HHS Secretary Michael O. Leavitt and Canadian Minister of Health Tony Clement Sign Memorandum of Understanding on Indigenous Health

United States and Canada signing of the Memorandum of Understanding on Indigenous Health.

November 1, 2007 - Tribal leaders join the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services, the Honorable Michael O. Leavitt, and the Minister of Health of Canada, the Honorable Tony Clement, M.P., at the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation to improve health-care delivery, and the accessibility of health care, for American Indian and Alaska Native people in the United States, and for the First Nation and Inuit people of Canada.

November 1, 2007 – The Health Departments of the United States and Canada agreed today to share knowledge on indigenous people’s health through an annual schedule of work, which will range from the exchange of information and personnel to the conduct of workshops, conferences, seminars and meetings.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) Michael O. Leavitt and the Canadian Health Minister, the Honorable Tony Clement, M.P., signed in the Great Hall of the Hubert H. Humphrey Building in Washington, D.C., builds upon a similar, five-year MOU signed in 2002. Both agreements focus on improving health-care delivery, and the accessibility of health care, for American Indian and Alaska Native people of the United States, and the First Nation and Inuit people of Canada.

Secretary Leavitt expressed HHS’s commitment to work together with Health Canada, as well as tribal leaders from both nations, to make the MOU a meaningful guide for action. He added that his Department looks forward to working collaboratively with Canadian and tribal leaders to protect and improve the health and security of the indigenous population the United States and Canada.

The signing of the MOU comes at the beginning of a month-long celebration of American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage.

Approximately 100 guests and dignitaries attended the signing ceremony.

For more information:

• Memorandum of Understanding on Indigenous Health between the Department of Health and Human Services of the United States of America and the Department of Health of Canada for the Period 2007-20012  (PDF - 2MB)

Last revised: November 09, 2007