANAGEMENT IS ASSISTING HEALTH CANADA TO HEAR INDIGENOUS PERSPECTIVES on end-of-life care and medical assistance in dying (MAID).
From the backgrounder:
Medical assistance in dying (MAID) is a process that allows someone who is found eligible to be able to receive assistance from a practitioner (a doctor or nurse practitioner) in ending their life. The federal law permits this to take place only under very specific circumstances and rules. Anyone requesting MAID must first meet specific eligibility criteria in order to be eligible.
Virtual and in-person virtual hybrid dialogue sessions are taking place between February and April 2024. “Health Canada has also partnered with a number of Indigenous organizations who are leading their own engagement initiatives to gather and mobilize the voices of community members on MAID, and Health Canada is supporting an online survey welcoming Indigenous stories and perspectives, which will close on June 30, 2024.”
Also from the backgrounder:
Mental Health Support
We recognize that conversations on end-of-life and dying may be sensitive, triggering or difficult to deal with emotionally. An Indigenous facilitator and trauma counsellor will be present during each dialogue session to enable a culturally safer and respectful environment. We also encourage you to take time to care for your mental and emotional well-being. Confidential mental health and crisis intervention supports are available here and here.
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We acknowledge that the land on which we work is the unceded territory of the Coast Salish peoples, including the territories of the xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations.