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Getting at the Root of the Root Causes of Ill Health

​​Themes from t​​​he Vancouver Island Regional Caucus

​​The social determinants of health a​nd, in particular, ​the ways to prevent and treat addictions – these topics were a particular focus of the Vancouver Island Regional Caucus held June 5 and 6 in Parksville.

Morning presentations on day one of the caucus included a panel discussing the opioid state of emergency. Dr. Shannon McDonald, the FNHA's Deputy Chief Medical Health Officer provided an update on opioid health statistics for First Nations people in BC as reported in a joint announcement by the FNHA and the province May 27.

Read the full post here!

Recognizing and Resolving Trauma and Anxiety During Wildfire Season

As another wildfire season takes hold, it is important for people to understand that disasters like wildfires affect individuals in many ways and may affect a person's emotional, spiritual, physical and mental well-being. Dr. Nel Wieman, Senior Medical Officer, Health and Wellness for the First Nations Health Authority says the emotional effects of coping with these kind of situations may show up immediately or appear weeks or even months later.

"The prospect of having to flee your home can trigger distress related to loss of connection to land, home, animals, and traditional foods and medicines," says Dr. Wieman. "For some First Nations people it can also trigger trauma associated with memories of being forcibly removed from home and sent to residential school, Indian hospitals or foster homes."

Read more here.

How to Prepare for the Wildfire Smoke Season

Wildfires and smoke are a normal part of summer in British Columbia, but our seasons seem to be getting longer and more extreme. We cannot predict when big wildfires will occur, so it is best to prepare for a smoky summer before the season starts.

Reducing exposure to wildfire smoke is the best way to protect your health.

Find out more by visiting our wildfire information page here.

Elders' Skill-Building Workshop in Overdose Prevention and Response

We are excited to let you know we are holding a Not Just Naloxone workshop for Elders September 17-19, 2019 at the River Rock Casino in Richmond. Please forward this invite to your networks and to Elders in your community, especially those who support their community in harm reduction initiatives.

This three day workshop is focused on awareness- and skills-building for Elders who support community programs on substance use, harm reduction, addiction, and overdose.

Topics of focus will include

  • Decolonizing addiction,
  • Indigenous harm reduction,
  • Recognizing and responding to overdoses, and
  • Healing for healers

Over 180 people in BC have been trained as trainers in harm reduction and naloxone through the NJN workshops. These trainers need the support from Elders in their communities and have requested we hold a training for Elders to move this work forward in a good way.

HOW TO REGISTER
Register online at: https://www.regonline.ca/NJNElders2019

Please call 604-693-6772 to get registration assistance over the phone

Registration Deadline: Thursday July 25th, 2019
Download the poster here.

Please contact either Andrea Medley (andrea.medley@fnha.ca) or Jennifer Coward (jennifer.coward@fnha.ca) if you need any further information.

FNHA Hosts Three-Day Foundations of Aboriginal Head Start Training

Participants LOVIT (Learning to Observe Value, Inspire and Transform)!

​On June 11 – 13, representatives from all five regions were joined by representatives from new and existing Aboriginal Head Start (AHS) sites, mentors and Elders for three days of the Foundations of Aboriginal Head Start training.

Aboriginal Head Start is a national community-based and culturally-rooted early intervention program that supports early childhood development for First Nations, Inuit and Metis children and families. This training was also to support newly-expanded on-reserve programs.

Read the full post here!

FNHA Job Opportunities

Emergency Management Manager
Location: Vancouver
Deadline: July 11, 2019 at 4:00 pm

Project Developer, Emergency Management
Location: Kamloops or WestBank
Deadline: July 11, 2019 at 4:00 PM

Co-Op Student
Location: Fraser Salish & Vancouver Coastal
Deadline: July 16, 2019 at 4:00 pm

Funding Arrangements Advisor
Location: Multiple Locations
Deadline: July 17, 2019 at 4:30 pm

Recruitment Coordinator
Location: West Vancouver
Deadline: July 18, 2019 at 4:00pm

Environmental Health Officer
Location: Kamloops
Deadline: July 18, 2019 at 4:00 pm

Community Health Nurse, Health Center
Location: Lillooet
Deadline: July 21, 2019 at 4:00 pm

Proj Developer, Mental Wellness Interior
Location: Cawston
Deadline: July 22, 2019 at 4:00 pm

Find all job postings on our website.

BC First Nations and Aboriginal Health Job Opportunities

Locum Physicians
Organization: Vancouver Native Health Clinic
Location(s): Vancouver
Deadline: Aug 30, 2019 by 11:55 PM
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

Aboriginal Child, Youth and Family Outreach Clinician
Organization: Northern St’at’imc Outreach Health Services, Lillooet Tribal Council
Location(s): Lillooet
Deadline: Open until filled
Job description