News Updates from the VI Region
March 14, 2023
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
MARCH 2023
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Eunice is Nuu-chah-nulth from the Tseshaht First Nation with roots extending to Huu-ay-aht and Squamish Nations. She has served as the Director of Regional Engagement for Vancouver Island for the past 4.5 years within which she had an opportunity to accept a 15-month secondment to Island Health filling the roles of Executive Director and Acting Vice President in the Indigenous Health, and Diversity, Equity & Inclusion portfolio. She has played a key role in facilitating Nation participation in health governance and health system transformation efforts.
Eunice holds a Master of Arts Leadership Degree with a Health Specialization from Royal Roads University. Eunice has a passion for learning as well as supporting the learning of others particularly in a cultural context. Her vision is to embrace this opportunity to enhance her leadership capabilities to better serve First Nations People, bridging cultural barriers and supporting health systems transformation for BC First Nations.
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Celeta Cook has accepted the role of Senior Director, Community Health and Wellness Services
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Celeta was born and raised in Deseronto, ON, and has mixed Indigenous and settler ancestry, being Kanien'kehá:ka through her mother and grandmothers with roots in Tyendinaga. She joined the FNHA family in 2016 as the Regional Planner for Vancouver Island. Most recently, Celeta has served in the capacity of Director, Community Health & Wellness Services since 2020 supporting health and wellness planning across Coast Salish, Nuu-chah-nulth, and Kwakwaka’wakw families, at community, Family, and organizational levels. She has been instrumental in leading the refresh of the VI Regional Health and Wellness Plan and Vancouver Island Partnership Accord with the guidance of communities. Her work is grounded in strength-based, community-led approaches to wellness planning, and addressing structural and systemic barriers to care. During the COVID-19 pandemic she has played a valuable role in the creation and implementation of the VI Region COVID Rural, Remote & Indigenous Work Stream, in partnership with Island Health and First Nations communities.
Celeta holds a Master’s in Dispute Resolution from the University of Victoria, with a focus on assessing cultural safety in primary care settings. She carries herself with an open heart and open mind to create safe space for relationship and critical examination of systemic challenges impacting the health and wellness of Indigenous populations. Celeta is experienced in trauma-informed practice, and has volunteered for years as an emotional support worker on the Victoria Sexual Assault Centre’s Sexual Assault Response Team (SART), where she also consulted on the culturally safe redesign of the SART training curriculum.
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My name is Molly Lucas, I am from Huu-ay-aht First Nations with family roots in Tseshaht and Hupacasath. I joined the FNHA team as the Nuu-chah-nulth Community Engagement Coordinator.
Over the past 15 years, I have worked in various positions within First Nation communities and organizations. My diverse skill set allows me to flourish in a workplace environment.
The strengths I bring to a team are, motivation, collaboration, and gathering information before making a sound decision.
I am passionate about working with communities to implement strategies, and working collectively and in partnership, while cross-checking our work plan.
My work experience, education and training are primarily in Nuu-chah-nulth communities. My service delivery has been in mental health and health services. My duties were to coordinating and communicating community engagement in our NTC remote communities.
While I am not working in my career, I am, along with my husband Brian, raising our 13-year-old daughter Madison “Madi.” We ensure she is attending school, culture and sports. We enjoy camping out at beautiful Yuquot each summer and travelling to attend family potlatches. We together do our best to raise our daughter with integrity, culture and teachings of our ancestors.
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Kae-Lynn Johnson (she/her) is thrilled to be starting as a Field Supervisor for Vancouver Island on the Regional Health Survey team. In this role she will be supervising data collection and connecting with communities to ensure active, informed and ongoing consent that aligns with and respects each nation’s protocols and values. She will oversee the data collection for communities in the Vancouver Island region.
She is a Nuučaan̓uɫ woman, registered member of Tseshaht First Nation, with roots extending from Sḵwxwú7mesh (Squamish) nation and Ktunaxa nation. She lives and works as an uninvited guest on the ancestral, unceded land of the Snuneymuxw First Nation people.
Kae-Lynn’s previous role at FNHA was a Data Collector/Knowledge Gatherer for the RHS, where she trained for this role for one year, learning how to conduct interviews with community participants, handling various situations, working with other data collectors and reporting to the field supervisors. She also has personal experience as a first nation’s person, living on reserve and participating in cultural events in her own and various communities. That has made her passionate about reconciliation and decolonization, so she looks forward to continuing this work in her new role.
