Harm-Reduction Tips for Drinking Over the Holidays

A message from Dr. Kelsey Louie, FNHA Office of the Chief Medical Officer (OCMO)

For some, the holiday season is a time for more merriment than usual – in the form of parties and gatherings, where alcohol might be served. While more fun is a good thing, more alcohol can be not so good. Moderation or abstinence is definitely best when it comes to alcohol. So if you do choose to drink, please help keep yourself and others safe by drinking responsibly.

Read the full post here!

In recognition of the third anniversary of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) completing its work, the FNHA is honoured to share a video message from Djiiwuus, Willie Blackwater, Chief of Gitsegukla First Nation on his views on reconciliation and healing for residential school survivors.

“Though our trauma is shared, all residential school survivors have unique stories—and we cannot forget the bravery and resilience of those survivors who supported Canada’s path toward reconciliation,” says Chief Blackwater.

Chief Blackwater is a strong advocate for survivors, and was the lead Plaintiff in the historic Blackwater v. Plint Supreme Court case, which sought the acknowledgment of and compensation for abuse committed within BC residential schools. Watch the video here.

In honour of the third anniversary of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, the First Nations Health Authority acknowledges the courage, resilience and ongoing healing of survivors.

To mark the anniversary of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) completing its work in December 2015, the First Nations Health Authority (FNHA) shares its ongoing commitment to supporting residential school and intergenerational survivors as they continue to heal.

Find out more here.

A 10-year undertaking to track Indigenous health in B.C. has found improvements in five key areas, however the gap between the health status of Indigenous and non-Indigenous residents continued to widen in three of those areas.

"Tracking supports acting," said Dr. Evan Adams, Chief Medical Officer of the FNHA. "We have hard-wired our First Nations health objectives into the provincial health system and are well-positioned to understand progress and challenges in health outcomes for Indigenous people in B.C. and to work together to eliminate health inequities."

Read the full media release here.

On Technical Day ​#1, two of the three health governance pillars, the First Nations Health Authority (FNHA) and First Nations Health Directors Association (FNHDA) collaborated on the opening session, jointly presenting on Community Health and Wellness Planning. The session began by honouring the unceded territories of the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh Nations, with a traditional opening and song by Squamish Nation community leadership.

Taking place from November 19 – 22, 2018, at the Coast Coal Harbour Hotel, the Vancouver caucus was full of enthusiastic attendees who were highly engaged, and connected in powerful conversations about health service transformation.  Equal access to care and the need for more robust health benefits for each Nation, were significant and recurring components of panel discussions and comments from the floor.

Read the full overview here!

​​Fight back by getting vaccinated ASAP and taking simple measures to protect you and your loved ones.

More and more people are catching the flu this holiday season, according to public health monitoring. This means that it's especially important for high-risk individuals (babies and young children, the elderly, those with heart and lung diseases or weakened immune systems) and their close contacts to get vaccinated as soon as possible. Vaccinations are available for First Nations people (free of charge) by community health nurses on reserve, at pharmacies, or at family doctors' offices.

Read the full message here.

The holidays are a time for gathering with family, friends and community, and the foods we eat bring people together.

Many First Nations affirm their identities and reinforce their ties to their territories and way of life by harvesting and eating their traditional foods. Traditional foods remain an important aspect of social and cultural events, especially in preparation for and during ceremonies. In this time of giving, we thank the salmon, eulachon, clams, moose, deer, elk, beaver, birds, seaweed, berries, roots and other foods and medicines and they in turn nourish our bodies and spirits and help protect us from illness.​

Whether you're roasting a turkey or preparing fresh game, the FNHA has some tips to ensure everybody stays safe and healthy as you share your harvest.

Read the full post here!

The holiday season can be a difficult time for many. We would like to remind you that culturally safe support services are available, 24 hours a day and 7 days a week. In BC, call 1-800-KUU-US17 (1-800-588-8717).

Revisit this holiday season blog from Patricia Vickers.

While shopping for holiday gifts for my children and grandchildren, I chatted with a young store clerk who told me that the best part of the holidays for her was being able to purchase the gift that surprised her family members and made them happy. People give gifts for all kinds of reasons. For some in our communities, the holidays are a time to give the gifts they never received, to give gifts because of their absence, to give gifts because of their habits that cause suffering. 

Sometimes, the giving is an attempt to bring balance, to bring a sense of worth for the giver. To find space where we are okay with all that we’ve done and all that we haven’t done - to give to ourselves the beauty of holiday lights within the heart -- is to create space for forgiveness and love. When we create space for compassion, kindness and gentleness for ourselves, we create that space for others. In this sense, the holiday cheer needs to be every day and not limited to just one season.

Read the post here.

The purpose of the Network Environments for Indigenous Health Research (NEIHR) Program is to establish a national network of centres focused on capacity development, research and knowledge translation (KT) centred on Indigenous Peoples (i.e., First Nations, Inuit and Métis). The network of centres is intended to provide supportive research environments for Indigenous health research driven by and grounded in Indigenous communities in Canada. Indigenous communities are broadly defined as individuals, groups and organizations, and populations who self-identify as Indigenous, living and working anywhere in Canada, including urban centres. The network of centres will also ensure continued growth, broad regional development and international collaborations.

Find out more here!

This award‐winning certificate program is designed for
those working in Indigenous communities who want to
increase their community’s capacity to deliver services,
coordinate programs, and promote the health of their
people.

Next session begins: March 21, 2019
Registration Deadline: January 15, 2019

Find out more here!

Prince George Office Renovation

Closing Date: December 27, 2018 at 4:00 pm Pacific Time​

More info.

Event Planning and Management Firm

Closing Date: January 11, 2018 at 4:00 pm Pacific Time​

More info.

Senior Planner
Location: Northern
December 21, 2018 @ 4:00pm

Manager, Project Management Office
Location: Vancouver
December 21, 2018 at 4:00pm

Co-op Student - Human Resources
Location: West Vancouver
December 31, 2018 at 4:00PM

Event Coordinator (Term)
Location: West Vancouver
January 2, 2019 at 4:00pm

Director, Regional Engagement, North
Location: Northern
January 11, 2019 at 4:00pm

Policy Analyst II
Location: Vancouver
January 13, 2019 at 4:00 pm

Dental Therapist
Location: Central Northern Region
Open until filled

Social Worker, Campbell River
Location: Vancouver Island
Open Until Filled

Find all job postings on our website.

Wellness Worker
Organization: Carrier Sekani Family Services
Location(s): South Side, BC
Deadline: Jan 4, 2019 by 11:55 PM
Job description

Chapter Coordinator - Long Beach
Organization: Rural and Remote Division of Family Practice
Location(s): Victoria & Vancouver Island
Deadline: Jan 6, 2019 by 11:55 PM
Job description

Regional Manager, Interior
Organization: Rural and Remote Division of Family Practice
Location(s): Home-Office Based
Deadline: Jan 13, 2019 by 11:55 PM
Job description

Social Worker
Organization: Denisiqi Services Society
Location(s): Williams Lake
Deadline: Jan 18, 2019 by 11:55 PM
Job description