b'COO STAFF PROFILEStaff Profile: Bernadette deGonzague Sr. Health Policy AnalystBY CHRISTINE MISKONOODINKWE SMITHA ground-breaking, Bernadette says. It brought together the former Registered Dietitian, Bernadette deGon-zague, who is Abenaki and a member of Odanakfederal and provincial governments with First Nations to First Nation, was inspired to switch careers after awork on shared priorities to increase awareness and access to serendipitous meeting with a patient. I knew theresources for health promotion, focusing on healthy eating, name was a common one at Odanak, Bernadette says. As weactive living and smoking cessation.chatted, I discovered that she had known my dad as a child! So,Bernadette is also proud of her work with the Non-Insured the decision to change careers was made easy as, after many longHealth Benefits (NIHB) program. When I began at COO, conversations, she encouraged me to go back to school to pursuewe had no formal position to assist with NIHB advocacy, a graduate degree and work in communities. Bernadette says. Through participation in the national Upon graduating from McGill University in Montreal withAssembly of First Nations NIHB working group, I brought a Master of Science, Bernadette worked with Noojmowin Tegforward the need for navigators, which existed in other regions. Health Access Centre on Manitoulin Island and the SouthwestWe were successful in a proposal for two NIHB navigators, Ontario Aboriginal Health Access Centre in London. Whenwhich has now grown to three positions. These positions are the Senior Health Policy Analyst position came up at Chiefsable to assist in individual and community advocacy as well of Ontario (COO), Bernadette felt it was a position whereas national policy. This also led to better collaboration with she could use her experience in nutrition and health promo- a national navigator group and a push for a resolution from tion to work towards improving health for First Nations at aOntario for the national review of NIHB, which is still in broader level.progress.One project Bernadette takes pride in is the Ontario FirstBernadetteis a strong supporter of Life Promotion, a Nations Integrated Health Promotion Strategy (OFNIHPS).proposal funded by Ontario for the three-year Stories from our The development of working on this program strategy wasRoots project. The youth-led project is a collaboration with the "Opening Doors to our People since 1992"44l I ssue1 2020C hIefs ofo ntarIoA dvocAte magazIne'