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Skidegate Breaks Ground on New Wellness Centre

SKIDEGATE - Community members, Elders, leaders and partners were on hand for a momentous ground-breaking at a new wellness centre in Skidegate on Haida Gwaii today. The ground-breaking included a ceremonial fire on the building site and offerings of food and tobacco.

The new 9,400 square foot health centre will house the Nation's health programs and services including Home and Community Care; Mental Health; Dietician services; Maternal Child Health; Alternative Medicine & Traditional Healing; and Life Skills programming.

Read more here.

Antibiotics & Your Health

A Message from Dr. Sean Wachtel, FNHA Medical Officer, Health Services​​​​​

Why overusing antibiotics is harmful, and how to stay well and avoid the need for them

​March is Pharmacist Awareness Month, and I'd like to take this opportunity to focus on a major public health concern shared by pharmacists, physicians and other healthcare providers alike: the overuse of antibiotics. I'll also talk about how the Elders were right when they told you that using Traditional Medicines is, in certain cases, the best choice for what ails you -- and share healthcare providers' top tips for reducing both illness and the need for antibiotics.

Read this blog in full here.

Talk to your pharmacist, physician or other healthcare provider about when antibiotics are helpful and when they are harmful – by doing so, you can help keep yourself, your family and your community healthy and well!

Honesty about sexual abuse sparks dialogue about healing and unites attendees at FNHA’s first ever Mental Health and Wellness Summit

Above: Chief Charlene Belleau​

How can communities respond to sexual abuse and make lasting change? A panel of community and health leaders hosted an honest and heartfelt discussion on this delicate topic at FNHA’s inaugural Mental Health and Wellness Summit on Feb 7-8 in Vancouver.

Chief Ken Hansen of Yale First Nation dove right in by plainly stating that sexual abuse affects everybody. “In my community, everyone knew about it but no one talked about it. We need to talk about this,” he emphasized.

All three panelists agreed that the problem of sexual abuse needs to be faced head on by community; that change from within is possible; and that the path towards healing is based on culture, teachings and tradition.

Read this in full here.

Thinking of the Importance of Kindness and Connection on Pink Shirt Day

Above: FNHA staff on Pink Shirt Day

​​Be a wellness champion by understanding the serious impacts of bullying & cyberbullying

Pink Shirt Day was so named after two young boys in Nova Scotia chose to fight bullying in their school with a very unusual tool -- pink shirts! Another boy had been bullied for wearing one, so the boys convinced their classmates to wear pink shirts to school in a show of support.

The intent was to initiate an atmosphere of connection, inclusion and solidarity, and it worked! That was in 2007 – since then, Pink Shirt Day has worked to raise awareness of bullying, as well as to raise funds to support programs that foster children's healthy self-esteem.

Read more here.

Connecting to the Land Restores and Empowers People and Communities

Above: Freda Huson, Unist'ot'en Hereditary Spokesperson

A unique panel at the inaugural Mental Health and Wellness Summit spoke to the power of connecting to the land as a way of restoring our spirits and revitalizing our relationship with ourselves, our families, and our territories. The land heals. Three speakers talked about the success and popularity of the land-based healing opportunities they offer in their communities.

For the last 25 years, Julia Atleo and Dave Frank of Ahousaht First Nation on the west coast of Vancouver Island have been working with the support of government and health partners to provide traditional healing. "The land and sea are medicine," says Julia. "This approach really works for us."

Read it here! 

Riverstone Mobile/Home Detox Program Puts Dignity and Respect at the Centre of Care

​​​Aboriginal Outreach Team presents on innovative detox services at First Nations Health Authority Mental Health and Wellness Summit

On day one of the FNHA Mental Health and Wellness Summit, the Fraser Health Riverstone Home/Mobile Detox Program Aboriginal Outreach Team presented on programming they offer in east Fraser Valley communities. The Riverstone Home/Mobile Detox Program provides culturally safe wrap-around services to support clients to undergo detox closer to home, and whenever possible, in their communities.

