We are pleased to share the FNHA Policy Statement on Cultural Safety and Humility. This policy statement provides the FNHA’s view on creating cultural safety and humility for First Nations in the health care system. It builds a common understanding of cultural safety and humility for FNHA, communicates our views with our health partners and provides recommended actions to embed cultural safety into the health system across multiple levels.

"Cultural humility and cultural safety in the health system requires health professionals to acknowledge they are always on a journey of learning, and being open to listening to what better care means for First Nations and Aboriginal peoples. We all need to acknowledge, 'it starts with me,'" Dr. Evan Adams, FNHA Chief Medical Officer. 

Read it here.

Photo credit: Royal BC Museum & Archives

As a first-of-its-kind First Nations health organization in BC, the First Nations Health Authority is involved with and supports the broader national reconciliation process on a daily basis, as we work with First Nations communities as well as our partners at Health Canada and throughout BC. Here we provide an overview of FNHA’s alignment with the spirit of the TRC report and our role in advancing the Calls to Action.

The FNHA is committed to working with our tripartite partners and communities to promote cultural safety and humility across the health system and address the ongoing legacies of colonization in the spirit of reconciliation. 

Read and download this document here.

November is Diabetes Awareness Month, an opportune time to remind everyone about the importance of early and frequent screening for diabetes as well as other common diseases and medical conditions.

For First Nations and Aboriginal people, screening is especially important; we have higher rates of disease due to the drastic lifestyle changes that have occurred over the past 130 years. For example, as a whole, First Nations in BC have a 40 percent higher rate of diabetes than that of the general population. (Of course, rates differ from community to community.)

Read Dr. Adams full blog here! 

In my twelve years of work as a physician in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside, I learned a lot from my patients. Many of them, a tragically disproportionate number, were First Nations people. Through the generosity and courage of their sharing, I saw that the sources of addiction do not originate in the substances people use but in the trauma they endured. 

In fact, the self-medications my patients employed were an understandable response to a set of unnatural circumstances, namely the historical trauma inflicted on First Nations throughout Canadian history, and up to the present. In recognition of National Addictions week, I offer a few points raised in an article of mine published earlier this year in The Globe and Mail.

Read the full guest blog here.

We're holding a contest to hear what health and wellness means to you and your community!

To help us gather this information, we have some important questions for you - and you can answer them through photo, video or written submissions. Your submissions will help us establish an agenda for improving First Nations peoples' health and wellness for the next 10 years!

Winning submissions will be shared at the Gathering Wisdom VIII health forum to help shed light on these important topics from your perspective. Contest winners will also receive FitBits!

Find out more here!

Submissions must be received by November 28th, 2016.

A program for Indigenous women to support other Indigenous women through the birthing process.

Classes for this certification are every Friday starting Feb 3rd for six weeks. Sites for the classes will alternate between Seabird College and other communities in the Fraser Salish region. There is no fee for registration.

If you are interested, and are a community member of one of the 32 Fraser Salish First Nations, please contact Tegan Parsons: teganparsons@seabirdisland.ca or 1-800-788-0322 ext 5048.

Travel support is available.

Deadline for Applications is December 1, 2016.

The FNHA is seeking First Nations adults living in BC to complete a five minute survey BC about their level of knowledge, awareness and experience of advance care planning.

This information will help the BC Centre for Palliative Care in the planning and evaluation of their advance care planning initiative, which is sponsored by the BC Ministry of Health. The goal of the initiative is to promote person-centred care throughout our healthcare system, through public and healthcare provider education activities and targeted improvements in the health system.

This survey is conducted by UBC-affiliated researchers and the deadline for completing this survey is November 30th.

To participate in this survey, please click here.

Please only respond once.

To learn more about advance care planning or to make your own advance care plan, you can watch the advance care planning video and/or download the guide and workbook, My Voice: Expressing My Wishes for Future Health Care Treatment advance care planning guide which you can find on the Ministry of Health website here.

The FNHA Spirit Magazine editorial team is gathering content and writers for its upcoming Two-Spirit Issue!

Know a Two-Spirit role model or advocate who should be featured? Interested in writing an article or editorial?

Send your article ideas, created or curated content, photos, Elders’ Wisdom and any questions to Spirit.Magazine@fnha.ca.

Please share widely!

Content will be accepted until December 21, 2016.

To read our previous issue of Spirit Magazine, the Women’s Issue, click here!

When Less is More – A Pharmacist’s Perspective on Managing Multiple Medications

Join us on November 22, 2016 with Larry Leung, Lecturer and Pharmacist at the Pharmacists Clinic, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, UBC. In this session we will explore the topic of “polypharmacy”, which can occur when people are taking multiple medications for one or more health conditions. We will get perspectives on the risks of polypharmacy, potential strategies to reduce the risks, and the role of pharmacists in collaborating with Indigenous communities to support healthy medication use.

Tuesday, November 22, 2016
10:00 am – 11:30 am (PST)
Registration: is required to participate, click here. 

Beneath the Surface – Suicide Awareness and Prevention, with Jenifer Brousseau, Madelaine McCallum, Mitch Saddleback

Join UBC Learning Circle special guests, Jenifer Brousseau, Madelaine McCallum, and Mitch Saddleback of imagiNATION Collective, Beneath the Surface Society in a conversation on “…guiding and mentoring our youth through the sharing of stories, creation of safe spaces within, movement to set ourselves free and reflection that builds insight.”

Thursday, November 24, 2016
10:00 am – 11:30 am (PST)
Registration: Required to participate, click here.

Grant funding is available to support projects aimed at addressing crime reduction; sexual violence, human trafficking/sexual exploitation, and vulnerable women in the sex trade; enhancing domestic violence units; child and youth advocacy centres; Indigenous healing and rebuilding; and serving victims through restorative justice.

For more information and to apply click here.

Applications will be accepted until Friday, December 16, 2016 and all grants will be awarded by March 31, 2017.

Consulting Services - FNHA Metro Vancouver Office Consolidation​​​​
Closing Date: November 24, 2016 4 PM PST
Click here for more information.

Administrative Coordinator
Location(s): West Vancouver
Deadline: Nov 18, 2016 by 5:00 PM
Job description

Executive Office Manager
Location(s): West Vancouver
Deadline: Nov 21, 2016 by 5:00 PM
Job description

Crisis Response Advisor
Location(s): Prince George
Deadline: Nov 24, 2016 by 5:00 PM
Job description

Administrative Assistant
Location(s): West Vancouver
Deadline: Nov 24, 2016 by 5:00 PM
Job description

CEC Coast Mtn
Location(s): Terrace
Deadline: Nov 24, 2016 by 5:00 PM
Job description

Regional Planner
Location(s): Matsqui/Chilliwack
Deadline: Nov 28, 2016 by 5:00 PM
Job description

Payroll Administrator
Location(s): West Vancouver
Deadline: Nov 30, 2016 by 5:00 PM
Job description

Community Health Nurse and Nurse in Charge
Location(s): Multiple
Job description

Counsellor - Family/Mobile Program
Organization: Nenqayni Wellness Centre Society
Location(s): Williams Lake BC
Deadline: Nov 21, 2016 by 5:00 PM
Job description

Educator, Chee Mamuk
Organization: Provincial Health Service Authority
Location(s): Vancouver BC
Job description

Early Childhood Educator Team Leader
Organization: Sto:lo Service Agency
Location(s): Chilliwack BC
Job description

Support Worker Transformational Housing
Organization: Aboriginal Mothers Centre Society
Location(s): Vancouver BC
Job description

Canada Research Chair 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