The First Nations Health Authority Environmental Public Health Services e-newsletter is a quarterly compilation of important resources, news items and opportunities related to environmental health for First Nations individuals and communities in British Columbia. If you have been added to this list in error you may unsubscribe at the bottom of this email.

Restoring Nuu-chah-nulth Seafood Gardens

The Nuu-chah-nulth Youth Warrior Family gathered in Huu-ay-aht territory near Sarita Bay to harvest traditional seafoods and celebrate the building of clam gardens in both Tla-o-qui-aht and Huu-ay-aht territories. Eighty people attended from eight Nations, and over 50 Indigenous youth (ages 10-25) dug for ḥiičin (clams) or dove for t̓uc̓up (urchin), while others slurped back fresh oysters and Elders searched for hayištup (chitons) on the intertidal rocks. The bounty was enjoyed around the fire, and brought home to the villages to distribute among community. This food sovereignty and food security initiative aims to (re)vitalize traditional food systems to feed coastal Nations for generations to come. 

Photo credit to Gisele Martin

Reflecting on Language and its Impacts on Indigenous Foods and Nutrition

Language is powerful, very much connected to our identity and influences our understanding of the world. The words we use in English have limitations because they come from a dominant colonial worldview and language. To help better understand the language that is connected to food and Indigenous perspectives, the FNHA has created the Common Language Project. Please take time to listen to the audio clips on the QR codes. The report and toolkit are meant for deeper reflection.

BC Climate Action Secretariat: Indigenous Climate Resilience Forum

The B.C. Climate Action Secretariat and the B.C. Ministry of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness are hosting the third Indigenous Climate Resilience Forum from February 20-22, 2024. The Forum is a free, three-day virtual event designed to inform, connect, and support Indigenous communities in building resilience to the impacts of climate change. 

We All Take Care of the Harvest (WATCH) Autumn-Winter Seasonal Reflections

This January the WATCH project team hosted a workshop that included seasonal reflections looking back to the fall, and projections into the spring. Guest presentations included Sherilee Harper: Climate Change and Health - Linking Community-Engaged Research with International Decision-Making, Chris Whitehead: Engaging Youth in One Health Science, Dr. Ricardo Manmohan and Leonard Nookemis: Restoring Nuu-chah-nulth Seafood Gardens 2023, and Damon Rampanen: Indigenous Seafoods at School.

BCIT Environmental Public Health Online Information Session 

Join BCIT's online information session to learn about the Environmental Public Health program. The program is applied learning at its best with industry-leading instructors training you to become a health inspector and environmental public health professional. The information session will take place online on March 7 from 7-7:45 p.m. 

First Nations Clean Energy Business Fund (FNCEBF) 

The FNCEBF aims to promote increased Indigenous community participation in the clean energy sector within their territories and treaty areas, by supporting applicants up to $50,000 to undertake activities such as feasibility studies or to engage with proponents of clean energy projects. The deadline to apply is April 30, 2024.

For after-hours emergencies, please leave a message for the Environmental Health Officer On-Call at 1-844-666-0711 and/or e-mail ephs.afterhours@fnha.ca. This phone/email is being monitored between 6 am to 10 pm. Calls/emails sent after 10 pm will be responded to the following day.