The Riverstone program's strength ultimately lies in its emphasis on holistic services and continuity of care for clients seeking substance use support. As the team explained, for a Riverstone outreach worker, "wrap-around care" may mean making house calls for clients, connecting with clients after hours, connecting clients with counsellors on weekends, providing health systems navigation and problem solving so that clients stay connected to care. 

Find out more here.

Canning Foods Safely: How to Avoid Botulism

The FNHA recognizes there is already a wealth of knowledge on canning and other food preservation methods within BC First Nations.

We would like to build on existing community strengths and enhance community confidence in sharing and serving canned traditional and seasonal foods safely in community.

Read more and download this factsheet here. 

Taking Care of Each Other: Indigenous Perspectives on Harm Reduction

The FNHA Indigenous Wellness Team will explore the latest developments in the Opioid Public Health Emergency and how Indigenous communities can work together to respond. Additionally, they will be revealing promising community-based practices in addressing stigma through these shareable resources:

  • Decolonizing Addiction: coming to a collective understanding on substance use and addiction
  • Taking Care of Each Other Video Series: Indigenous Perspectives on Harm Reduction.

Everyone welcome to participate:
March 14, 2018
10:00 am – 11:30 am (PST)
Registration: required to participate online

Find out more and how to attend here! 

FNHA Job Opportunities​

System Administrator
Location: Vancouver
Deadline: March 15 at 4:00 pm

Policy Analyst, Interior
Location: Cawston
Deadline: March 16, 2018 at 4:00pm

Service Desk Analyst
Location: Vancouver
Deadline: March 16, 2018 at 4:00pm

Human Resources Business Partner
Location: West Vancouver
Deadline: March 16, 2018 at 4:00pm

Administrative Assistant, Oral Health
Location: Vancouver
Deadline: March 16, 2018 at 4:00 pm

Director, Strategic Project Office
Location: West Vancouver
Deadline: March 16, 2018 at 4:00pm

Senior Project Analyst - Strategic Projects Office
Location: West Vancouver
Deadline: March 16, 2018 at 4:00pm

Health Benefits Assessor (2 Vacancies)
Location: Vancouver
Deadline: Friday, March 16, 2018 at 4:00 pm

Advisor, FNHC/FHDA Shared Secretariat
Location: West Vancouver
Deadline: March 16, 2018 at 4:00pm

Manager, Community Relations
Location: Vancouver
Deadline: Sunday, March 25, 2018 at 4:00 pm

Find all our job postings on our website here.

Procurement Opportunities

​​​Project Management Consultant​
Posting Date: March 1, 2018
Close Date: March 15, 2018 at 4 PM PST 

Temporary Agency Staffing Services​
Posting Date: Feb. 23, 2018
Close Date: March 9, 2018 4 PM PST

​Employment Engagement Survey
Start date: Feb. 22, 2018
Closing date: Mar 12​, 2018 4 PM PST

More info here.

BC First Nations an​d Aboriginal Health Job Opportunities​​​​

Home Care Nurse
Organization: Tles'qox (Toosey Indian Band) Yunesit'in (Stone)
Location(s): Toosey and Stone, BC
Deadline: Mar 23, 2018 by 4:00 PM
Job description

PT - Community Health Nurse
Organization: Dzawada'enuxw First Nation
Location(s): Kingcome Inlet B.C.
Deadline: Mar 23, 2018 by 4:00 PM
Job description

Registered Nurse - Home Care Nurse
Organization: Saanich First Nations Adult Care Society
Location(s): Sidney B.C.
Deadline: Mar 23, 2018 by 4:00 PM
Job description

Aboriginal Infant Development Program Consultant
Organization: Snuneymuxw First Nation
Location(s): Nanaimo B.C.
Deadline: Mar 22, 2018 by 4:00 PM
Job description