National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations, Shawn Atleo, seen here at a powwow in 2009, says First Nations are often in a health crisis, even without a pandemic hitting them. (CBC)

First Nations leaders are welcoming the federal government's move to ensure pandemic flu plans are up to date, but they also want Ottawa to broaden its interest in health-care planning.

This summer, the federal government is hiring people to make sure influenza pandemic plans in First Nations communities stay current.

Last year's H1N1 outbreak hit some aboriginal communities particularly hard. A large number of body bags were sent to a reserve in northern Manitoba, and there were debates over who should pay for hand sanitizer and masks.

In the end, both sides came together to make plans for nearly all communities, said Dr. Paul Gully, deputy chief public health officer for Health Canada. Gully doesn't want the planning to end, because communities need to keep people trained and ensure they have supplies.

"The challenge often will be is that you have certain individuals who have been involved with the planning then those individuals might change," Gully said. "You know, the health council might change."

Shawn Atleo, national chief of the Assembly of First Nations, is pleased Health Canada wants to keep the pandemic plans current. Atleo also points to the problem of overcrowding on reserves, which he said allows viruses like H1N1 to spread more quickly.

The federal government now needs to focus on other health issues such as the high rate of Type 2 diabetes among First Nations people.

"What we can't overlook though is that First Nations are in a health crisis very often without a pandemic hitting us," Atleo said.

Those larger health issues are on the agenda as First Nations leaders from across Canada gather in Winnipeg this week.