Yo, nugwa’am Laqwalaogwa. Gya yu tlan lax TsaKwaLuten, Liqʷiłdax̌ʷ, Dick  λiλəλola. My grandparents are Tiny and the late Rosemary Dick, my parents are Ken Johnston and Tammy Johnston (Dick). My english name is Tanille Johnston. My background is in Social Work. I have a Bachelors in Social Work from the University of Victoria and I belong to the British Columbia Association of Registered Social Workers. I also hold a Certificate in Mental Health and Addiction and successfully defended my Thesis for completion of my Masters in Social Work with an Indigenous Specialization in November of 2019. My thesis focused on defining Fatherhood in Kwakwaka'wakw community for the purposes of supporting child welfare social workers to view Fathers as protective factors and assets in childrearing. Learning my culture and family history is a passion of mine along with running, biking, paddle boarding and spending time with my daughters Collins and Lainey, and my pups, Roe and Fin, and of course, my partner Guy!

I am a daughter, granddaughter, cousin, sister, chosen-auntie, mother, friend and am so grateful to have been the Regional Primary Care Manager for the Vancouver Island Region for the last almost four years and am both excited and also balancing the change of having this amazing opportunity to move into the role of Director, Family Based Programs and Services, Kwakwaka’wakw. Ǧilakasl̓a and looking forward to continuing this journey of health and wellness transformation with the Vancouver Island Region!

Email: Tanille.Johnston@fnha.ca

My name is Dwayne Conley. I am very excited about my opportunity to work at the FNHA. I come from Cree and Inuvialuit heritage. I am currently a student in the Water and Wastewater Technology Diploma program at Thompson Rivers University. My studies are giving me hands on experience and technical skills pertaining to water system operations and environmental protection that I am passionate about bringing to First Nation communities. I am dedicated to supporting health and wellness through safe, sustainable water testing and analysis. I look forward to contributing my knowledge and cultural perspective to the important work at the FNHA.

Email: Dwayne.Conley@fnha.ca

On Friday, June 13th, our Vancouver Island regional team gathered at Transfer Beach in Ladysmith to celebrate National Indigenous Peoples Day – a day that holds deep meaning for all of us. It was a chance to come together, reflect, and honour the rich Indigenous culture and community that we are privileged to be part of.

The day began with heartfelt opening remarks from Elder Shulqwilum (Ray Harris). He spoke about the profound history of healthcare in our communities, reminding us that culture is medicine. Elder Shulqwilum shared how, traditionally, everything we needed to heal could be found in the land. While he acknowledged the sacredness of those practices, he also highlighted the importance of today’s healthcare workers and the balance between traditional and modern medicine.
“We used to have everything we needed to heal. And while those teachings are still important, we also turn to our healthcare workers for the medicine we need today,” he shared. Elder Shulqwilum also spoke about the promise of our future leaders, noting, “Our youth are looking for better ways, and we need to support them. They are teaching us too.”

Chief Lohmun (John Elliot) of Stz’uminus welcomed us to the land with words that set a respectful and grounding tone for the day. His welcome reminded us of the importance of connection and knowing where we come from.
Next, regional leadership shared words of gratitude and reflection. Brennan MacDonald, VP of Operations, reminded us that, “Gratitude + Action = Celebration.” Her message was a powerful reminder that recognizing our progress and showing up with intention is how we honour the work we do in the community.

Eunice Joe, Executive Director of Engagement, shared a heartfelt reflection: “I feel so much gratitude for the work we get to do. When communities tell us they see us – that we’re showing up and making a difference, it reminds me why this work matters so much.”

Just before lunch, Elder Wickaninnish (Cliff Atleo Sr.) was invited to share a few words and close the morning with a song. He spoke about the long history of Indigenous resistance and the many decades our people have stood up against unjust treatment by the government. He shared the story of the Native Brotherhood of BC – founded in 1931 by mostly Tsimshian and Haida fishermen, and how their advocacy helped lay the groundwork for key rights, including the right to vote in 1949.

His words were a humbling reminder of how far we’ve come and how far we still have to go.

With hearts full and bellies ready, lunch was served – delicious Indian Tacos, prepared by Don’t Bannock, and real fruit ice cream, made by Mizu Real Fruit Ice-Cream!

The afternoon offered time to connect further and enjoy the water, with two-person kayaking available for those feeling adventurous and corn hole!

It was a day of reflection, gratitude, laughter, and learning. A chance to pause and recognize the work happening across the region and the people doing it, together.

We had members from our mental health & wellness and toxic drug response teams attend Kwumut Lelum’s “Honouring Our Sisters” event at the Vancouver Island Conference Center in mid-May.

The event was a day full of self-empowerment and celebration of the power of Indigenous women. There were also self-care booths catering to participants' well-being, offering services like hair braiding, massage, reiki, and brushings.

Our FNHA teams frequently receive requests to set up information tables at events like this, where we share mental health and harm reduction materials with the community. These events often lead to great conversations, resource sharing, and networking opportunities with other organizations.

A photographer was present at the event, taking headshots for participants. We were encouraged to take photos ourselves, so we decided to do group photos. To add some fun, we took a funny family photo (awkward family pose) along with a regular capture.

In short, events like these give us the opportunity to connect with other team members on a personal level and enjoy each other’s company.