May 4th Principals Meeting in Vancouver, BC.:  Honorable Terry Lake, Honourable Rona Ambrose and Grand Chief Doug Kelly.

The Chair of the First Nations Health Council Grand Chief Doug Kelly, Federal Health Minister the Honourable Rona Ambrose, and British Columbia Health Minister the Honourable Terry Lake met in Vancouver on May 4 to review progress on the implementation of the BC Tripartite Agreement on First Nation Health Governance. This historic agreement was signed in October 2011 and led to the transfer of First Nations Health services to the First Nations Health Authority (FNHA) in British Columbia in 2013.

Read the Release

​Download the New Investments in BC First Nations Health 2015 Infographic - PDF (711 KB)

The FNHA is happy to share that 2015 will represent the biggest and best June 21 Aboriginal Day of Wellness initiative yet.

Last year 99 Aboriginal Day of Wellness events brought together over 20,000 people. This year 112 events will impact an estimated 16,848 – 20,960 citizens in culture and wellness based activities.
Community-based, partnership-focused, participant-driven applications were assessed according to the established criteria and equity within and across the regions.

Communities and hosts will contribute $129,665 leveraging an additional $206,900.00 in business and partners contributions.  The FNHA investment of $208,146 brings the total day of wellness investment to $544,711.

Funding letters will be sent to successful recipients next week.

Cultural sharing dinner on May 6th included over 100 performers from all five regions.

The First Nations Health Authority would like to thank all delegates, presenters, and sponsors for making Gathering Wisdom for a Shared Journey our biggest and best forum yet. Here it is, Gathering Wisdom by the numbers!

• 979 - Total number of attendees
• 143 - Number of Political Lead Representatives (Chief or proxy)
• 152 - Number of delgates completing health screening
• 42 - Number of Breakout Sessions
• 110 - Number of Presenters
• 57: Number of Booths in tradeshow
• 100 + Number of performers at the Cultural Sharing Dinner
• 130 - Total pounds of Okanagan sockeye salmon served at the Cultural Sharing Dinner. Thanks, Interior Family!

Stay tuned in the coming weeks for Youtube updates and the final summary report.

​​​​​For communities who are facing an early wildfire season, the FNHA would like to provide some ​health information and tips. If you are in an emergency dial 9-1-1 or a local emergency contact number immediately.

Smoke conditions and local air pollution levels can change due to the unpredictable nature of wildfires. Health effects from smoke, such as irritated eyes, nose and throat irritation, and/or coughing or difficulty breathing, is common in healthy people. These effects may be more serious to people who are considered sensitive populations.

Read the full post here

Kukpi7 (Chief) Wayne Christian (Wunuxtsin) speaking at Gathering Wisom VI.

For our Men's Issue of Spirit Magazine, Mary McCullough interviewed Kukp7i Wayne Christian about his personal health and wellness and his thoughts on Men's health. Here is an excerpt from the interview:

“Men do not play the same prominent role that they used to in our society. Traditionally, men were protectors and providers,” he says, noting that the change in societal roles means men’s self-esteem needs support from a young age.  “A lot of pain that they (men) carry is physical pain, but it starts with emotional pain. They bury that pain and so it gets carried in their muscles, body memory, emotions and spirit.”

Kukpi7 Christian believes there is a strong connection between mind, body and spirit, and that health lies in being aware of that connection. “Wellness is about knowing yourself well enough to understand what is going on for you, where it is coming from and what to do about it.”

Get the full interview here

Carol Basil won for most Active minutes, pictured here with Grand Chief Doug Kelly, Chair, FNHC.

Winners of the Beefy Chiefs 2.0 Step Up Challenge were announced at Gathering Wisdom for a Shared Journey VII on May 6th. The 10 month challenge was initiated in June 2014 and gathered momentum through the fall. Of the 5,000 BC First Nations taking part over 1,800 actively competed for prizes on fitbit.com.

On April 30, 2015 the totals rolled in as follows:

• Group total for distance was 764,426 km (equivalent to walking 19 times around the earth!),
• Group total active minutes of 3,567,271 minutes (equivalent to 6 years, 9 months and 12 days!) and
• Group total steps of 1,181,698,715. Grand prize winners received community wellness grants for their respective communities.

