News Updates from the VI Region
May 4rd, 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
MAY 2023
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Everyone deserves equal access to quality health care, free from racism and discrimination. That's why the Government of Canada is working in partnership with First Nations, Inuit, and Métis to support greater Indigenous control of health services and deliver better health outcomes for Indigenous Peoples.
The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, was joined today by the Minister of Indigenous Services, Patty Hajdu, and the leaders of the First Nations Health Authority (FNHA) and the First Nations Health Council (FNHC), on Coast Salish Traditional Territory, to announce the signing of a renewed 10-year Canada Funding Agreement with the FNHA in British Columbia, to deliver better health care for First Nations in the province. Through the agreement, $8.2 billion in funding will support the FNHA as it continues to deliver and improve the health systems that serve and support over 200 First Nations communities in the province. This includes but is not limited to continuing to develop innovative supports for mental health and wellness needs, increasing access to quality, culturally safe care, and strengthening coordination between the FNHA and the provincial health care services to better meet the unique needs of First Nations communities.
Read more from our website, here.
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FNHA has released the 2023/24 Summary Service Plan: Paddling Together: First Nations Health Authority Health and Wellness Plan, which will map the next phase of its shared journey towards our vision of “Healthy, Self-Determining and Vibrant BC First Nations Children, Families and Communities."
Paddling Together builds on what FNHA has learned and heard through engagements with First Nations across BC and through ongoing review of priorities, including community and regional health and wellness plans and evaluation findings. The plan refresh also took into account new and emerging trends impacting health and wellness services, First Nations health outcomes and FNHA's operating environment.
This year, FNHA continues to respond to significant public health emergencies that have far-reaching effects on the health and wellness of First Nations in BC. We are currently in a Level 2 response to the ongoing toxic drug emergency. First Nations people remain overrepresented in toxic drug poisoning events and deaths. The COVID-19 pandemic and challenges related to changing climate conditions continue to affect communities. Systemic Indigenous-specific racism in health care is ongoing, amplifying the importance of addressing the root causes of trauma through healing.
Read more about Paddling Together here.
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Left to right: Sharon Thira, Hilda Green, Marina White.
The Truth and Reconciliation Commission's 21st Call to Action is for sustainable funding for existing and new Indigenous healing centres. This call is to address the need for mental health and wellness supports for First Nations that focuses on healing and wholistic wellness.
Marina White, Health Director with the Snuneymuxw First Nation, Hilda Green, Manager of Healing Modalities at the First Nations Health Authority (FNHA), and Sharon Thira, Executive Director of Education and Engagement at British Columbia's (BC) Office of the Human Rights Commissioner, presented on this topic in a breakout room during the First Nations Health and Wellness Summit.
Hilda spoke about the FNHA's vision for healing centres – a provincial network to complement what is already available, to support healing from trauma, and most importantly, led and driven by the community itself.
The FNHA is planning to establish five initial healing centres and depending on funding, envisions up to 25 healing centres across the province. Hilda said two sites have already been selected, one in the Interior region and the other on Vancouver Island. Other regions are at varying stages of planning and pre-planning.
Read full story here on our website.
FNHA Contact: Joely.Fulcher@fnha.ca
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My name is Danielle Kannegiesser and my traditional name is Jaadaa Kuuyang. I am Haida from the Yaghujaanaas Raven clan and of European descent. I am privileged to live and raise my family on the unceded territory of the Cowichan Tribes. My nursing career began in 2015 at St. Paul's Hospital and I later moved to work for Maples Adolescent Treatment Center/ MCFD. My education and career have focused on caring for people who use substances and have mental health concerns. I am very excited about my new role as the Harm Reduction Practice Consultant for the Vancouver Island Region and look forward to meeting you all.
FNHA Contact: Danielle.Kannegiesser@fnha.ca
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Becki is excited to join FNHA as the Vancouver Island Regional Coordinator, Urban and Away from Home (UAH).
Becki is a member of the Huu-ay-aht First Nations with maternal roots from Hesquiaht First Nation. Becki graduated in 2018 from Vancouver Island University with a Bachelor of Arts degree and is currently enrolled in the Master of Social Work in Indigenous Trauma and Resiliency program at the University of Toronto.
Becki currently lives between Bamfield (Huu-ay-aht territory) and the territory of the Tseshaht and Hupacasath Nations in Port Alberni.
The Regional Coordinator (UAH) will provide coordination, planning, relationship and communications support to the functions of our Regional Offices, the Urban and Away-from-Home team, and other FNHA departments as it relates to the urban and away-from-home First Nations population. The Regional Coordinator will support including the urban and away-from-home population in our regional engagement processes as directed by the caucus Terms of Reference for the Vancouver Island region.
