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Share your healthy eating knowledge to kick off the Food is Medicine: Healthy Eating Challenge!

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Our people have always known that food is medicine. Food (and drink) and all of its many aspects are an essential part of our wellness journeys. That's why it was included as one of the FNHA's four Wellness Streams alongside being active, nurturing spirit and respecting tobacco.

It's also the inspiration behind our Food is Medicine Healthy Eating Challenge which starts TODAY!

We kick off our month-long celebration of the role of food in keeping our minds, bodies, and spirits healthy and well with some insider tips and insights from us here at the FNHA Office of the Chief Medical Officer.

Find out more here!

Herring egg harvest reopens with health advice to reduce the risk of illness

Vibrio cholera illnesses Associated with Herring Eggs harvested through spawn-on-kelp in B.C.

In March 2018 a small group of people were confirmed, by lab testing, to have Vibrio cholerae infections. Their illnesses were associated with consumption of herring eggs harvested in the French Creek and Qualicum Bay areas. The same type of Vibrio cholerae bacteria were also found in herring egg and marine water samples.

Herring eggs are an important traditional seafood for many First Nations in B.C., providing cultural, nutritional, and economic benefits.  They are an important source of protein, vitamin D, vitamin A, iron, zinc and several other nutrients.

Learn more here.

First Nations' solution to a modern, medical crisis is a return to traditional ways

Vancouver Sun Article

Ending Canada’s opioid overdose crisis will likely require much more than sophisticated drug therapies. In fact, it might mean following the lead of First Nations health-care providers and transforming how we think about and deliver medical services.

First Nations people are dying of opioid overdoses at three times the rate of the general population. Hidden in that data are Canada’s most-neglected victims — Indigenous women.

Unlike in the general population where men comprise 80 per cent of the victims, Indigenous women are as likely to overdose or die as their brothers, fathers, husbands and sons.

They are eight times more likely to overdose than other women, and five times more likely to die from an overdose.

It’s not really surprising, says Dr. Evan Adams, the First Nations Health Authority’s chief medical health officer. The terrible numbers track other devastating indicators of how their health and longevity diverge from those of other Canadians.

Read here.

First Nations Health Authority Update on Lower Mainland Measles

The First Nations Health Authority is recommending people check they are up to date with their measles immunization as new cases, either related to a local outbreak or imported from abroad, are being detected in the Lower Mainland.

Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) has notified the public that they have identified four additional measles cases last week, one of which is linked to another case in the region. The source of infection for the second case is unknown and is being investigated. The third and fourth cases are linked to international travel. There are now a total of 10 infections linked to the current measles outbreak in the Lower Mainland.

Read more here.

Honouring the final journey to be with ancestors: End of Life Doula Support

For some First Nations people, wanting to remain in or return to their community to die is very important, and an integral part of their plan for their final journey to the Spirit World. To make this possible, support and care are needed. In many First Nations communities, there are often people who provide this kind of care naturally, however, remaining in community to die isn't always an option.

Training is now offered and recognized in a similar way to a birth doula. First Nations Health Authority and Douglas College are working together to offer the End of Life Doula Certificate Program to interested people of BC's First Nations communities who provide support to family or community members for their final journey to the Spirit World.

Read more and find out about the End of Life Doula Certificate Program here.

Heart Month Message: As women, let’s take care of our cardiovascular health!

February was Hearth Month. Read a Heart Month message from Dr. Unjali Malhotra, Medical Officer, Women's Health

​"A strong heart starts with strong nutrition, including traditional foods

In honour of Heart Month 2019, I want to take a moment to talk about the connections between diet, wellness and our heart health. As a women's health physician, I see firsthand the effects that good nutrition can have on women's hearts, and that includes eating traditional foods that have kept Indigenous women healthy since time immemorial.

According to the Heart & Stroke Foundation's report on women's heart health, heart disease is responsible for significantly more deaths in Indigenous women compared to non-Indigenous women. Indigenous women have also been shown to die from heart disease at a younger age compared to non-Indigenous women. The good news is that 80% of heart disease cases are preventable, and good diet is a crucial preventative factor!"

