Colleen Lessman, Sheila Dick and Joyce Johnson of Secwepemc Nation; Chief Mike Archie and Kukpi7 Wayne Christian of Secwepemc Nation

The Interior Caucus session recently took place in Sylix terroritory on March 13-15, 2018. ​Regional caucus sessions are an opportunity to present an overview of key activities and accomplishments in the region along with political and health leads.

The Interior Caucus session began with ceremony, brushing off, and a prayer from Syilx Nation’s Mary Louie and Wilfred Barnes; Chief Roxanne Lindley of Westbank First Nation provided the territory welcome. Forty-two Political Leads and 53 Health Leads participated in the three-day event.

Read an overview of the three-day event here.

Elders have continuously reminded us that everything is connected. The Chief, the land, the supernatural, the people, our history, our sacred stories, everything is connected.​

As part of these vital connections, fasting, purification ceremonies and rituals are all actions given to us by our ancestors to help us keep our hearts, minds and souls clean.

Read the full blog post from FNHA's Patricia Vickers, Director, Mental Wellness here.

After six years of dedicated service, Lydia Hwitsum has moved on from her position as Board Chair for the First Nations Health Authority (FNHA). Effective April 1, 2018, former Vice - Chair Colleen Erickson has been appointed chair.

Hwitsum, the former Chief of Cowichan Tribes and was one of the founding members of the First Nations Health Society in March 2009. She was subsequently appointed to the FNHA board in January 2012 and became the Board Chair later in April of 2012.

Read more about this announcement here.

Watch The Indigenous Wellness Team in this UBC Learning Circle session. The team explored the latest developments in the Opioid Public Health Emergency and how our Indigenous communities can work together to respond. Additionally, they revealed some promising community-based practices in addressing stigma through these shareable resources:

•  Decolonizing Addiction: coming to a collective understanding on substance use and addiction
•  Taking Care of Each Other Video Series: Indigenous Perspectives on Harm Reduction.

Watch the recording here!

The FNHC is pleased to host Gathering Wisdom for a Shared Journey IX on May 15-17, 2018 at the Westin Bayshore in Vancouver.

The Gathering Wisdom forum this year will feature discussions on health, mental health and the social determinants of health. Gathering Wisdom IX will provide an opportunity for leaders and health and wellness leads to hear from the FNHA and FNHC, learn more about promising practices from other communities across BC, discuss the role of health and healing in Nation rebuilding, and discuss new opportunities in the areas of mental health and the social determinants of health.

Importantly, the Gathering Wisdom forum will provide time for leaders to discuss and provide direction to the social determinants of health strategy that the FNHC is leading.

Key Highlights:

• Presentation from Joe Gallagher, CEO of the FNHA, on the success and future of the health governance structure in BC
• Presentation from the FNHA and the BC Cancer Agency on Improving Indigenous Cancer Journeys in BC
• Presentation from the FNHC, Canada and BC on new partnership for mental health and wellness
• Best practice panels on the role of leaders and health leads in community health and wellness journeys
• Best practice panels on the role of health and healing in Nation rebuilding 
• Chiefs discussion on the direction of the social determinants of health strategy

The FNHC will cover the costs of three (3) representatives from each community to attend Gathering Wisdom this year. Register today!

Learn more and register online here.

Above: The Citxw Nlaka'pamux Assembly Youth Leadership Program at Gathering Wisdom for a Shared Journey VII

The FNHC is now accepting applications for First Nation leaders aged 16 to 30 years to participate in the inaugural Youth Leaders Program at Gathering Wisdom for a Shared Journey IX, May 15-17, 2018. There are 10 spots available – one male and one female from each BC region. The 10 Youth Leaders selected will be asked to address an audience of 700 First Nation leaders and health leads from across BC.

The registration deadline for Gathering Wisdom for a Shared Journey IX is April 27, 2018.

​​​The First Nations Health Authority (FNHA) is currently recruiting a Vancouver Island Regional Appointee Board member. The FNHA provides health and wellness programs and services to First Nations province-wide. The nine-member Board collectively works for and make decisions for the benefit of all BC First Nations, regardless of residence; however, the Board is structured in a manner to make space for regional experience and perspective. The nine-member Board includes five Board members selected from nominations of First Nations in the five Regions (Fraser; Interior; North; Vancouver Coastal; and, Vancouver Island); and, four Board members chosen at large.

Deadline for applications is April 15, 2018

Find out more apply here.

The First Nations Health Authority (FNHA) and the BC Centre on Substance Use (BCCSU) are pleased to announce the creation of the Integrated First Nations Addictions Care Initiative.

The new Initiative will identify opportunities for collaboration between the FNHA and BCCSU with the goal of strengthening partnerships within the healthcare system in the context of the provincial opioid overdose emergency.

We are pleased to announce Shawna Morrison as the new First Nations Addictions Care Coordination Lead.

Read the full media release here.

Third Party Provider for Health Benefits
Closing date: May 10, 2018 and 4:00pm

More info here.

Nursing Program Administrative Assistant (Term)
Location: Anahim Lake
Sunday, April 8, 2018 at 4:00 p.m.

Manager, Applications and Analytics
Location: Vancouver
Sunday April 15, 2018 at 4:00pm

Benefits Support Representative, CPST (Term)
Location: Vancouver
Wednesday, April 18, 2018 at 4:00 p.m.

Regional Addictions Specialist (Northern Region)
Location: Northern
April 20, 2018 at 4:00pm

Human Resources Business Partner
Location: West Vancouver
Open until filled

Clinical Nurse Specialist, Substance Use (Term)
Location: Vancouver
Open until filled

Regional Addictions Specialist (Fraser Region)
Location: Abbotsford (Matsqui First Nation)
Open Until Filled

Child and Youth Health Systems Navigator
Location: Cawston
Open Until Filled

Find all our job postings on our website here.

Regional Sport and Physical Activity Coordinator – Northwest Region
Organization: I-Sparc
Location(s): Northwest Region BC
Deadline: May 1, 2018 by 4:00 PM
Job description

Home Care Worker
Organization: Snuneymuxw First Nation
Location(s): Nanaimo
Deadline: Apr 26, 2018 by 11:55 PM
Job description

Health Centre Office Coordinator
Organization: Snuneymuxw First Nation
Location(s): Nanaimo
Deadline: Apr 19, 2018 by 4:00 PM
Job description

Physician
Organization: Vancouver Native Health Society
Location(s): Vancouver, BC
Deadline: Apr 13, 2018 by 4:00 PM
Job description