The province on Thursday announced that it is appointing four new First Nations and M�tis directors to the board of the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority.

Health Minister Theresa Oswald says the move is designed to get First Nations people to share their insight and professional expertise.

"I'm pleased to appoint four exceptional people to the board of the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority," said Oswald. "These individuals bring a proven record of leadership in health care and other important issues that directly affect First Nations and M�tis people in our province."

The province says the new board members were selected in consultation with the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs and the Manitoba M�tis Federation.

Those same groups were very vocal after the death of Brian Sinclair, the homeless man who died in a hospital emergency room waiting for care, that First Nations were not represented on the board.

The new board members are: Irene Linklater, Marie-Rose Spence, Janesca Kydd and Kris Frederickson.

"Having a board that is representative of our community - one that reflects and gives voice to the needs and concerns of our patient and client population - is a huge priority of the Winnipeg health region," said Dr. Brian Postl, WRHA president and CEO.

The Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs says it has identified health care as a top priority for its members and supports the increasing number of First Nations people taking a leadership role in this area.

"It is essential to the health of our people that First Nations are involved in every level of the health-care process," said AMC Grand Chief Ron Evans.

"At AMC, we work to ensure that First Nations are represented everywhere from the grassroots level through our patient advocate, to health-care workers through our Aboriginal Health Human Resources Initiative, to political advocates working on boards like this appointment to the WRHA," adds Evans.

Oswald says better representation of M�tis and First Nations people at every level creates a system that is more respectful, understanding and inclusive of all people that work and are served by the health-care system.

Manitoba M�tis Federation President David Chartrand calls the move a positive step.