News Updates from the VI Region
November 2, 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
NOVEMBER 2022
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Mental Health and Wellness Lunch and Learns are coming to the Vancouver Island Region
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We will be offering opportunities to come together virtually to learn about health and wellness topics of interest, highlighting communities and organizations doing good work across the region. It's good medicine to connect and collaborate so we can best support the communities we serve.
The Lunch and Learns will take place bi-weekly on Wednesdays and are open to health directors, community staff, and interested health partners within the Vancouver Island region. We hope you will join these conversations to learn and share with other members of our Vancouver Island community.
Look for an invite in the next regional newsletter! If you have ideas for topics or questions, please contact the Regional Mental Health and Wellness Liaison, Alexis Stuart.
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Now Hiring - Director, Cultural Safety & Humility
Island Health (Deadline: Nov. 11th, 2022)
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See full job description here.
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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
Director, Regional Engagement
Manager, Regional Operations
(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, 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
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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
Medical Director, Indigenous Health
Medical Health Officers
Indigenous Health Managers
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I am Nathan Sam, I come from the Lil’wat, Penelakut, and Cowichan First Nations. I am the new Human Resource Generalist for the Vancouver Island Region. I have approximately eight years of direct HR and/or Management experience, dominantly for small nonprofit agencies. In that time I have developed a creative business mindset in a people centric approach to strategic team development and retention. I am currently attending Camosun College as a returning student to complete my CPHR requirements, and anticipate finishing in June of 2023.
Outside of work, I enjoy time in the outdoors and exploring my traditional territories as a hunter and fisherman. I like to cook, and listen to music. I play the drums, and am slowly learning the guitar. I have two sons, whom I include in my adventures. I am excited to be a part of the FNHA extended family, and the HR team. I look forward to meeting more of our members as I become immersed in our programs.
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For International Overdose Awareness Day, the FNHA is supporting the many people who have lost a loved one to the toxic drug crisis by creating a place to come together to remember them for all that they were and to hold them up.
Honouring Our Loved Ones is a safe and welcoming digital space where friends and family members can share a story to honour someone they've lost using a video, photo, artwork or an audio recording. This virtual space is a safe place to remember, honour and grieve. For each loved one, the FNHA will grow a tree to remember them. These trees will be planted in the spring of 2023 in a dedicated area in the health region where the storytellers live.
This storytelling space was developed to support the growing number of First Nations communities, families and individuals experiencing loss due to the toxic drug crisis. Indigenous families and communities across BC are affected by loss every day and losses are impacting future generations.
Read full story here on our website.
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LivingWorks safeTALK is a half-day alertness training that prepares anyone 15 or older, regardless of prior experience or training, to become a suicide-alert helper. Most people with thoughts of suicide don’t truly want to die, but are struggling with the pain in their lives. Through their words and actions, they invite help to stay alive. safeTALK-trained helpers can recognize these invitations and take action by connecting them with life-saving intervention resources, such as caregivers trained in ASIST.
Since its development in 2006, safeTALK has been used in over 20 countries around the world, and more than 200 selectable video vignettes have been produced to tailor the program’s audio-visual component for diverse audiences. safeTALK-trained helpers are an important part of suicide-safer communities, working alongside intervention resources to identify and avert suicide risks.
For more information, please click here.
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The FNHA Vancouver Island family gathered on Sept. 29 at Transfer Beach in Ladysmith in recognition of the 2022 National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. It was an opportunity to reflect on what we can continue to do as individuals and as an organization to advance reconciliation together.
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Elders Bill Cramner and Cliff Atleo spent the entire day with us, grounding our spirits by bringing forward some of their wisdom to guide and connect us in heart and mind. Humbled by the messages within their stories, we were reminded of our ongoing commitment to learning and deepening our understanding of our shared history for continued healing.
