A Message from Dr. Evan Adams, FNHA Chief Medical Officer​​​​​.

Flu season is fast approaching and I know that we all want to do what we can to protect ourselves and our loved ones from the flu. As a First Nations physician, I would like to remind all First Nations and Aboriginal people in BC that the best protection against the flu is the flu shot. I get my flu shot every year and I encourage my loved ones to do so as well. Flu vaccines help our bodies do what they do naturally — build immunity to fight illness.

Read more here. 

October was Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) Awareness Month. To mark SIDS month, we are pleased to share revised and expanded Honouring Our Babies documents.

Many First Nations and Aboriginal teachings explain that babies are gifts of life from the Creator. Sadly, sometimes babies leave the circle suddenly and far too early as a result of SIDS.

Honouring Our Babies: Safe Sleep Cards & Guide is interactive, evidence-informed, and incorporates cultural beliefs, practices, and issues specific to First Nations and Aboriginal communities. 

Find the revised documents here.

Above: Rocky Jackson (Tahltan) sings a song to honour residential school survivors at the end of the Stikine Wholistic Working Group presentation at the Northern Regional Caucus. 

Over the course of three days from October 24-27 on Lheidli T'enneh territory in Prince George, representatives from northern First Nations communities engaged with diverse health and social issues facing our Nations.

Hosted by the First Nations Health Council, First Nations Health Authority, and First Nations Health Directors Association, the northern regional caucus had over 200 participants. 15 Chiefs were in attendance alongside delegates representing 45 of 54 northern communities.

Region-specific highlights during the session included a presentation from the Stikine Wholistic Working Group, Recognition Awards for the Northern Regional Spirit of Wellness Champions, Blanketing and remarks from newly elected BC Assembly of First Nations Regional Chief Terry Teegee, and performances by the Louie Singers, Gitlaxtaamiks Ceremonial Dancers and Rocky Jackson from the Tahltan Nation.

Read the full story here. 

Leadership representing 110,000 regulated health and social workers ​in British Columbia pledge to increase cultural safety and humility.

One hundred and forty participants including registrars, board and committee members, and senior staff from the 23 regulatory colleges gathered in Vancouver on October 13 to learn about cultural safety and humility as it relates to BC First Nations and Aboriginal people.

Together, attendees regulate and oversee the practice of 110,000 health professionals working across British Columbia, including nurses, doctors, dentists and many others.

Read more on this here.

​​First Nations in BC have practised traditional healing and wellness since time immemorial. Today, traditional wellness approaches have a vital role in improving overall health and wellness for First Nations. Services that are consistent with First Nations values and principles and reflect First Nations models of health and wellness are an essential attribute of quality health services.

​Watch Elder Virginia Peters share what traditional healing and wellness means in her region and what is important in delivering traditional wellness programming as a part of providing culturally safe services for First Nations. Dr. McDonald shared an overview what the FNHA has been hearing from Elders, Health Directors, and traditional healers across BC over the last few years.

Watch it here!

The FNHA and BC Ministry of Health have released their joint annual report on data sharing.

Through a unique agreement in 2010, FNHA, BC MoH, and Health Canada established a data quality and sharing agreement. The agreement is unique in Canada, and respects privacy and use of data specific to First Nations peoples in BC while overcoming policy barriers related to access, interpretation and utilization of relevant and accurate data. Health Canada is no longer a voting member at the Data and Information Planning Committee, but continues to participate in the group as an adviser.

For more information on the Annual report, the work of the committee, Data Access Requests underway, lessons learned and more – read the TDQSA annual report here.

The FNHA Northern Regional team, Northern Health and the UNBC Northern Medical Program have announced another season of the First Nations Community Education Program, an opportunity for
first and second year medical undergraduate students to visit and learn from northern First Nations communities. 

Communities and students are both encouraged to apply! 

For a Host Information package - Click here.
For a Host Application package - Click here.

Around the Kitchen Table (ATKT) is a fun, successful, traditional model for HIV, Hepatitis and sexual health education that uses humour and focuses on training teams of women in Aboriginal communities to run ATKT sessions in their communities.

Chee Mamuk invites your community to submit an application to ATKT to participate in a 4-day training. All participant travel and accommodation are provided. Aboriginal communities and organizations both on and off reserve may apply.

Application Deadline – Nov 20, 2017
Training Dates – January 29 - February 2, 2018, Vancouver BC

More information:
Contact Lynette La Fontaine
604-816-1649
lynette.lafontaine@bccdc.ca

Kelowna Office Renovation​
Closing date/time: November 6​, 2017 at 4PM PST​​
More info here

Medical Director/ Physician Advisor/ Primary Care – Physician Leader
Closing date/time: October 27​, 2017 at 4PM PST​
More info here

Change Management Lead
Location: Vancouver
Deadline: November 6, 2017 at 4:00pm

Senior Evaluation Analyst
Location: Vancouver
Deadline: November 6, 2017 at 4:00pm

Senior Consultant, Funding Arrangements
Location: Vancouver
Deadline: November 3, 2017 at 4:00PM

Business Intelligence & Data Warehouse Analyst
Location: Vancouver
Deadline: November 8, 2017 at 4:00pm

Recruiter
Location: West Vancouver
November 3, 2017 at 4:00pm

See all job postings on our website here.

Master of Science (MSc) Studentship
Organization: SFU & FNHA
Location(s): Vancouver
Deadline: Jan 15, 2018 by 11:55 PM
Job description

Director of Social Development
Organization: Esk’etemc First Nation
Location(s): Esk’etemc
Deadline: Nov 1, 2017 by 11:00 AM
Job description

Aboriginal Supported Child Development Worker
Organization: ​​Carrier Sekani Family Services
Location(s): Burns Lake
Deadline: Oct 27, 2017 by 11:55 PM
Job description

Mental Wellness & Substance Use Worker
Organization: T'it'q'et Administration
Location(s): Lillooet BC
Deadline: Open until filled
Job description

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