Above: Chiefs, Elders and community members from Nations ac​ross the Island joined representatives from First Nations Health Authority, Island Health and First Nations Health Directors to celebrate the signing of the renewed Vancouver Island Partnership Accord.

In a ceremony Tuesday, a number of health partners signed a renewed commitment to partnerships for better health and wellness services and outcomes for First Nations families, children and communities on Vancouver Island.

The renewal builds upon lessons learned over the past four years through engagement with Vancouver Island First Nations about all aspects of health and wellness. It represents the ongoing growth, evolution and strengthening of the partnerships, shared purposes and collaborative processes.

Read the full release here.

The 2017 BC Quality Forum is taking place March 1-3 in Vancouver, BC. Best of Both Worlds: Dimensions of Quality, Indigenous Perspectives, a unique pre-forum event on March 1, will examine what quality care looks like from Indigenous perspectives and how Indigenous concepts of health and wellness can be reflected within FNHA, First Nations and provincial quality frameworks. 

This pre-conference event will offer four streams of interactive workshops including: cultural safety and humility, quality 101, defining a First Nations quality framework and building health care allies.  The day is designed to allow ample time to network with one another and quality partners from the provincial health system.

The FNHA is supporting registration costs for Health Directors in good standing with the FNHDA for the full three-day forum including the pre-conference Best of Both Worlds Forum.

Find out more on event subsidies for Health Directors here.

Find more information on the Best of Both Worlds Session here.

Read blogs from FNHA Deputy Chief Medical Officer Dr. Shannon McDonald and FNHA Director of Mental Wellness Patricia Vickers (Above L-R) on taking care of yourself and loved ones during the holiday season. 

Creating a Healthy Space for Yourself During the Holiday Season While Navigating Triggers and Traumatic Memories
By FNHA Director of Mental Health, Patricia Vickers, PhD

Coping with Sad Feelings During the Holidays
By FNHA Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Shannon McDonald

​Through a grant made possible by the First Nations Information Governance Centre, the FNHA was able to invite students from across the province to attend the Regional Data Governance Engagement Sessions held February to March 2016.

As a follow-up to their participation, students were invited to attend a one day follow-up workshop in Vancouver organized by the Research, Knowledge Exchange, and Evaluation team to reflect on their learnings at the engagement sessions and to learn additional facilitation skills. This included participating in a photovoice exercise to talk about wellness indicators, and to learn a new skill for engaging their communities on important issues.

Read it and see the images here! 

In case you missed the third Cultural Humility webinar with Brad Anderson and Vanessa Mitchell from Interior Health, you can watch it here now! 

Brad and Vanessa expanded on Interior Health's work in this area and the importance of understanding a people's story in the realm of cultural safety. 

Find out more about our webinar series and upcoming sessions through this link. 

Nuxalk students of Acwsalcta School in Bella Coola participated in an inspiring project that included writing, recording and filming a song and music video in their home territory. The project was supported by the N’we Jinan Tour, a music initiative that brings a mobile recording studio into schools and community centres across First Nations communities in Canada.

The project was created to bring together and celebrate the youth, empower the community, and mark the 30th anniversary of the school and an upcoming potlach event in May. 

Watch the video here! 

Listen to the song and read the lyrics here! 

Do you want to provide Suicide First Aid? Learn effective intervention skills and build a community suicide prevention network. 

Prince Rupert - January 10-12 - Deadline to Apply: December 16
Register online here.

Fort St. John - January 31-February 2 - Deadline to Apply: January 20. 
Register online here.

For more information please contact:
Karla.Tait@fnha.ca Mental Wellness Advisor Patricia.Howard@fnha.ca Manager, Community Engagement 

What is the First Nation​s Health Governance Structure​? How do the different entities work together?

Read, download and share a new brochure from our website here! 

The First Nations Health Council wrapped up Gathering Wisdom for a Shared Journey VIII with a video marking the event. Watch it here.

Gathering Wisdom for a Shared Journey VIII took place on November 30 to December 2, 2016 at the Sheraton Wall Centre Hotel in Vancouver, hosted by the FNHC. Delegates took part in a governance forum around the social determinants of health – the social, cultural, economic and environmental factors that contribute to healthy communities.

Presentations are available to download from the FNHC website here.

The CIHR Institute of Aboriginal Peoples’ Health (IAPH) is seeking applications for Elder-youth pairs to participate in a dialogue on priority areas of Indigenous health and wellness. The purpose of this dialogue is to inform the IAPH Operational Plan and to ensure that the voices of Elders and youths are privileged when considering IAPH’s future directions.

Application deadline is January 13, 2017. 

Contact: taylor_fleming@sfu.ca or joanne_nelson@sfu.ca for more information and to apply.

The FNHA would like to wish you and your families a safe and healthy holiday season and all the best in 2017. 

​​Dental & Denturist Services​​
Closing Date/Time: December 29 , 2016 at 4 PM PST​
More info here

Supply & Delivery of Dental Supplies/Equipment
Closing date/time: January 16, 2017 at 4 PM PST
More info here

Wellness Outcomes Evaluation Specialist
Location(s): West Vancouver
Deadline: December 16, 2016 at 4:00pm
Job description

Clinical TB Nurse Advisor
Location(s): Vancouver
Deadline: December 16, 2016 at 4:00pm
Job description

Indigenous Wellness Nurse
Location(s): Vancouver
Deadline: December 23, 2016 at 4:00pm
Job description

Program and Claims Analyst
Location(s): Vancouver
Deadline: January 4, 2017 at 4:00pm
Job description

Manager, Benefits Management
Location(s): Vancouver
Deadline: January 9, 2016 at 4:00pm
Job description

Policy Coordinator (2 Vacancies)
Location(s): Vancouver
Deadline: January 9, 2017 at 4:00pm
Job description

Community Health Nurse, Health Centre (FT/PT)
Location(s): Gitanyow/Gitwangak
Deadline: Open ended posting
Job description

Dental Therapist (Location TBD)
Location(s):TBD
Deadline: Ongoing
Job description

Youth Addictions Outreach Worker
Organization: Snuneymuxw First Nation
Location(s): Nanaimo BC
Deadline: Jan 12, 2017 by 4:00 PM
Job description

Social, Cultural, Education & Justice Tsilhqot’in Sub-Table Manager
Organization: Tsilhqot'in National Government
Location(s): Williams Lake
Deadline: Jan 9, 2017 by 3:00 PM
Job description

Occupational Health & Safety Coordinator
Organization: Westbank First Nation
Location(s): Kelowna
Deadline: Jan 6, 2017 by 12:00 AM
Job description

Canada Research Chair (CRC) in Indigenous Health and Well-being.
Organization: University of British Columbia
Location(s): Vancouver BC
Deadline: Jan 3, 2017 by 5:00 PM
Job description

Indigenous Resurgence and Reconciliation in Education
Organization: University of British Columbia
Location(s): Vancouver BC
Deadline: Jan 3, 2017 by 5:00 PM
Job description