FNHA Contact: Becki.Nookumis@fnha.ca
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The Mental Health & Wellness team invites you to join us for the upcoming Lunch & Learn
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Please join us in a virtual space on Wednesday, May 17th, 2023 from 12-1pm to learn about how Island Health enhanced their Child Youth and Family Mental Health and Substance Use (MHSU) services.
Six new YSTAR teams (Short Term Assessment and Response) have been added to Victoria, Nanaimo, Cowichan, Port Alberni, Campbell River and Port Hardy. These teams compliment the existing network of MH and SU services across the Island and are targeting those youth who present with complex concurrent MHSU. YSTAR Program Coordinators are looking forward to sharing information about their teams and how to access this service in addition to providing an overview of other MHSU services across the island.
FNHA Contact: Lunchandlearn@fnha.ca
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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:
Urban and Away from Home Coordinator
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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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It’s Mental Health Week (May 1-7)
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A message from Dr. Nolan Hop Wo, Medical Officer, Mental Health & Wellness, Office of the Chief Medical Officer; and Duanna Johnston-Virgo, Executive Director, Mental Health & Wellness, Community Health & Wellness
This year's theme for Mental Health Week is “My Story" – because each of us has multiple layers and different stories that make us who we are, and all of our stories equally valuable.
As Indigenous people and mental health professionals, we know that stories are medicine: they are powerful healing tools that can give us hope by showing us how others have dealt with similar issues. Stories as medicine fits in with our Two-Eyed-Seeing approach to mental health and wellness, which involves integrating First Nations approaches such as cultural practices, traditional medicines and teachings about how to stay well, and land-based healing methods with Western approaches such as clinical counselling and medications.
Read full story here on our website.
FNHA Contact: Joely.Fulcher@fnha.ca
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The FNHA has released First Nations-specific data for toxic drug poisoning events in 2022 in BC. The data shows First Nations people, particularly First Nations women, continue to have higher rates of toxic drug-poisoning deaths compared to other BC residents.
To read more about the FNHA response, click here.
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The FNHA, Canadian Indigenous Nurses Association (CINA), Health Standards Organization (HSO), and Accreditation Canada (AC) is launching a new joint project to advance Indigenous cultural safety and humility. The project will involve preparing and testing the British Columbia Cultural Safety and Humility standard for use by health and social services organizations from across BC.
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More than 400 people attended the First Nations Health & Wellness Summit that was held from April 4-6, 2023, at the Pan Pacific Hotel in Vancouver. The summit was an opportunity to share community-driven practices for wholistic wellness. It featured a series of keynote speakers, workshops and interactive discussions, giving participants an opportunity to engage in practical training and education.
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For me, For you, For Everyone! That was the theme of this year's 34th Annual TC10K in Victoria. The FNHA Vancouver Island team showed up, ready to hit the pavement on April 30th alongside Elder Cliff Atleo.
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Lots of laughter and sweat were shared between the group, and everyone made it to the end feeling proud, strong and accomplished.
Way to go, Vancouver Island team!
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The 2023 PlanH Healthy Communities Grants are now open for application. The grants, administered by BC Healthy Communities, are offered across two funding streams: Community Connectedness and Healthy Public Policy.
The Community Connectedness funding stream offers grants of up to $5,000 each for projects that foster relationship-building among community members and create long-lasting social networks. The Healthy Public Policy stream offers grants of up to $15,000 each for projects that seek to develop new or amend existing policies in order to improve the health and well-being of community members.
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Kw’umut Lelum Presents: Griever’s Journey
A Healing Group For Adults From Our Member Nations
Microtel Hotel | 12570 Trans Canada Highway
Wednesday, May 31st 9:00am - 3:00pm
Thursday, June 1st 9:00am – 3:00pm
Friday, June 2nd 9:00am – 12:00pm
Indigenous perspectives on grief, loss and healing facilitated by Lyla Harman and Victor Nowoselski. All meals provided – Limited accommodation available.
Priority will be given to first-time registrants. To register or more information contact:
Nicola Loiselle | nloiselle@kwumut.org | 250-668-9798
Please distribute to membership from Halalt, Lyackson, Malahat, Penelakut, Qualicum, Snaw-Naw-As, Snuneymuxw, Stz’uminus and Ts’uu baa-asatx.
FNHA Contact: Alexis.Stuart@fnha.ca
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ɫokʷimas - You are Strong Youth Suicide
Intervention Initiative
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The vision of this work was born from the passing of Tamika Mountain. Tamika was an 18 year old Namgis youth that passed away from suicide in the spring of 2021. She is one of our fallen warriors.
