July 16 marks the one-year anniversary since each Regional Health Authority and the Ministry of Health signed on to the Declaration of Commitment to Cultural Safety and Humility in Health Service Delivery for First Nations and Aboriginal Peoples in British Columbia.

The Declaration symbolizes a renewed partnership to address systemic racism in the health care system and advance culturally respectful relationships between health professionals and their Indigenous clients.

We are pleased to have reached over 100 pledges from our health partners, FNHA staff, and allies! Have you pledged your commitment or vision yet? 

Visit www.fnha.ca/culturalhumility and learn how to pledge (it's easy!) and remember to use the hashtag #itstartswithme or email it over to media@fnha.ca and we'll post it! 

Meet Lorraine Mundy (Yuułuʔiłʔatḥ First Nation), an FNHA Health Benefits Assessor with the Medical Transportation team. Lorraine arrived at the FNHA well prepared for her role. Before joining the team in August 2015, Lorraine worked as a patient travel clerk in her home community of Yuułuʔiłʔatḥ First Nation.

Her colleagues at the FNHA - Medical Transportation Program Coordinator Paul Clairmont and Health Programs Officer Mary Legge, say her community experience adds a vital, hands-on perspective to the Medical Transportation team.

Read her full profile here!

Over 3,000 First Nations Elders and family members from across BC gathered on T'exelcemc traditional territory in Williams Lake for the 40th annual BC Elders Gathering July 11-14. The FNHA is a co-presenting sponsor of the Elders Gathering.

"It truly is an honour to for us to invest in this Gathering for the fifth consecutive year. We look forward to spending the next three days with our Elders, visiting and learning about their perspectives on health and wellness," said Lydia Hwitsum, Board Chair of the FNHA. 

Read more on the Elders Gathering here! 

Check out photos of the Gathering on our facebook page here! 

At this year's Elders Gathering, Elders were treated to the premiere screening of YouthSpeak, a short film amplifying the voices of youth to their Elders. YouthSpeak is the latest installment in an innovative decade-long intergenerational dialogue - the Elders-Youth Video project.

Last year, Elders sent a powerful message to First Nations youth with the: What would you say to your 20-year-old self? video. This video is a response from youth at the 2015 Gathering Our Voices Aboriginal Youth Conference. 

Watch the #EldersSpeak Youth Response video here! 

Due to increasing numbers of overdoses in BC, please share this information widely. 

On June 1, First Nations Health Benefits added naloxone as an open benefit to its drug benefit list, which means that naloxone does not require a prescription from a doctor or nurse practitioner.

Naloxone is an injectable medication that can save loved ones from dying of a drug overdose. Naloxone reverses the effects of an overdose from opioid drugs.

Read fact sheets on what the change means for First Nations peoples, healthcare professionals and pharmacists here.

The FNHA is pleased to announce recognition of dental hygienists as independent service providers within First Nations Health Benefits. With this change, Health Benefits now offers coverage for services provided by dentists, dental therapists, denturists, and now dental hygienists.

Direct access to dental hygienists, who are primarily focused on oral disease prevention and oral health promotion, is aligned with FNHA's commitment to transform health programs upstream with a focus on health and wellness.

Read the full communique here.

Now is your chance to nominate an exceptional First Nations Health Director/Lead who is doing extraordinary work in our communities! There are a potential of seven awards based on the Seven Standards of Excellence to be honoured at the FNHDA Annual General Meeting on September 27-29, 2016 on Coast Ts’msyen (Tsimshian) Territory in Prince Rupert, BC. 

Find all the details including eligibility and how to nominate here! 

We are pleased to share the third installment of FNHA Research Rounds with this blog post on the subjects of Precision and Accuracy. 

Additionally we are premiering the first of a handful of video's documenting the recent FNHA Data Governance Engagement Sessions. 

Read Research Rounds #3: Precision and Accuracy here! 

Watch the first Data Governance Engagement Session video here! 

The Nak'azdli Whut'en hosted a June 21 Aboriginal Day of Wellness event supported by the FNHA to benefit and enrich the community as well as the wider district of Fort St. James.

"It was amazing to see our whole community together learning about our culture and participating in all the booths and activities we had."

Read the full story and see other photos here! 

As featured in Spirit Magazine: The Women's Issue

Melanie Mark is of Nisga'a, Gitxsan, Cree and Ojibway ancestry
and has been a true inspiration for many who witnessed
her journey in becoming the first First Nations woman
elected to the legislative assembly in BC. Her story
is one of triumph over adversity. Growing up on
Vancouver’s Eastside, her family ties and the women
in her life gave her strength during the difficult times.
We raise our hands and honour Melanie for sharing
some time and words with Spirit.

Read the full interview online here! 

The fourth annual Northern Perinatal Conference aims to highlight patient and family centered care, seamless perinatal care transition and inter-professional collaboration. 

Friday, September 16th will also see an evening networking event co-hosted by the Northern Health Authority and the First Nations Health Authority! An open invitation is extended to any frontline health or social caregiver or community member who would like to attend.

For more information and to register please visit this link or email ncme@northernhealth.ca.

Registration deadline is Friday, September 2nd, 2016.

Taking place at UNBC in Prince George July 25.

This event is an initiative led by YouthCO HIV and Hep C Society to bring Aboriginal youth together to have discussions about health and gain knowledge to use and share with their peers.

Participants will be involved in a one day forum with a group of 20-30 youth. During the workshop the participants will receive training on HIV, sexual health, and safer sex. At the end of the workshop the participants will have knowledge to bring back and share with their communities and peers.

Find more info here!

Interested in sharing your work with over 950 attendees who are passionate about improving health care in BC? Submit an abstract for the BC Patient Safety & Quality Council - Quality Forum 2017! 

Now in its sixth year, Quality Forum is an annual event featuring presentations and interactive workshops on a variety of topics related to improving quality across the continuum of care.

Find out more here.

Facilities Project Manager
Location: Vancouver
Deadline: July 15, 2016 at 4:00 PM
Job description

Procurement Specialist
Location: Vancouver
Deadline: July 18, 2016 at 4:00 PM
Job description

Policy Analyst (Perm & Term)
Location: West Vancouver
Deadline: July 29, 2016 at 4:00 PM
Job description

Dental Therapist 
Location: Interior 
Deadline: Ongoing
Job description

Data Collector Northern
Location: Multiple Cities
Deadline: July 21, 2016 at 4:00 PM
Job description

Community Health Nurse
Location: Multiple
Deadline: Ongoing
Job description

Nurse in Charge, Nursing Station
Location: Multiple
Deadline: Ongoing
Job description

Community Health Nurse
Organization: Dzawada’enuxw First Nation Health Department
Location(s): Kingcome Inlet
Deadline: Aug 8, 2016 by 4:00 PM
Job description

Registered Disability Savings Plan Navigator
Organization: BC Aboriginal Network on Disability Society
Location(s): Victoria BC
Deadline: Jul 22, 2016 by 4:00 PM
Job description

Aboriginal Justice Facilitator
Organization: Prince Rupert Aboriginal Community Services Society
Location(s): Prince Rupert BC
Job description

Early Childhood Educator - Special Needs
Organization: Aboriginal Mothers Centre Society
Location(s): Vancouver BC
Job description

Secwepemc Lakes Children and Youth Mental Health Support Worker
Organization: Secwepemc Lakes
Location(s): Splatsin BC
Job description