Dakota Tipi First Nation's hosting the province's three day Joint Chiefs Assembly, which began yesterday.

Dennis PashéDakota Tipi Health Director Dennis Pashé outlines the event.

"It's a three day event to discuss first nation health, the secretariat of Manitoba, as it evolves, and dealing with health issues in communities, and trying to get that structure in place. Hopefully the structure will be accountable and transparent with checks and balances, and that it's responsive to the community needs."

Pashé notes a highlight of the first day included honouring Justice Murray Sinclair, judge of the court of Queen's Bench, and former chair of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

"Murray has done a lot of work for first nations. First as a judge. In Manitoba the aboriginal justice inquiry was part of that. Recommendations are still gathering dust, I guess, and the provincial government doesn't want to implement that. And the Truth and Reconciliation Commission -- a lot of work he did there. So, we showed appreciation -- the Assembly did -- and the chiefs, and Dakota Tipi, recognize all the hard work he did; getting the history of residential schools out to the public, and recommending changes."

He explains the overall series of meetings.

Derek Nepinak"Basically talking about programs and services that first nations are trying to implement and help for the betterment of the communities. I look at it as there has to be some checks and balances and community input and community engagement, and building an organization from the grass roots up."

Grand Chief of the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs Derek Nepinak outlines those present

"What's happening here over the next few days is a joint Chiefs Assembly. On one hand we have our first nations Health and Social Secretariat, which represents about a $5 million business policy development informing future policy directions for health services for indigenous people living within the boundaries of Manitoba. And on the other side of it, we have the AMC Chiefs Assembly which is also the political body which drives as many of our agendas and mandates here in Manitoba. We meet semi-annually at minimum. The executive meets on a regular basis. And what it does it provides a forum for advancing very strong mandates dealing directly with government at the ministerial level. We take this forum, we use it to shape policy, as well as for our professionals and technical staff who use this forum to get direction to see what policy tables they are going to be sitting at and involved in. So, it's a very important forum here. We also use the opportunity to send out political statements, press statements, and, as well as what you saw here today, honour significant contributions made by community members."