Hay River Reserve (Jan 22/07) - The NWT's languages commissioner believes people should have access to health services in any of the territory's 11 official languages - no matter where they live.

"It shouldn't matter where you reside in the territories," said Shannon Gullberg. "It's such a basic right."

Shannon Gullberg, the NWT's languages commissioner, visited the Dene Cultural Institute on Jan. 15. - Paul Bickford/NNSL photo

Gullberg, who was speaking Jan. 15 at the Dene Cultural Institute on the Hay River Reserve, said she has been investigating the issue since last year and will make recommendations to the Legislative Assembly in a couple of months.

One recommendation may be that services in any of the languages can be provided remotely or by some other arrangement, she said.

Gullberg said she has heard concerns throughout the NWT about accessibility to health care in aboriginal languages.

"It seemed like an important issue to dig into a bit more," she said, adding she has not received a formal complaint on the matter.

The NWT's 11 official languages are English, French, Chipewyan, Cree, Gwich'in. Inuinnaqtun, Inuvialuktun, Inuktitut, North Slavey, South Slavey and Tlicho.

Gullberg received support for expanded language services while on the Hay River Reserve.

Joe Tambour, who is well-known as an interpreter at various conferences, said he is concerned about services in South Slavey at the hospital in Hay River.

"The hospital should have a full-time translator there, instead of relying on an aboriginal nurse," he said, noting nurses are busy enough with their work.

Such a translator would be a big help for people, especially elders, and could be critical in emergencies, Tambour added.

Chief Alec Sunrise agreed it was a concern. "I think it's something that really needs to be thought out."

Health and Social Services Minister Floyd Roland said the languages commissioner's report will be looked at closely when it comes to the Legislative Assembly and its Accountability and Oversight Committee.

However, Roland believes expanded languages services in health care will depend on the cost. "Ultimately, it will come down to affordability," he said.

Paul Vieira, the CEO of the Hay River Health and Social Services Authority, said he can't see each hospital having an in-house speaker of every language.

"Collectively as a system, we could potentially have the range of languages available," he said, explaining that might be able to be done by telephone, computer or teleconferencing.

"We have a lot of technology," he said.

Currently, the Hay River Health and Social Services Authority is mainly concerned with service in the four largest language groups in the area - English, French, South Slavey and Cree.

There is no permanent interpreter at the community's hospital or clinic. Instead, there's a list of staff members who speak more than one language, and they can be contacted by other staff members when needed.

Vieira said the list includes a mix of 15 to 20 workers, ranging from housekeeping staff to nurses.

"I don't think it's highly used," he said of the list, noting almost all patients can speak minimal English at least.

The Hay River health authority is also looking to hire a French language co-ordinator.