Canada’s Premiers gather at Songhees Nation

An historic meeting at Songhees Nation this week brought together Canada’s provincial premiers as well as leaders from National Indigenous Organizations. The two-day meeting wrapped up with an urgent call for the federal government to fund a modernization of Canada’s health care system.

“The whole continuum of care needs to be revisited. And now is the time to do that,” BC Premier John Horgan told the Times Colonist. The discussion also needs to include Indigenous voices, which have not had a seat at the the table in the past.

“Hosting this meeting at the Songhees Wellness Centre reflects and amplifies Indigenous voices in the decision-making process,” the Songhees Nation said in a statement about the gathering.