Dr. Nel Wieman, FNHA Senior Medical Officer, Mental Health & Wellness and Dr. Unjali Malhotra, FNHA Medical Officer, Women's Health

​​A message for Sexual & Reproductive Health Week

​Sexual & Reproductive Health Week (February 12-16) is an annual awareness-raising campaign hosted by Action Canada for Sexual Health & Rights. The theme of this year's campaign, "Mind your Business," highlights the connection between sexual and mental wellness. Today we want to share a message with all women who have experienced sexual trauma.

If you have experienced sexual trauma, and it is affecting your ability to take care of your sexual health, please know there are things you can do to make your health care experiences less difficult.

Read more on our website here.

Presenters share message that "everyone has the innate capacity to heal and transform trauma."

If someone were to bite into a lemon right in front of you, what would happen? How would you feel, as you watched their face scrunch up with the shock of biting into something so sour? The situation is visceral enough to cause many of us to recoil in empathy. Our mouths salivate; we feel it vicariously.

This is what Sandra Harris, a Trauma Therapist from Wet'suwet'en Nation, calls the "Lemon Trick," and she demonstrated it to a room of hundreds of people during the "Addressing Trauma" panel at the FNHA Mental Health and Wellness Summit.

The point of the trick is to demonstrate how vicarious trauma affects us. We hold onto the stories and pain of our communities and family, just like watching—and feeling—the sourness of a lemon we never actually bit into.

Read this blog online here.

Award recipients receive $2,500 grants to support ongoing learning related to their projects

On February 21, FNHA CEO Joe Gallagher and the FNHA Telehealth Expansion Project were among the 2018 Quality Award winners honoured by the BC Patient Safety & Quality Council (BCPSQC).

The awards ceremony was held during the popular Health Talks evening during Quality Forum 2018 in Vancouver, BC. Awards were presented by Christina Krause, Executive Director, BCPSQC, and Dr. Doug Cochrane, Chair & Provincial Patient Safety & Quality Officer for the BCPSQC.

Read more here. 

Above: Nurses form a circle to join Syexwaliya, Ann Whonnock, in song on the final day of the conference.

​​Nurses discuss best practices in health protection and network with colleagues from across BC.​

On February 6-8, 100 nurses who work with First Nations communities gathered in Vancouver for the 2018 Communicable Disease Conference, organized by the FNHA Health Protection team.

This year's theme, "Nurses' Circles – Wisdom, Teachings & Stories from Indigenous Communities," speaks to the value of bringing nurses and other community members together to share the breadth of knowledge available within our communities and circles of care. The conference offers opportunities for nurses from across BC to network, share their wisdom and learn from traditional knowledge keepers and leaders from the nursing field.

Read more here.

The FNHA Indigenous Wellness Team will explore the latest developments in the Opioid Public Health Emergency and how Indigenous communities can work together to respond. Additionally they will be revealing 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.

Everyone is welcome to participate.
Wednesday, March 14, 2018
10:00 am – 11:30 am (PST)
Registration is required to participate - Register here! 

Above: Rebecca Hatch and Neil Fowler of PHC's Aboriginal Health Team sing a traditional wolf song as FNHA CEO Joe Gallagher, Squamish Nation Elder Syexwaliya, PHC CEO Dianne Doyle and FNHA's Sonia Isaac-Mann listen.

From Providence Health Care

Members of the audience were invited to stand and open their hearts and minds as Squamish Nation Elder Syexwaliya shared a traditional greeting song.

Neil Fowler and Rebecca Hatch of Providence Health Care’s Aboriginal Health Team followed her opening with a wolf song. Their welcomes marked the beginning of a milestone day. On Friday, February 9, PHC hosted representatives from First Nations Health Authority at St. Paul’s Hospital for a special event to recognize and launch PHC’s commitment to reconciliation and cultural safety & humility.

Read more here. 

The FNHA and Simon Fraser University (SFU) are partnering to support several students to receive a fully funded, three-year, MSc degree in Indigenous population health research and practice at SFU, with funding from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research  - Institute of Aboriginal Peoples’ Health.  

Who can apply? Students with an undergraduate degree and who meet SFU’s application criteria are eligible to apply. Because valid research with First Nations in BC requires deep understanding of cultures and contexts, applicants must either provide evidence of close relationships and experience with First Nations in BC (e.g., living for five years or more with a First Nations community in BC) or self-identify as First Nations from BC.

Applications are due March 18, 2018! 

More information, a video story and application instructions can be found here! 

The Indigenous Sport, Physical Activity & Recreation Council (ISPARC) is pleased to partner with Engage Sport North to announce the Indigenous Youth  Performance Program. This Athlete Training Program is for Indigenous Youth ages 13-18. Athletes who have demonstrated the drive, skill and determination in their chosen sport will be selected to participate in a specialized Strength and Conditioning program with Engage Sport North Performance Coaches.

This program is designed to help the athletes take their performance to the next level and support them on the proper pathway to develop athletically and enhance their skills to reach their goals in sport excellence.

Find out more here!

The College of Pharmacists of BC committees and subcommittees are composed of registered pharmacists and pharmacy technicians, as well as members of the public.

Committees and subcommittees assist the College in meeting its legislated mandate to protect the public by ensuring practitioners have the knowledge, skills and abilities to provide safe and effective pharmacy care.

Deadline for applications is Friday, March 16, 2018 at 5:00 pm

Find out more here.

Employment Engagement Survey
Closing date: March 8, 2018 at 4 p.m.
More info here.

Recruiter
Location: Vancouver
Deadline: February 26, 2018 at 4:00pm

Student, Interior Region (3 Positions)
Location: Interior
Deadline: February 28, 2018 at 4:00pm

Nursing Program Administrative Assistant
Location: Vancouver Coastal
Deadline: February 28, 2018 at 4:00pm

Health Benefits Coordinator (Term)
Location: Vancouver
Deadline: March 2, 2018 at 4:00 pm

Indigenous Primary Care Access Coordinator (2 Year Term)
Location: Vancouver
Deadline: March 4, 2018 at 4:00 pm

Communications Specialist
Location: Interior
Deadline: March 5, 2018 at 4:00 pm

Indigenous Wellness Nurse
Location: Vancouver
Deadline: March 9, 2018 at 4:00pm

Regional Addictions Specialist (2)
Location: Vancouver Coastal and Interior
Deadline: March 9, 2018 at 4:00pm

Find all our job postings on our website here.

Early Childhood Educator Assistant
Organization: Stz'uminus First Nation
Location(s): Ladysmith BC
Deadline: Feb 28, 2018 by 4:00 PM
Job description

Administrative Assistant - Family Preservation and Maternal Child Health
Organization: Carrier Sekani Family Services
Location(s): Vanderhoof, BC
Deadline: Mar 7, 2018 by 4:00 PM
Job description

Community Health Representative
Organization: Saulteau First Nations
Deadline: Mar 1, 2018 by 4:00 PM
Job description

Multiple Postings
Organization: Katzie Early Years Centre
Location(s): Katzie First Nation
Job description

Home Care Nurse
Organization: Tles'qox (Toosey Indian Band) Yunesit'in (Stone)
Location(s): Toosey and Stone, BC
Deadline: Mar 23, 2018 by 4:00 PM
Job description