COAST SALISH TERRITORY – Vancouver, BC – The Province of BC will provide the First Nations Health Authority with $20 million over three years to support First Nations communities and Indigenous Peoples to address the ongoing impacts of the overdose public health emergency. The funding will be administered by FNHA and provided to frontline service providers and First Nations communities to support work already underway, and develop new community-driven approaches and solutions.

Funding includes $4 million in 2017-18 to support activities falling within the four goal areas of the FNHA's Framework for Action on Responding to the Overdose/Opioid Public Health Emergency for First Nations: 1. Prevent people who overdose from dying; 2. Keep people safer when using; 3. Create an accessible range of treatment options; and 4. Support people on their healing journey.

$2.4 million of year one funding is supporting community-driven, Nation-based innovative and culturally relevant responses to the overdose public health emergency, both on- and off-reserve through FNHA Indigenous harm reduction grants. These events support a range of non-judgmental approaches and strategies to enhance the knowledge, skills, resources and supports for individuals, their families and communities to make informed decisions to be safer and healthier.

Read this release in full and find the interactive Indigenous Harm Reduction grant map here.

Marion's story highlights why many Indigenous people are avoiding essential Cancer screening

To recognize February 4 World Cancer Day, the First Nations Health Authority and BC Cancer released a new set of Indigenous cervical cancer screening materials and are encouraging women and people with a cervix to get screened.

The 2018 theme of World Cancer Day is: I Can, We Can. Cancer affects everyone in different ways. Similarly, we all have the power to take action to reduce the impact of cancer as individuals and communities.

"Evidence shows that cervical cancer is being detected in Indigenous people later than it is for other people in BC, and we know that many of us put off screening due to past trauma or unsafe care," said Dr. Shannon McDonald, Acting Chief Medical Officer, FNHA.

Read more and watch the video and find the posters here. 

​​A Heart Health Message from Professor Jeff Reading, PhD, FNHA/SFU/St. Paul's Heart Health Chair​

February is Heart Health Month -- an opportunity and a challenge for all of us to think about how we can make a difference in our lives by improving our heart health. This is important, as heart disease is a leading cause of illness and can be fatal, yet it is mostly preventable.

For Heart Health Month, here is a Heart Health Challenge: pick two or three things here that you can do to improve your heart health, and think about how you can make these changes part of your daily routine.

Read this blog in full and find out how to enter the Heart Health Challenge here! 

​​​A Message from Dr. Unjali Malhotra, FNHA Medical Officer, Women's Health

Whereas heart conditions are well known to affect men, new research is finding that women are just as impacted, and that there is a critical need for us to understand women's heart health risks and symptoms.

Although 80% of premature heart disease and stroke is preventable, heart disease is the leading cause of premature death for women in Canada and the second-leading cause of death in Canada for all people. The good news is that there are many actions you can take to support the healthy functioning of your heart. Take our Heart Health Challenge this month and you could win a prize in addition to improving your heart health!

Read more here.

Participants of the Train the Trainer – Community Canning Workshop

On January 30-February 1, 2018 the Greater Vancouver Food Bank and the FNHA hosted a "Train the Trainer – Community Canning Workshop" with community food champions from regions across BC. The goal of the workshop was to empower community members with food safety and health standard canning practices to bring back to their communities. Attendees' canning experience varied from beginner to advanced knowledge of canning practices.

Participants shared some of their tips, best practices and experiences they had on preserving food. One of the goals was to "train the trainer" and aim to have participants host their own canning workshops to teach youth and share knowledge from Elders about canning and preserving food. Many of the participants highlighted the importance of traditional foods in their communities and using canning as a way of improving their community's access to various traditional foods and a way of passing on knowledge.

Read more online here! 

A day of solidarity on February 15.

The Moose Hide Campaign is a grassroots movement of Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal men and women who are standing up against violence towards women and children. On February 15, Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal men will fast for the day, from the time the sun rises until the sun sets.

Women are also invited to participate by bearing witness to the event. Witnessing has a significant role in many First Nations cultures and involves observing, providing support and sharing reflections and telling stories on what you have observed.

To learn more about the Moose Hide Campaign, click here!

External Audit Services​
Closing Date: Feb 19, 2018
More info

Project Manager, Nation Shared Services
Location: Interior
Deadline: February 12, 2018 at 4:00pm

Regional Manager, Mental Health & Wellness
Location: Vancouver Island
Deadline: February 12, 2018 at 4:00pm

Biostatistician (Term)
Location: Vancouver
Deadline: February 14, 2018 at 4:00pm

Director, HR Operations & Advisory Services
Location: West Vancouver
Deadline: February 16, 2018 at 4:00 pm

Senior Manager, eHealth
Location: Vancouver
Deadline: February 16, 2018 at 4:00pm

Program Lead, Oral Health and Dental Therapy Services
Location: Vancouver
Deadline: February 18, 2018 at 4:00 p.m.

Payroll Administrator
Location: West Vancouver
Deadline: February 19, 2018 at 4:00pm

Psychologist
Location: Vancouver Island
Deadline: Open until filled

Social Worker
Location: Vancouver Island
Deadline: Open until filled

Find all our job postings on our website here.

Coordinator
Organization: Saanich First Nations Adult Care Society
Location(s): Brentwood Bay
Deadline: Feb 23, 2018 by 12:00 PM
Job description

Home Care Nurse
Organization: Ulkatcho First Nation
Location(s): Anahim Lake, BC
Deadline: Feb 22, 2018 by 4:00 PM
Job description

Indigenous Health Promoter
Organization: REACH Community Health Centre
Location(s): Vancouver, BC
Deadline: Feb 15, 2018 by 4:00 PM
Job description

Social Worker
Organization: Namgis First Nation
Location(s): Alert Bay
Deadline: Feb 14, 2018 by 4:30 PM
Job description

Facilitator, San’yas Indigenous Cultural Safety Training Program
Organization: PHSA
Location(s): Various locations
Job description