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Chief Roxanne Harris from Stz’uminus First Nation welcomed us to the land before inviting Shelley Joseph from the Kwakwaka’wakw family, to join the circle and facilitate a reconciliation workshop. Shelley began with introductions, inviting each person in the circle to share who they are and where they come from, in order to create a safe space to speak freely and show the diversity amongst the group. Shelley then talked about providing a clear path forward to building meaningful relationships, between First Nations and other people, including explaining the concept of Namwayut, meaning ‘we are all one’ in the Hul'qumi'num language. The workshop also offered teachings of our shared Canadian history, how it affects us today and why it matters. The group then developed a tool called a “Back Pocket Reconciliation Plan” to inspire conversations outside of the circle.
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The mid-day wellness break was prepared by “Don’t Bannock”, it was delicious! Everyone enjoyed a bannock taco for lunch and a sweet and savory “Very Berry Bannock” for dessert. It was yummy and just what our team needed to cure our cravings!
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We spent the afternoon making drums, facilitated by Hwiemtun, Wellness Guide at Ancestral Trails. As he shared his knowledge about why it is important to be in good spirits, we passed around sage and smudged ourselves to clear our thoughts and be present. Mindfully, we started making our drums step by step, right over left, left over right, pulling each strand tight. Our team spoke of the importance of awakening our drums once they’ve dried so we can sing songs together as part of the Wolf Clan. To remind ourselves that we all do our part in this work and that each part comes together as one beat: Namwayut.
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After a long time apart due to COVID-19, this was a chance for us to come together and reconnect in-person, which is something we’ve all been missing over the past couple of years. It was a day to reflect and appreciate each other as coworkers and as a family, the FNHA family.
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By virtue of 2021 CHRT 41, First Nations, First Nations child and family services agencies and First Nations-authorized Jordan’s Principle service providers can access funding for the purchase and construction of capital assets.
Capital assets are pieces of property, buildings, spaces or vehicles that are intended for long-term use.
To access funding for capital assets, projects must be considered "ready to proceed". This means that the project has received approval from the First Nation and the feasibility and design work has been completed. Indigenous Services Canada will provide support to First Nations and agencies to bring a project to the stage where it is considered "ready to proceed", including providing funding to conduct a capital needs assessment or a feasibility study.
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For more info and to register contact:
For members from Halalt, Lyackson, Malahat, Penelakut, Qualicum, Snaw-Naw-As, Snuneymuxw, Stz’uminus, and Ts’uu baa-asatx.
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For more info and to register contact:
For members from Halalt, Lyackson, Malahat, Penelakut, Qualicum, Snaw-Naw-As, Snuneymuxw, Stz’uminus, and Ts’uu baa-asatx.
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The Civil Forfeiture Grant Program provides annual, one-time funding to organizations from across BC for the implementation of crime prevention and remediation projects. This year’s call for applications is open from October 12 to November 23, 2022.
For full details on the application process including eligibility and stream criteria, please see the Application Guidelines. Once you have reviewed the guidelines, and decided what stream you will apply for, you can then access the grant application forms using the links listed below:
- Crime Prevention
- Indigenous Healing
- Restorative Justice
- Gender-based Violence
In order to assist you in developing your grant application, we will be hosting a webinar on how to apply for a civil forfeiture grant on Wednesday, October 19 from 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. (PST).
If you are interested in attending the webinar, please register here.
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The project team building the new Cowichan District Hospital is looking for a logo that represents the Nuts'a'maat Alliance – project partners, working together with First Nation, Métis and Indigenous people, with one mind and one heart – to create a welcoming, Culturally Safe new hospital for people in Cowichan.
The art will be used for the Nuts'a'maat Alliance logo, in print and digital communication materials, posting, signage, Zoom backgrounds and all business communication for the Cowichan District Hospital Replacement Project Alliance. It will not be used for profit.
For more information, please see link here.
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November is Diabetes Awareness Month so it's an optimal time to review the importance of good treatment plans and self-management skills for people with diabetes. Diabetes is a chronic condition, which means that once diagnosed, it becomes a lifelong partner. It is very different from a health emergency, when it makes sense for a doctor, nurse, or other health professional to take charge and offer treatment options.
With a chronic condition like diabetes, you play an important role by working alongside your healthcare team to make decisions about your health and your life. Become your own best advocate by asking your healthcare providers to collaborate on the decisions about your health and your diabetes, and by sharing the aspects of your health and wellness that are most important to you. You are the leading expert in you!
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