The last Gathering Wisdom forum was held October 2013, three short weeks after transfer.

Over 900 people will be at Gathering Wisdom for a Shared Journey VII next week May 6-7 on Coast Salish Territory. Government and health service partners and First Nations from across Canada will join BC First Nations for two days of interactive dialogue. Check out the full schedule here, and find out about speakers and much more at www.gathering-wisdom.ca. Hope to see you there!

We are pleased to release the Men's Issue of Spirit Magazine just in time for Gathering Wisdom! In this issue we explore the traditional and contemporary roles of men in First Nations communities and share a number of wellness tips, success stories, personal diaries, role models, and much more.

Other features in this issue include the Interior Nations Traditional Foods Challenge, Nutrition and Men, and 7 Days at a Northern Warrior Camp. We also share the many healthy activities that took place in community during the FNHA Winter Wellness Challenge, and the FNHC’s Beefy Chiefs 2.0 Step Up Challenge.

Read the full issue here! 

COAST AND STRAITS SALISH TERRITORY (Vancouver and Victoria, British Columbia) - The International Journal of Indigenous Health (IJIH) and First Nations Health Authority (FNHA) are calling for local, national, and international papers to publish in a special collaborative thematic issue on “Wellness-Based Promising Practices”. Community-based articles, research articles, and research trainee articles from academic and community-based researchers and practitioners in Indigenous health are of specific interest for the call. 

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. The FNHA is also 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, including structure, methodology, formatting and language, but maintains community voices and perspectives. If you would like to have your submission reviewed by the FNHA, please submit it before August 1, 2015.

Read the full call here!

Our Sacred Journey: Aboriginal Pregnancy Passport is a culturally appropriate health promotion resource empowering women and families through their sacred journey of pregnancy, birth, and baby’s first few weeks.

The passport provides expectant mothers with health information, resources, traditional teachings, growth charts, checklists, and a place to write down goals, thoughts, ideas, and dreams for their babies.

PSBC and FNHA are distributing 20,000 hard copies of the passport to health care providers across the province. The electronic version is available from http://tiny.cc/AboriginalPregPassport, where additional hard copies can also be ordered by health care providers!

​​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.

Have your voice heard through this survey here. 

This round of feedback has been extended to May 15.

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.

Canoe Creek's Agnes Snow was recently honoured for her many years of service for First Nations and Aboriginal Peoples in the North with a well deserved BC Community Achievement Award.

Read more here and congratulations Agnes! 

Deadline May 29

The Canadian Society for International Health (CSIH) is the primary organizing body for the World Hepatitis Day initiative in Canada. Each year, CSIH provides leadership and funding through a National Committee to coordinate events across the country. For 2014, CSIH received a total of 50 proposals for 69 events across the country. These events ranged from promotional barbecues, testing and vaccinations, guest speaker panels to youth activities and poster displays.

Find more information and apply for funding here

The Public Health Agency of Canada is pleased to invite eligible organizations to submit applications to establish and advance community-based and multi-sectoral projects to address the health needs of victims of domestic violence and child abuse and those at risk of these forms of violence.

This Call for Proposals is a two-step process. The first step is the submission of a Letter of Intent. Applicants whose Letters of Intent are successful will be invited to submit a full proposal. There is no deadline for Letters of Intent. They are welcomed on a continuous basis.

Find more information and apply here

Support Lead, eHealth, IIMS

Manager, Area/Zone Nursing Programs

Medical Transportation Program Assistant

Nurse Manager, Nursing Resource Team

Senior Project Coordinator, Cancer Care

Payroll Supervisor

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

Director of Wellness - Organization: Neskonlith Indian Band

Health Director - Gitwangak Health Authority

Indigenous Student Programs Coordinator - UBC Faculty of Medicine