• Inuvik’s Crystal Lennie appointed to national health council

  Source: Territories - Northern Affairs (Yukon, NWT, Nunavut)
  Date: 2026-10-10 10:00:00.0
  Tags: [National, Healthcare, Indigenous, Governance]

  Crystal Lennie of Inuvik has been appointed as one of 16 members to the governing council of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), the federal agency overseeing national health research funding. Appointed by Health Minister Marjorie Michel, Lennie brings northern and Inuit perspectives to the council, aiming to leverage community-led data and Indigenous knowledge to direct policy changes regarding food security, homelessness, and housing. Lennie has extensive prior experience with national bodies including Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami's National Inuit Committee on Health and the Inuit Public Health Task Group.

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• Q&A | N.W.T. health care has 'absolutely' improved over past 3 years, says new minister

  Source: Territories - Northern Affairs (Yukon, NWT, Nunavut)
  Date: 2026-09-28 14:00:00.0
  Tags: [National, Healthcare, Governance, Indigenous]

  Following the sudden resignation of Lesa Semmler as the Northwest Territories health minister in September 2026, Nunakput MLA and Housing N.W.T. Minister Lucy Kuptana stepped in as interim Health Minister. Kuptana stated that territorial healthcare has improved over the past three years through modernized medical travel, small community models of care, updated equipment negotiated via non-insured health benefits, and regular visits from specialized eye and dental teams. The interim minister also highlighted ongoing challenges regarding escalating pre-COVID cost controls, medical travel expenses, staffing shortages, and the critical need for expanded territorial aftercare and residential addiction facilities in partnership with local NGOs and Indigenous Services Canada.

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• Saddle Lake Cree Nation asserts treaty rights over access to gender-affirming care

  Source: Alberta - Edmonton Journal (Legislature & Capital)
  Date: 2026-09-09 21:56:42.0
  Tags: [Alberta, Indigenous, Healthcare, Justice, Governance]

  Saddle Lake Cree Nation is asserting its sovereign treaty rights under the "medicine chest" clause of Treaty 6 to create protections for gender-affirming care on reserve lands and territories. The initiative directly challenges Alberta provincial legislation, specifically Bills 26, 27, and 29, which implemented restrictions on transgender youth regarding medical treatments, name and pronoun changes, and sports participation. Backed by Two-Spirit family physician Dr. James Makokis, the Nation plans to bring in Canadian-trained clinicians to provide uninterrupted medical services on reserve lands outside provincial jurisdiction.

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