In her spare time, she enjoys creating beadwork and any form of art that brings her joy and being with her partner, animals, family and friends.
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Hello, I am Tara Jacobs I live and grew up in the Stz’uminus First Nation territories. My roots also run through the Snuneymuxw, Snaw-naw-as, and Quw’utsun territories. My family name is Telhulwut which comes from my late great-grandpa Alphonse Harris, my husband Darren and I have 4 children 17, 13, 11, and 6 which are 3 sons and 1 daughter.
Also, I come from a blended family of 7 sisters and 1 brother, yes big family!
Besides loving my family time, I enjoy my arts & crafts, boat rides on the ocean, and my mountain rides, also, from time to time binge watching numerous series on Netflix or Prime.
I have the privilege of filling the Child and Youth Wellness Community Coordinator position at the Oyster Bay Office, here in my home territory. I started on March 2nd, 2023. My background is community support work within my community, the school district and VIHA. My educational background is with Vancouver Island University with a BA in the Child and Youth Care program, which I enjoyed, gained many skills and knowledge that has helped me become who I am today. I look forward to meeting new faces and crossing your paths in the near future and growing into my role here with FNHA. Huy tseep q’u (Thank you all) for taking the time to read and learn a little about me.
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For the most up-to-date JANT 2023 information, please check back here. All games and ceremonies are free to attend and entry will be granted on a first-come, first-served basis.
Follow the JANT Instagram + tag us in your content! #JANT2023
For more details and to view the schedule, please click ink here.
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The Mental Health & Wellness team invites you to join us for the upcoming Lunch & Learns
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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
Regional Executive Director, Engagement
Sr. Director, Regional Community Health and Wellness
Manager, Regional Operations
Manager, Community Engagement
Community Engagement Coordinators
- Coast Salish: VACANT
- Nuu-chah-nulth:
- Kwakwaka'wakw:
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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, Kim.Trottier@fnha.ca (Communities: Stz’uminus, Penelakut, Dzawada’enuxw)
- Janeen Campbell, Janeen.Campbell@fnha.ca (Communities: Cowichan Tribes)
- Melanie Braker, Melanie.Braker@fnha.ca (Communities: Ka;’yu:’k’t’h’/Che;k’tles7et’h’, Mowachaht/Muchalaht, Yuułuʔiłʔatḥ, Ahousaht, Ditidaht, Huu-ay-aht, Hupacasath)
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Regional Manager, Health Emergency Management
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Mental Health, Wellness & Traditional Wellness Support
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Regional Manager, Mental Health and Wellness
Quality and Safety Analyst
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Regional Manager, Maternal Child and Family Health,
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Regional Manager, Primary Care
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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
Cultural Safety & Humility Director, Indigenous Health
Medical Director, Indigenous Health
Partnerships, Strategy & Engagement Director, Indigenous Health
Medical Health Officers, Indigenous Health
Indigenous Health Managers
- South Island, Meghan Corder, Meghan.Corder@islandhealth.ca
- Centre Island, Jennifer Jones, Jennifer.Jones6@islandhealth.ca
- Comox Valley/Stratchona, Michelle McClain, Irene.McClain@islandhealth.ca
- Mount Waddington, Dean Wilson, Dean.Wilson@islandhealth.ca
- Indigenous Health South Island Community Services, Alena Peters, Alena.Peters@islandhealth.ca
- Partnerships & Community Engagement, Trevor Day, Trevor.Day@islandhealth.ca
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At the First Nations Health Authority (FNHA), we honour and respect all women, all year long, but on this International Women's Day, we would like to take this space to celebrate First Nations women.
First Nations women have traditionally held places of honour, respect, and leadership within families and communities, serving as matriarchs, keepers and caretakers of life, knowledge, culture and language, protectors of land/water/resources, traditional healers, life-givers, nurturers, food/medicine harvesters, activists, and cycle-breakers. In 2023, we are continuing this important tradition and working to strengthen it for future generations.
We are fortunate to have some amazing First Nations women leaders and advisors at the FNHA including Dr. Nel Wieman, Acting Chief Medical Officer; and Sonia Isaac-Mann, Vice President, Community Health & Wellness, Programs & Services. They bring a wealth of knowledge and expertise to our organization as we work together to serve First Nations people in British Columbia (BC) and create a culturally safe health care system. We are grateful for their strong leadership.
