Important notice: Please see below for the Chiefs of Ontario Health Forum frequently asked questions. This list will be continually updated as we respond to your questions and requests. Please note, to ensure you are fully equipped and prepared to attend the February 23-25, 2021, meeting via Zoom, we strongly encourage you to read the following FAQ.

How does the online Health Forum work?

Zoom Platform

To facilitate an online gathering of First Nation leadership, the Chiefs of Ontario (COO) will be using the Zoom video conferencing platform to bring leadership together in accordance with the Charter and bylaws of the organization. We encourage you to download the latest version of Zoom in advance of the meeting.

Meeting Package

We recommend leadership become familiar with these rules and procedures in advance of the meeting. There will be other resource materials posted on the homepage of the Assembly Center here: www.chiefsmeeting.com; however, for confidential reasons, meeting packages and resolutions will not be posted on a public website. All materials will be emailed to leadership at the email address used to register for the meeting. We are strongly urging all to register by Friday, January 15, 2021, in order to receive their meeting packages in advance of the meeting.

Where can I register for the meeting?

The easiest way to register is to visit the registration link here: Chiefs of Ontario - Health Forum February 23-25, 2021.

Can I register on the day of the meeting?

While no leader will ever be turned away from joining their meeting, we suggest everyone register by January 15, 2021, to ensure they receive their meeting packages in advance of our meeting.

If you attempt to register on the day of the meeting, expect to experience delays connecting to the meeting and receiving your materials. Therefore, we strongly urge everyone to register by the recommended deadline. It is less stressful for both yourself and our staff.

If you are attempting to register on the day of the meeting, please call the Chiefs of Ontario office at 1-877-517-6527.

Why does the meeting start at 9:30 a.m. Eastern Standard Time and not earlier?

Our communities in Ontario extend across two time zones. The later than usual start time is to accommodate those in both time zones.

Why does the meeting room open 1 hour before the start time of our meeting?

We are expecting a LOT of people to be joining our meeting; we need time to get you all in the meeting room just like an in-person meeting.

When you first join the meeting, you will be placed in a waiting room. Our Registration Team needs time to transfer you from the waiting room into the main meeting room. During this time, staff will also be confirming the identity of those joining the meeting. We are asking you to have your camera on when you first join to expedite this process.

Can I invite a fellow colleague or person into the meeting?

Converting our processes and practices into an online format presents many new challenges. At this time, we are asking only registered individuals to join us in the Zoom meeting space. We will be providing a live public feed with the link available at www.chiefsmeeting.com which will go live once our meeting commences.

Chiefs may also choose to have fellow community leadership and staff join them in-person, in a social distanced, respectful manner, to jointly participate in the meeting using the Chief’s access information.

How do I get started with Zoom?

Guides to getting started with Zoom can be found at: https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/categories/200101697

How do I ensure my audio and camera will work?

Guides for ensuring your audio and camera are working can be found at: https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/categories/201137166

How do I request to speak during the meeting?

At an in-person meeting of leadership, requests to speak are acknowledged by the Chair when someone stands at a microphone.

In our online space, a request to speak is made using the ‘raise hand’ feature. The order of requests will be tracked, and the Chair will address requests in the order they are received.

For those on the Zoom software, the ‘raise hand’ feature can be found by clicking on participants at the bottom which will open a list of meeting participants, at the bottom of that list is a ‘Raise Hand’ button.

For those joining by phone only the ‘raise hand’ feature can be accessed by pressing *9 on your keypad.

Why is the meeting three half days instead of two full days?

At the advisement of our meeting Chair, we are keeping the meeting times no longer than 3-4 hours each day to avoid online meeting fatigue.

Where can I find a copy of the agenda?

Click here for the most recent circulated version of the Draft Agenda.

How will Grand Entry work?

We want to preserve the moment when we honour and reflect on the symbolism of our coming together as nations in solidarity. We are coordinating with a drum group who is going to make recordings specifically for our gathering. During this time, we will display images of our past gatherings and ask everyone to take time to think about all our relations we are coming together for.

How do I bring symbols of my nation’s governance and sacred items into our meeting space?

A leadership gathering is more than the discussions and agenda; it is also an expression of our solidarity; a gathering of our nations. Everyone is encouraged, where possible, to bring symbols of your nationhood with you into the meeting and have your bundle with you.

Why are there no breaks scheduled on the agenda?

The Chair has been given the discretion to call for a break as needed. Breaks are expected to be 10- 15 minutes long. The Chair will provide a restart time before commencing the break.

Do I have to turn my camera on?

While it is entirely up to you, we would be more than happy to see you! When you first join the meeting, you will be asked to turn your camera on in order to confirm your identity.

We are encouraging everyone to keep their camera on during the meeting for a greater sense of participation and unity during these troubling times. We also acknowledge that bandwidth may be an issue for some and having your camera on might not be a viable option.

Why do I keep getting removed from the meeting room?

It is possible our registration team was unable to confirm your identity. Please contact the Chiefs of Ontario office at 1-877-517-6527 or email healthforum@coo.org.

What do I do if I’m having technical issues with Zoom?

If you are having technical issues, such as problems with audio, video, materials or connectivity, please contact the Chiefs of Ontario office at 1-877-517-6527 or email healthforum@coo.org.

What do I do if I’m having technical issues with the Voting App?

If you are having technical issues with the voting app, please call 1-877-426-5841.

I misplaced my meeting kit, how can I get another copy?

Please email healthforum@coo.org with your name and community name in order to request meeting materials.