News Updates from the VI Region
July 18, 2022
Greetings respected Vancouver Island First Nations Leadership;
Welcome to our VI Regional e-newsletter. This newsletter will highlight updates for the Vancouver Island region from the FNHA, Island Health, Government of BC, Government of Canada, alongside many other partners.
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In today's edition you will find:
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VI REGIONAL ENGAGEMENT CALENDAR
JULY 2022
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First Nations Health Authority
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FIRST NATIONS HEALTH AUTHORITY CONTACTS
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FNHA COVID-19 Inquiries
If you have general FNHA COVID-19 questions, please email COVID19@fnha.ca
For any requests relating to COVID-19 please email: COVID19needs@fnha.ca |
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Vice President, Vancouver Island
Director, Regional Community Health and Wellness
(Interim) Director, Regional Engagement
(Interim) Manager, Community Engagement
Community Engagement Coordinators
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Nursing Manager
Community Practice Consultants:
Nurse Navigators:
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Community Relations Representative, Health Benefits
Registered Dental Therapists
- Kim Trottier (Communities: Stz’uminus, Penelakut, Dzawada’enuxw)
- Janeen Campbell (Communities: Cowichan Tribes)
- Melanie Braker (Communities: Ka;’yu:’k’t’h’/Che;k’tles7et’h’, Mowachaht/Muchalaht, Yuułuʔiłʔatḥ, Ahousaht, Ditidaht, Huu-ay-aht, Hupacasath)
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Mental Health, Wellness & Traditional Wellness Support
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Primary Care Project Manager
Traditional Wellnes Specialist
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South Island Director, Indigenous Health
Central & North Island Director, Indigenous Health
Medical Director, Indigenous Health
Medical Health Officers
Indigenous Health Managers
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A message from Dr. Helena Swinkels, Office of the Chief Medical Officer
Have you noticed just how many people seem to have seasonal allergies right now? I am very lucky that I do not get allergies, but it seems to me that half the people around me are suffering with a runny nose, sneezing, itchy watery eyes and/or a scratchy throat.
With a colder-than-normal spring, many allergy sufferers are having symptoms at different times than they normally would. Some may even be wondering whether their sniffles, sneezes and congestion might be something a whole lot worse—like COVID-19.
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The BC Ministry of Health has announced that a second round of COVID-19 boosters will be available for people 12 or older in the fall, and in the interim are encouraging everyone to complete all previous doses as soon as possible.
Second COVID-19 boosters have been available since the spring for Indigenous people 55 and older, non-Indigenous people aged 70 or older, as well as those who are clinically extremely vulnerable.
However, FNHA Chief Medical Officer Dr. Shannon McDonald is concerned because many First Nations people in BC have yet to get their first booster.
“The booster shot ensures that your immunity to COVID-19 stays high after getting your primary series and is effective in preventing serious illness and hospitalization across all variants,” said Dr. McDonald.
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The citizen science project eTick.ca invites the public to participate in the monitoring of ticks in Canada by submitting tick photos on eTick.ca for identification by a professional.
The identification results, combined with other data such as collection date and locality can then be consulted and mapped so that all users may visualize the information related to any/all species for any given year and/or geographical area.
If you find a tick take a picture and sent it to etick. If it is the Western Black Legged Tick contact Environmental Health and we will work with you to get it sent in for analysis.
Free tool helps identify ticks:
•BCCDC joined forces with etick www.etick.ca or
•App (Google Play & Apple stores)
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Would you like to create better health care experiences for First Nation, Métis and Inuit peoples in Cowichan? Island Health is seeking Indigenous Patient Partners to review proposed design solutions and provide input, advice and guidance into the new hospital and health services available at the current hospital and in the community.
Patient Partners are valued members of our planning teams. By sharing your unique perspectives, experiences accessing health services, and providing feedback, you can support Island Health care teams to deliver patient and familycentred services that feel culturally safe, welcoming, respectful, and easy to navigate.
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Through a partnership between the Government of BC, Vancouver Foundation, United Way BC, and New Relationship Trust, $34 million in multi-year, flexible grants will be available for charities and non-profit organizations disproportionately impacted by the pandemic.
Grants from the Recovery and Resiliency Fund will provide stable funding for organizations to strengthen their operational capacity to help with recovery and longer-term resiliency.
For more information, please see link here.
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Grievers Journey is a grass roots pilot program derived from the need for more trained professionals providing culturally relevant complex grief programming to Indigenous communities. This 2 ½ day program trains professionals working within Coast Salish communities and honours a wholistic and cultural approach.
October 25, 26, 27, 2022
9am – 4pm
Location: Songhees Wellness Centre,
1100 Admirals Rd, Victoria, BC
Facilitators: Lyla Harman & Victor Nowoselski
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