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It's National Nutrition Month and throughout March the First Nations Health Authority (FNHA) is inviting all BC First Nations people to join our Food is Medicine challenge, a wellness initiative aimed at nourishing our minds, bodies and spirits.
Once again, the FNHA is partnering with the Indigenous Sport, Physical Activity and Recreation Council (I-SPARC) for this annual challenge. I-SPARC is an Indigenous focused organization that delivers a variety of community-based wellness programs designed to promote healthy, active lifestyles.
FNHA and I-SPARC are excited to share Season 2 of the Food is Medicine cooking show! Season one took the form of a four-part video series as registered dietitians Rachel Dickens and Fiona Devereaux travelled from Ahousaht to W̱SÁNEĆ, sharing their knowledge while learning cultural and culinary teachings from community members.
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Join us virtually on Wednesday, March 15th, 2023 from 12:00 pm – 1:30 pm (PST), for “You Are On Indian Land: Crossing the Borders of Truth, Reconciliation and Redress” with Grand Chief Mike Kanentakeron Mitchell of the Mohawks of Akwesasne. In this session of the Indigenous Speaker Series, we will learn about the work and leadership of Grand Chief Mike Kanentakeron Mitchell who directed numerous First Nations films. You Are On Indian Land is one of his documentaries produced in 1969. It underlines many of the outstanding issues we see today in our First Nations communities. The film is powerful and unapologetic in showing the white man’s indifference against Indians. It represents the long-standing tension between those who are from here and those who have arrived here as colonial and new settlers. In this session we will learn more about how we think about the broader reach of truth, reconciliation and redress.
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Join the UBC's Learning Circle on Tuesday, April 11 from 10-11:30 a.m., for a webinar with Dr. Nancy Young and Mia Bourque. They will present on the Aanish Naa Gegii: the Children's Health and Well-being Measure, a strengths-based app to measure First Nations, Inuit, and Métis children's well-being. The app is a culturally safe assessment tool to gather local data to inform community-based decisions.
The webinar is free and open to all.
For more information and to register for the session, please click here.
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People and communities on Vancouver Island and surrounding coastal communities will benefit from up to $800,000 in Community Wellness Grants being provided by Island Health to improve the health and well-being of Island residents.
Now in its sixth year, Island Health’s Community Wellness Grant program provides the opportunity for not-for-profit organizations, local government organizations and Indigenous Nations, organizations and communities to apply for one-time funding for the development of new wellness initiatives and programs.
"I'm so pleased we are able to offer the Community Wellness Grant program again this year," said Kathy MacNeil, Island Health's President and CEO. "It is estimated that only 25 percent of a person’s health is a result of the delivery of health care. The remaining 75 percent are factors external to the health care system – the social determinants of health. These grants will help organizations support various regional wellness initiatives and bolster people's health and wellbeing in their communities."
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On February 21st, 2023, Premier Eby and Minister Ma announced the launch of ClimateReadyBC, a new initiative and website being led by the Disaster Risk Management division. The launch event also included a commitment of a further $180 million to the Community Emergency Preparedness Fund (CEPF) – an important contribution to the provincial program administered by the Union of BC Municipalities in partnership with EMCR to enhance communities’ preparedness and mitigation for natural disasters.
ClimateReadyBC is a one-stop, online platform designed to help guide the public and communities on government’s disaster and climate readiness strategies and supports. It includes a variety of tools and functions, including maps and mapping tools, guidance documents and cross-government funding programs. Our Ministry created this platform in partnership with the Ministries of Water, Lands and Resource Stewardship, Environment and Climate Change Strategy, and Citizens’ Services.
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FASD Respite Funding will help Families in Need of Relief
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Carrier Sekani Family Services (CSFS) is working with the Vancouver Foundation and the Ministry of Children and Family Development to distribute funds to families of children with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD).
The purpose of these grants is to support families with children experiencing the effects of FASD, to provide respite or relief needs in a wide variety of forms – including time away (funding for care), special events, groceries, physical and/or mental wellness supports, etc.
Grants will total $3080.00 per year for two years to selected families. 402 two-year grants are available in BC, divided between Vancouver + lower mainland and the rest of the province.
The application process will be low-barrier (simple, confidential forms, no supplemental medical documents, formal diagnosis not required). CSFS will gather/receive grant applications from across BC, including all regions OUTSIDE the lower mainland. Successful applicants will be selected by way of a randomized selection process.
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