The awards ceremony was hosted by Dr. Evan Adams and Grand Chief Doug Kelly. Learn who won here!

Congratulations to all participants! Keep Stepping Up! The Step Up Challenge registration remains open but sign up soon as supplies are limited!

The First Nations Health Authority (FNHA) and the International Journal of Indigenous Health (IJIH) are creating a special collaborative thematic issue on “Wellness-Based Promising Practices.”  The FNHA is offering preliminary screening and advising for community-based researchers and practitioners from within British Columbia. This pre-screening is meant to strengthen the manuscript so it fits within formal guidelines. If you would like to have your submission reviewed by the FNHA, please submit it before August 1, 2015.

Complete manuscripts that meet the submission guidelines, represent the author’s final version, and are ready for peer review, have a new deadline of September 1, 2015.

Read the full call here!

Following an interactive dialogue session at Gathering Wisdom last week, the FNHA is interested in hearing more about your thoughts on the opportunities to transform community health facility capital projects. We invite you to take a brief (5-7 minute) online survey.

The online survey can be found at the link below: http://fnha.fluidsurveys.com/s/Capital-Projects-survey/

Please take a moment and share your thoughts with us, your input will help shape the future of the community health facility program for British Columbia First Nations. 

The survey will be live until June 19, 2015.

​​As the FNHA prepares to complete transition in the area of Health Benefits we look to take control of the policy and administration for Pharmacy, Dental and Medical Supplies and Equipment benefit areas.  In order to bring these elements in-house we need to design a new framework to administer these areas, one that is wellness focused.

Click here for the survey.

The FNHA is pleased to launch our Guide to Mental Health Counselling Services document for health providers.

The purpose of this Guide is to outlin​e the general and program-specific terms and conditions, criteria, guidelines and policies under which the First Nation Health Authority (FNHA), First Nations Health Benefits (FNHB) Short-Term Crisis Intervention Mental Health Counselling (STCIMHC) Benefit and the Individual and Family Counselling component of Indian Residential School (IRS) Resolution Health Support Program (RHSP) operate.

Read more on the guide and information for health providers on our website here.

From June 1-5, 2015, the Centre for Aboriginal Health Research is hosting the Visioning Health Learning Lodge, an arts-informed research residency focusing on Indigenous health and healing through Indigenous Knowledge and traditions. Past participants in the Visioning Health research process have called it “life-changing,” “life-giving,” and “damn good medicine.”

This year’s residents will work directly with the original Visioning Health designers, previous participants and Elders and will participate in diverse arts-based activities, group sessions and ceremonies.

Registration has been extended to May 20, 2015 and bursaries are available from the FNHA for a number of students and community-based researchers.

For more information and to register, click here.

Poster and schedule here.

To promote the Aboriginal Pregnancy Passport, Perinatal Services BC is hosting a contest for First Nations and Aboriginal women. From now until May 25, women can submit a photo that represents their sacred journey of pregnancy. There are weekly cash prizes and a grand prize of $750.

For full contest details and information on how to enter, visit http://www.facebook.com/oursacredjourney/app_448952861833126

Learn more about the Aboriginal Pregnancy Passport here.

The Health Officers Council of British Columbia Bursary Program has two bursaries now open for applications: The BC Associated Boards of Health: Dr. Ken Benson Memorial Bursaries and The Isabel Loucks Foster Public Health Bursary Fund. Awards of up to $3,000 are available. The bursaries will be of interest to individuals who are interested in pursuing post-graduate studies in a field of public or community health.

Examples of eligible disciplines include community health, nursing, public health, nutrition and environmental/public health inspection. Applications are due by September 4, 2015. Successful applicants will be notified by October 31, 2015, and funds will be disbursed by December 31, 2015.

Eligibility requirements and application forms may be found at the Health Officers’ Council Website at:
http://healthofficerscouncil.wordpress.com/bursaries/

Executive Director, Community Health and Wellness Services

Planner

Regional Project Developer

Transfer Nursing Management and Practice Consultant

Senior Researcher

Community Health Nurse - Health Centre
 

Visit www.fnha.ca/about/work-with-us to view all opportunities.

Resolution Health Support Worker

Community Health Nurse- Snuneymuxw First Nation

Outreach Worker- Urban Native Youth Association