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Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami ITK: Inuktitut Syllabics

Health Department

The ITK Health Department works to represent the health priorities of Inuit across Canada at the national level. ITK’s Health Department is committed to working with the 4 Inuit Land Claim organizations, Pauktuutit Inuit Women’s Association and the National Inuit Youth Council to monitor and advocate to Federal Governments that national policy and program decisions which impact Inuit health must meaningfully engage Inuit, and be responsive to Inuit health priorities and issues. The health department works to ensure that there is national coordination and networking between Inuit regions and organizations.

The ITK Health Department receives direction and input from the National Inuit Committee on Health on all national health matters. This committee reports directly to the ITK Board of Directors [SUBLINK to BoD] on issues of national health importance and provides them with policy setting advice.  NICoH ensures that there is an ongoing mechanism to identify Inuit priorities, provides National representation when required and provide guidance to the ITK Health Staff that is consistent with the ITK Board of Directors direction.

Vision, Mandate and Objectives

Health Mandate:

  • To represent the national Inuit health interests, including identification of priorities
  • To support national co-ordination on matters relating to Inuit health programs and policies
  • To monitor, provide direction and ensure national policy and program decisions which are developed by the federal government and which impact the health of Inuit are responsive to the health priorities of Inuit, in a manner that recognizes the need to protect and promote Inuit culture, language, health, education, justice and any other matter that impacts the ability of Inuit to shape the future of their society within Canada.
  • To provide national Inuit representation on sub-committees, steering committees or working groups as required.

Current objectives:

  1. Changing the Way Government Does Business with Inuit by Advocating for Changes to Current Health Canada-First Nations and Inuit Health Branch Structure and Initiatives.
  2. Ensure that the Announcements of the 2004 First Ministers Meeting address the needs of Inuit.
  3. Effective policy development through implementing appropriate Federal,  Provincial, Territorial,  and Inuit processes
  4. Inuit have access to an increased number of effective Mental Wellness/Suicide Prevention programs and services.
  5. Improved Ability to Further Advance the Inuit Health Agenda and Priorities.
  6. Promote Inuit unity on National Health Priorities through participation in the National Inuit Committee on Health ( NICoH)
  7. Develop and nurture alliances with organizations that can support the advancement of Inuit health priorities.
  8. Inuit specific health priorities are communicated effectively.

Department organization

ITK prioritizes the employment of Inuit students to fill summer students’ positions. There are currently two different ways used by our department to select our potential candidates: If you are a student and you are interested to work in our department, you can either apply directly to ITK or through the Federal Summer Work Experience Program.

ITK’s Health Department has currently 11 fulltime staff positions which are: Director of Health;  two (2) Senior Policy Advisor; one (1) Policy Advisor; one (1) Health Technical Advisor; one (1) Senior Project Coordinator; three (3) Project Coordinators, one (1) Health Coordinator; and an Administrative Assistant. In 2004, a full-time National Inuit Youth Suicide Prevention Coordinator was added to the Health Department team as a joint position between ITK and the National Inuit Youth Council. The department also benefits from summer students and part time positions as Health Researcher Assistant.

Roles

Health Department Director
The Director is responsible for administering the Department, attending Management Meetings, developing strategy with other departments, developing budgets, and planning.  The Director also takes a lead role in liaising with the National Inuit Committee on Health and ensures departmental strategies for advocacy correspond with NICoH direction.  The Director also provides guidance to department staff and ensures that issues of national importance are escalated appropriately.

Senior Policy Advisor
Under the supervision and direction of the Director of Health, the Senior Policy Advisor coordinates the designated program activities to ensure goals and objectives are accomplished in accordance with set priorities.  The Senior Policy Advisor also provides recommendations to the Director in accordance with areas of responsibility and provides technical assistance in the escalation of policy issues at a national level.  This position also requires the ability to make independent judgment when carrying out own coordination activities and in relation to other activities of the department and others as necessary.  The Senior Policy Advisor may also perform the duties of Acting Director when required.

Senior Project Coordinator
Under the supervision and direction of the Director, the Senior Project Coordinator will assist in the design and development, implementation, monitoring of ITK’s work related to health human resources.  This position will also act as a liaison between government, Inuit organizations and non-governmental organizations on policy matters.  A co-ordinates program activity to ensure that goals and objectives are accomplished in accordance with set priorities formulates project and activities and goals and provides recommendations to the Director.

Health Coordinator
Under the supervision and direction of the Director, plans, directs, and coordinates activities of designated program to ensure goals and objectives are accomplished in accordance with set priorities, and makes recommendations and assists in the formulation of goals and objectives, exercises independent judgment in the course of carrying out duties.

Project Coordinator
Under the guidance and supervision of the Director, plans, directs and coordinates activities of designated program to ensure goals and objectives are accomplished in accordance with set priorities, and makes recommendations and assists in the formulation of goals and objectives, exercises independent judgment in the course of carrying out duties. 

Project Advisor – Inuit Information
Under the guidance of the Director, the Project Advisor co-ordinates designated program activities to ensure goals and objectives are met in accordance with set priorities, the Project Advisory also formulates project activities, goals and objectives and makes recommendation to the Director.  Also exercises independent judgment in the course of carrying out activities in relation to the department or other departments of ITK.

Student Researcher Assistant
Under the guidance of the Director, the student Research Assistant is responsible to ensure accurate and timely completion of all assigned health activities, particularly policy research and co-ordination of related activities with the department.  The Student Research Assistant will provide support, co-ordination and administration to realize the Department’s goals identified in the annual operation plan. 

Administrative Assistant
Under the guidance and supervision of the Director, the Administration Assistant will assist in the co-ordination of designated program activities to ensure goals and objectives are accomplished in accordance with prescribed priorities, the Administration Assistant also provides assistance in the formulation of goals and objectives and also exercises independent judgment in the course of carrying out own coordination activities on assigned files. 

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