News Updates from the VI Region
September 21, 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
SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2022
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Mental Health and Wellness Lunch and Learns are coming to the Vancouver Island Region!
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Starting this Fall Season, we are 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! Please contact Regional Mental Health and Wellness Liaison, Alexis Stuart, if you have ideas for topics or questions.
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FNHA Messages of Hope on Suicide Prevention Day
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A message from Richard Jock, FNHA Chief Executive Officer; Dr. Nel Wieman, FNHA Deputy Chief Medical Officer; and Sonia Isaac-Mann, Vice President of Community Health and Wellness and Programs and Services, FNHA
This message contains sensitive content and could be triggering. For crisis support here in BC, please contact the KUU-US Crisis Line at 1-800-588-8717 / visit our Mental Health and Wellness Support page for additional support services.
Sept. 10 is World Suicide Prevention Day. Launched in 2002, the goal of the day is to raise awareness of the complex issue of suicide.
“For First Nations people, the topic of suicide brings up the intergenerational impacts of colonization and trauma. Dr. Nel Wieman has shared important information on understanding the signs and symptoms of suicide and reminded us that we need to build upon the collective and intergenerational strengths and resilience that we have as First Nations peoples." ~ Richard Jock
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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
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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‘Uy’ skweyul, my name is Chanttel White. I have been with FNHA since November 2018, starting as one of the Child & Youth Systems Navigators and then as one of the Coast Salish Community Engagement Coordinators. I am from Snuneymuxw First Nation and lived in community until moving to Victoria to pursue my Master’s degree in Child, Youth, Family, and Community Studies, starting this September. I have one son, who is my main motivator in life and keeps me very busy. I spend most of my time with my son, nephew, and nieces when we can. We enjoy being outdoors, especially going for hikes.
I am thankful to be a part of the FNHA family and support my career goals by moving into this new role. I look forward to re-joining the Maternal, Child, and Family Health Team and seeing where this new adventure takes me.
Huy ch q’u,
Chanttel
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My name is Casey Frenchy, I was born and raised in the Stz’uminus community. I am very honored to be joining First Nations Health Auhtority located in Stz’uminus territory as the new Administrative Assistant.
I am a mother of 3 children who mean the world to me. I come from a very family oriented background, and a very big family tree with a lot of sacred history. To me family is everything, we always help each other out and look out for one another. I bring this family trait with me into our workplace environment and I can tell you that I will give 100% in this new career path I am on.
In my spare time outside of work, I often spend majority of my time with my children, we love to go out exploring and finding beautiful places to swim or hike, and I also participate in my own sports. Often times through the spring right until early fall you will find me joining evening league games in different areas of the island, or joining tournaments with my parents, siblings and other family members and friends.
I am very excited for this opportunity to work within Stz’uminus territory, and thank everyone in this location for being so welcoming. I am a hard working mother, and assure you I will do my best to fulfill the requirements needed for this position.
Huych’qa – Thank-you,
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Now that Health Canada has approved use of the bivalent COVID-19 vaccine, BC is preparing to deploy them to clinics in time for the fall booster campaign.
Many people who have had their first booster will by now be eligible for their next booster in order to maintain high levels of immunity against COVID-19 and its variant forms throughout the colder months when respiratory viruses more commonly spread.
Pharmacies and clinics are expected to have a supply of the bivalent vaccine by mid-to-late September.
Have questions about the bivalent vaccines or curious about what the term “bivalent" even means? Here are some answers to common questions about this new vaccine!
Read full story here on our website.
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The Recovery and Resiliency Fund is still open for applications until September 30. The Fund provides grants up to $72,000 to support pandemic recovery and long-term resiliency of non-profit and charitable organizations in BC.
To help you learn more about the grant program, we’d like to invite you to attend a virtual information session that will cover topics like, eligibility criteria, what the grant is for, how to apply and how grantees are selected.
To register for the info session on September 20 at 1:00pm to 2:00pm PT, click here
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Grievers Journey will train you to deliver a cultural grief and loss program in your community. This program is for Counsellors, Elder Coordinators, and Wellness Workers
who work in Coast Salish communities.
The Griever’s Journey Train-the-Trainer is a 2 ½ day program aimed at Indigenous helping professionals in Coast Salish communities that will build the tools and resources to provide the Griever’s Journey grief and loss training within the community. Each participant will receive a certification that they have completed the train the trainer – Griever’s Journey workshop.
October 25, 26, 27, 2022
9am – 4pm
Location: Songhees Wellness Centre,
1100 Admirals Rd, Victoria, BC
Facilitators: Lyla Harman & Victor Nowoselski
Training seats are limited. Training is prioritized for Songhees Nation neighbouring communities who facilitate workshops for Coast Salish people. Final participant list will be confirmed by Oct. 14th, 2022.
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In this 10 week cohort we look at the spirit of suicide from an Indigenous social justice lens. Suicidality is a natural human response to carrying the burdens of 500+ years of colonial genocide. In this work we move away from seeing suicidality as something broken within the individual, but a reflection of the brokenness of the invisible systems of oppression that drive the world we live in. Together we will explore how we can resist the spirit of suicide during our "howling at the moon moments" by utilizing our breath, bodies, the land and our culture as forms of empowerment and self regulation.
5PM - 8PM Monday evenings
Nalatsi Alternate School 665 16th st, Courtenay, B.C.
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Sept 30 is the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation - The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation was established in 2021 to honour and remember the lives impacted by residential schools in Canada, including the lost children, residential school survivors, their families and communities. Marking this day and acknowledging the ongoing impacts of residential schools is an important part of reconciliation.
The day has been an Indigenous-led grassroots commemorative event since 2013 and is known as Orange Shirt Day because of the experience of Phyllis Webstad, a Northern Secwpemc (Shuswap) from the Stswecem'c Xgat'tem First Nation. On her first day of school, Phyllis arrived dressed in a new orange shirt, which was taken from her. It is now a symbol of the stripping away of culture, freedom and self-esteem experienced by Indigenous children over generations.
On Sept. 30, Canadians are encouraged to wear orange to raise awareness of this tragic legacy.
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