Calling all Indigenous people in BC: Join us for the “Sober for October” challenge!

"Sober for October" is a thing in many countr​ies – and we think it's a very good thing –​ so this year we're jumping on the bandwagon, as it were, and doing it as a group! Please join us – participating FNHA staff members – in not drinking, or at least reducing, our alcohol consumption for the month of October. The goal of the Sober for October movement is to think about our social drinking / sometimes-automatic alcohol consumption and, going forward, after October, to consume less and be healthier for it. After all, "less is best" when it comes to alcohol and other substances including sugar or commercial tobacco. So … are you with us? Who's in?

Find out more here!

The Benefits of Breastfeeding!

A message from Dr. Unjali Malhotra, FNHA Office of the Chief Medical Officer

I struggled with breastfeeding at first – that darn latch​! But after a while, my child and I figured it out together. We, as a team, managed to find our way. This may not be the outcome for all, but in our case it was a positive experience. It bonded my partner and me in that he washed the pump paraphernalia while I rested, and it bonded my daughter to both of us as we figured out her cues. And of course, there was all that close physical contact known as snuggling!

Read the full message here!

A message from Dr. Sean Wachtel, FNHA Office of the Chief Medical Officer

The human race has a chequered history with alcohol, which has been around for millennia; its status has been variously that of a revered, sacred substance (think of the wine consumed during communion) or the devil's own brew, to be avoided under literally pain of death (think some extremist ideologies).

For most of us, alcohol falls somewhere in between – a substance some of us enjoy in moderation, some of us avoid altogether, and some of us have a problem with. The medical definitions of "problem drinking" are varied and change frequently. As a practising physician, I think a patient has a drinking problem if they are causing themselves or their loved ones harm, be that physical harm like liver damage, psychological harm like depression, or social harm like interrupting of responsibilities or even family violence. There are many avenues open to treating people with alcohol abuse disorder, also known as the misuse of alcohol, but one of the main predictors of successful treatment is the non-judgmental support of family, friends and community.

Read the message here.

September 26 was World Environmental Health Day

To Indigenous people, food has always been more than a source of nutrition to fuel our bodies through the day, and more than a source of pleasure. Food is our connection to all of creation and Mother Earth, which was given to all of us by the Creator to share. It fuels not just the physical body, but the mind and the spirit. Through harvesting, social gatherings, and ceremony, food brings family and community/social cohesion and facilitates the passing down of cultural traditions.

A message from Dr. Helena Swinkels, FNHA Office of the Chief Medical Officer, and Linda Pillsworth, FNHA Manager, Environmental Public Health Services, including traditional knowledge from FNHA Knowledge Keeper Syexwaliya/Ann Whonnock of Squamish First Nation. Read the full message here!

Each year, Orange Shirt Day is held on September 30 to commemorate the children lost to the residential schools and to honour all residential school survivors and intergenerational survivors. Orange Shirt Day is a day to remember that “every child matters” and that all children deserve a chance to learn, be loved and to thrive within their own communities and cultures.

See FNHA staff on Orange Shirt Day in our Facebook album here!

A UBC Learning Circle with Harley Eagle

Indigenous people experience racism in health and educational settings. This webinar focused on why understanding the dynamics of Indigenous specific racism is essential to ensuring cultural safety. Providing culturally safe settings for Indigenous clients, students and communities is not only about how health care providers and staff behave in such settings, it is also about the dynamics that contribute to unsafe settings. Some of these dynamics have become normalized because of long standing processes like colonization and resulting inherent systemic belief systems.

Watch the webinar recording here.

Communications Specialist

Closing dates: October 9​, 2018 at 4:00 pm PST

​More info here.

SharePoint Upgrade Services​

​Closing date: October 10​, 2018 at 4:00 pm PST

More info here.

Board Evaluation

​Closing dates: October 12​, 2018 at 4:00 pm PST

More info here.

Nursing Temporary Staffing Services

Closing date: October 24​, 2018 at 4:00 pm PST

More info here.

Clinical TB Nurse Advisor (1 Year Term)
Location: Vancouver
Deadline: October 8, 2018 at 4:00 PM

Community Engagement Coordinator
Location: Fraser (Matsqui)
Deadline: October 12, 2018 at 4:00pm

Community Engagement Coordinator (10 Month Term)
Location: Fort St. John
Deadline: October 12, 2018 at 4:00pm

Senior Administrative Coordinator, Vancouver Island
Location: Oyster Bay, Ladysmith
Deadline: October 17, 2018 at 4:00pm

Primary Care Lead, Fraser Salish
Location: Fraser (Matsqui)
Deadline: October 19, 2018 at 4:00pm

Senior Advisor, FNHC/FNHDA Secretariat
Location: West Vancouver
Deadline: October 26, 2018 at 4:00pm

Dental Therapist
Location: Central Northern Region
Deadline: Open until filled

Social Worker
Location: Campbell River
Deadline: Open Until Filled

Find all job postings on our website.

Home Care Nurse
Organization: Tl'esqox and Yunesit'in
Location(s): Tl'esqox (Toosey) and Yunesit'in (Stone), BC
Deadline: Oct 26, 2018 by 4:00 PM
Job description

Home Care Nurse
Organization: Tles'qox (Toosey Indian Band) Yunesit'in (Stone)
Location(s): Toosey and Stone, BC
Deadline: Open until filled
Job description

Mental Health and Addictions Services Clinician
Organization: Kwakiutl Health Centre
Location(s): Port Hardy
Deadline: Open until filled
Job description

Aboriginal Child, Youth and Family Outreach Clinician
Organization: Northern St’at’imc Outreach Health Services, Lillooet Tribal Council
Location(s): Lillooet
Deadline: Open until filled
Job description