Ted Quewezance blasts First Nations' access to health care

A prominent Saskatchewan First Nations leader is setting his sights on the health care system.

Ted Quewezance is former chief of the Keeseekoose First Nation. He's also a residential school survivor.

Quewezance claims that First Nations are poorly served by the health care system, both in terms of access and attitude. Even sorting out who is responsible is a challenge.

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"Within our region, it's whose responsibility is it?Is it the federal responsibility or is it the health authority within the district where you live," he said in an interview.

Quewezance also said that First Nations patients simply don't get the same level of service as other patients.

"It's that mentality of individuals, that attitude that we're not Canadians and they tend to do what you have to do. If I go to a doctor they don't ask you nothing, they just write you a prescription."

Quewezance spoke this week at the Canadian Medical Association general meeting.