As the official health and wellness partner to this year’s Elders Gathering, the First Nations Health Authority would like to thank everyone who helped to make the event such a great success. Held in Tsawout Territory on Vancouver Island, the Gathering brought together thousands of Elders, as well as young people and health care workers from across the province.

Highlights from FNHA’s involvement in the event include a keynote speech by CMO Dr. Evan Adams, in-house healthcare screenings and the ‘20-Yr-Old Self Photo Booth’—a project that asked Elders to write out the wellness advice they would give their younger selves.

Click here to read more about this powerful gathering!

An exciting Food Skills for Families expansion initiative is underway in the north. The Canadian Diabetes Association (CDA) is pleased to have the support of the First Nations Health Authority (FNHA) to launch the Food Skills for Families Train-the-Trainer program closer to home in three Northern Region communities; Terrace, Fort St John and Prince George. Northern communities have identified food security and healthy eating as key goals for wellness through FNHA northern community engagement process.

Read more here!

Breastfeeding is the traditional infant feeding practice in Lil’wat culture and many women in the Southern BC community of Mount Currie breastfeed. In January 2014, the community initiated a breastfeeding promotion campaign to promote and prolong the traditional practice of breastfeeding.

This prompted research collaboration between the Lil’wat Health and Healing, the University of British Columbia and the First Nations Health Authority. The primary goals of this community-driven investigation were 1) to better understand the facilitators and barriers to breastfeeding and 2) to assess program needs for a local peer breastfeeding program.

Learn more about about this research here.

On Wednesday, July 8, 2015, The Lower Silkameen Indian Band (LSIB) was joined by the First Nations Health Authority in a ribbon cutting and opening ceremony of the new Health and Administration Building. The project was over three years in the making, commencing in January of 2012 and breaking of the ground took place on July 31st, 2013. 

The multi-purpose facility will host the community’s health and social programs and services including: Administration, Health and Wellness, and Home and Community Care.  Outside the new building are sculptures of women shoveling into the ground. These sculptures were created by artist Smoker Marchand of the Colville Tribe, and are of elders digging roots, to represent the ‘Four Food Chiefs’, as part of the stories told by the Syilx Captikwl (Grandmothers).

Read the full story here.

The Bridge River Indian Band, on traditional St’at’imc territory, hosted a Wellness event to honour their ancestors and celebrate their grandfathers. Elders and community members began the day’s activities with a short 45-60 minute walk to the Xwisten Tourism Centre to take part in The Grandfather Salmon Cutting Challenge. The winner of this challenge completed the task in just under one minute and 30 seconds.

In the midst of the day’s events, storytellers and tour guides spoke of the history and culture around traditional salmon fishing practices. These stories were so interesting that many of the tourists and bystanders joined the circle to listen. The feeling of community and storytelling was comforting for many of the Elders and had them reminiscing about their younger days.

Read More about this event!

The Tk’emlúps te Secwepemc Indian Band recently held their Annual Moccasin Mile Walk and Run Event as one of the Aboriginal Day of Wellness activities held across the province. The 1K/3K Walk and Run Event is open to anyone within the Secwepemc Region and this year over 80 participants joined together to walk and run the length of the course.

This year’s event was opened with a prayer and blessing by a local Elder and also included traditional drumming, storytelling, dancing and plenty of healthy snacks and fruit. The day brought community members together to socialize and participate in local culture, while also challenging  everyone to get active and to stay active.

Read more about the event here.

Summer 2015-- Visit the FNHA website to read the Northern First Nations Health Regional Table Communique. Click Here!

Vacancies at First Nations Health Authority

Manager, Accommodations and Fleet
Location(s): Vancouver BC
Deadline: Jul 30, 2015 by 4:00 PM
Job description

Human Resources Consultant
Location(s): West Vancouver
Deadline: Jul 24, 2015 by 4:00 PM
Job description

Administrative Assistant
Location(s): West Vancouver
Deadline: Jul 23, 2015 by 4:00 PM
Job description

Service Desk Analyst
Location(s): Vancouver
Deadline: Jul 20, 2015 by 4:00 PM
Job description

Chief Administrative Officer
Location(s): Vancouver
Deadline: Open until filled
Job description

Community Health Nurse - Health Centre
Location(s): Lytton & Fort St. John
Deadline: Open until filled
Job description

Community Health Nurse – Nursing Stations
Location(s): Various
Deadline: Open until filled
Job description

Dental Therapist
Location(s): Various
Deadline: Open until filled
Job description

Nurse in Charge-Nursing Station
Location(s): Various
Deadline: Open until filled
Job description

Vacancies in BC First Nations Health

Health Coordinator
Organization: Ahousaht
Location(s): Ahousaht BC
Deadline: Jul 17, 2015 by 12:00 PM
Job description
​This position has overall responsibility for project planning, executing, monitoring, including detailed work, evaluation planning, implementation, and integration, financial management of Joint Standing Committee (JSC) contributions, schedule deliverables management, leadership and communication required to successfully integrate this project.

Job Description: Ahousaht Health Coordinator.pdf

Counsellor
Organization: Big Water Society
Location(s): Atlin BC
Deadline: Jul 27, 2015 by 3:00 PM
Job description
​ The community of Atlin, British Columbia requires a full-time Clinical Social Worker/Mental Wellness Counsellor, effective immediately.

Job Description: Atlin Counsellor.pdf