We want to honour her life by developing this program in the hope that this work will help other young people who are navigating the the spirit of suicide. Providing youth with tools and resources to utilize during times of crisis, or in the words of Vikki Reynolds, our “howling at the moon moments” are aptly demonstrated through our program.
In this initiative, suicidally is looked at as a natural human response to carrying the burdens of 500+ years of attempted and ongoing colonial genocide. Colonial pathologies are often internalized. By externalizing these traumas, Indigenous people are able centre the resiliency, wisdom, and connection to land and culture that was there prior to contact. That is always there. This anecdote aptly conveys the current repercussions Indigenous people face. In moving away from programming that looks at suicidally as an individual problem, one founded on individualized responsibility versus institutional responsibility, we aim to address Indigenous trauma as a societally collective problem.
To learn more about the initiative, please click here.
FNHA Contact: Alexis.Stuart@fnha.ca
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North Island Residential School Survivor completes
196 kilometre Healing Walk
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Charlie Williams set off on his Every Child Matters Walk from the Port McNeill boat ramp at 9 a.m. on Monday, April 10th, as a testimony to his determination after having been sober for more than 15 years and surviving 11 strokes.
The 61-year-old member of the Kwickwasut’inuxw Haxwa’mis First Nation is a residential school survivor and did the 196 km walk for “all our Nations who went to residential school.” Williams was sent to St. Michael’s Indian Residential School in Alert Bay when he was six years old.
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“I am a survivor on a long and winding road on a path of wellness,” he said. “The memories I have are heavy and hurtful.”
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The healing walk from Port McNeill to Campbell River came to a celebratory conclusion Friday afternoon at the Campbell River Big House, where he was welcomed by the Hereditary Chiefs for Kwakwaka’wakw communities; Dick Joseph and Jonathan Henderson. As well as a visiting Chief from Haida Gwaii, Rodney Scheck, the Elected Chief Councillor for Wei Wai Kum First Nation, and Elected Chief Councillor for Kwicksutaineuk/Ah-Kwa-Mish Tribes (KHFN), Rick Johnson.
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The FNHA, Vancouver Island Mental Health and Wellness team, Wei Wai Kum First Nation Chiefs and administration, and members from many Kwakwaka’wakw communities across the island organized the lifting up ceremony for Charles upon his arrival. Brittley James, Dennis Hackett and Beryl Parke set up the hall with Wei Wai Kum members, decorated the dinner tables, and collected cedar for the bighouse and Thunderbird Hall.
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Please see below to read the article that Charles wrote and put out on his nations website:
My Walk for Residential School Survivors – APRIL 9/2023 Charlie William, Kwikwasut’inuxw Haxwa’mish
My name is Charlie Williams. I am from the Kwikwasut’inuxw Haxwa’mish First Nation. I am 61 yrs. old. I will be doing a walk from Port McNeill boat ramp to Campbell River on April 9th 2023 at 9 am. I went too Alert Bay Indian Residential School in 1967. Tender age of 5 yrs old. I have had 11 strokes. The left valve in my heart isn’t working. I have 50% muscle mass on my right side. 40% on my left. I have been sobered for over 15 yrs. I am a survivor on a long and winding road on a path of wellness. The memories I have are heavy and hurtful. In the past was imbedded in my mind. I believed what the staff told me. That I would never amount too anything. I was dirty and don’t belong. I was told I wasn’t worthy of any good the world had to offer. I will be nothing but a drunk when I grew up, it happened. I made mistakes in my life, and hurt some and I am so sorry. I am not that guy anymore. I am spiritual and loving. I am empowered by you all reading this. Thank you. My motivation and drive to accomplish my dream is finally here. I left the booze and drugs behind. I am living a life of strength from our ancestors and God. I will always do my best in everything I do. Love and compassion guide me. The choices I made in the past hurt for along time. Now I been sobered for over 15 yrs. And loving it. Thank you for your time, love an support. The path is beautiful. I will do the walk for all our nations who went too Residential School. Our youth. We went through a lot. Be proud always. Hold your head up. Smile at any negative that comes your way because you are more powerful than you imagine. Shine on never let the darkness win. Lots of loves and God blessing your way. I will say from my heart too yours. From my home too yours. I love and respects you. Yes, you are worthy and do belong. No matter what anyone says. He’em. If there are any Indian Residential School survivors who would like to give me a holler. A thumbs up. A heart. Please do so. We are in the same canoe. This walk I do is for all us survivor. Our elders and our youth. My love and respects go too you. Give me some love wa’xa. I need all the support I can get. Loves all around. We are survivors. Never forget this.
FNHA Contact: Joely.Fulcher@fnha.ca
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