Read the full message here!

FNHA on Pink Shirt Day!

Pink Shirt Day is a day when people wear mainly a pink shirt to symbolise a stand against bullying.

View photos of FNHA staff showing support for Pink Shirt Day on our Facebook album here!

Women’s Wellness & Leadership Project

Vancouver Friends for Life Society is pleased to announce a new initiative to support women with lived experience of HIV and hepatitis C (HCV).

The Women’s Wellness and Leadership Project is designed to support women on their own path to health and wellness. The project is accepting applications from women up to $2500 for support with self directed health and education ideas. We look forward to working with women across the province to support making these ideas reality to improve health, wellness, skills building and social connectivity.

Find out more and learn how to apply here.

Application Deadlines

March 15th 2019 – Results announced by March 30th 2019

June 15th 2019 – Results announced by June 30th 2019

September 15th 2019 – Results announced by September 2019

December 15th 2019 – Results announced by December 20th 2019

February 15th 2020 – Results announced by February 28th 2020

Improving Heart Health and Well Being for Indigenous Peoples with Jeff Reading

The talk will examine why it is important to understand what makes some people healthy and why some are not, by integrating social and economic health determinants with life course and age/life stage/gender sensitive timed interventions to optimize health and well being.

With Jeff Reading Professor, Faculty of Health Sciences

First Nations Health Authority Chair in Heart Health and Wellness at St. Paul’s Hospital and Director of the I HEART Centre (Indigenous Health Education Access Research Training) for Providence Health Care

Date: Thursday, March 14th, 2019 (PST)
Time: 10 a.m. to 11:30 am
Where: Videoconference OR internet webinar.

Register here!

FNHA TB Services Program Art Callout

World TB Day 2019 Takes Place on March 24th. This Years theme: ‘It’s Time…’ 

In’ati Is’ick FNHA TB Services Program Requests submissions of expressive art rooted in Indigenous Wellness and TB

PARTNER – Elders/youth/cultural support workers/traditional healers

CREATE – Drawing, song, poem, skit, photo, video

SUBMIT by March 26th, 2019

FNHA TB Services will use your work in our program to teach and fight TB

Submit to: FNHATB@fnha.ca or 540-757 West hastings St, Vancouver V6C 1A1

RECOGNITION - $500.00 to your First Nations Program for top selection, $400.00 for second, $300 for third and $100 for 4th, 5th, 6th

Procurement Opportunities

Mental Health Reporting Framework​​
Closing Date: Mar. 5, 2019 16:00​
More info.

Communications Project Manager​
Closing Date: Mar. 13, 2019 16:00
More info.

FNHA Job Opportunities

HR Assistant
Location: West Vancouver
Deadline: March 5, 2019at 4:00pm

Advisor, Shared Secretariat
Location: West Vancouver
Deadline: March 8, 2019 at 4:00pm

Business Analyst
Location: Vancouver
Deadline: March 8, 2019 at 4:00pm

Project Director, Data Liason
Location: Victoria
Deadline: March 8, 2019 at 4:00 pm

Project Manager
Location: Vancouver
Deadline: March 8, 2019 at 4:00pm

Co-op Student, Chief Medical Office
Location: West Vancouver
Deadline: March 10, 2019 at 4:00 pm

Licensed Practical Community Health Nurse
Location: Interior (Yunesetin/Toosey)
Deadline: March 10, 2019 at 4:00 pm

Regional Advisor
Location: Interior
Deadline: March 15, 2019 at 4:00pm

Find all job postings on our website.

BC First Nations and Aboriginal Health Job Opportunities

Executive Director
Organization: Rural and Remote Division of Family Practice
Location(s): Home-Office Based
Deadline: Open until filled
Job description

Aboriginal Patient Liaison
Organization: Carrier Sekani Family Services
Location(s): Prince George
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

Home Care Nurse
Organization: Dease River First Nation
Location(s): Dease River
Deadline: Open until filled
Job description