Indigenous Health is a dedicated team within Northern Health
Our scope of work is regional - across all of Northern BC. Our main office is located on the traditional, unceded territory of the Lheidli T'enneh First Nation and our team members live in many communities throughout the North.
Indigenous Health has organized into three areas of focus:
- Indigenous Health service delivery integration which includes the Indigenous Care Team, HSDA advisors and community collaboration and Indigenous partnerships.
- Our team bridges senior leadership and Indigenous Health areas, fostering collaboration across Northern Health.
- We support leaders in cultural safety commitments, guided by Indigenous ways of knowing and being.
- Collaborate with FNHA, First Nations, Métis Nation BC, and Métis Chartered Communities, we integrate cultural approaches into health services, enhance access and equity, and provide leadership for the Indigenous Patient Liaison program.
- Indigenous Health learning and quality team which includes the Cultural Safety and Anti-Indigenous Racism Education team, Indigenous Patient Experience team and Indigenous Health data evaluation and research support.
- Our team assists Northern Health (NH) with cultural safety and Anti-Indigenous racism education, aligning with NH’s direction toward Truth and Reconciliation. We facilitate tailored workshops, provide dedicated support to each HSDA, and offer patient support in NH care sites.
- We create safe spaces to discuss health harms, address concerns, and build better relationships with Indigenous peoples.
- We lead strategies related to data, evaluation, and Indigenous-led health research, integrating Indigenous perspectives into NH’s strategic efforts.
- Indigenous Health internal service transformation which includes administration, capital procurement, communications, investments, strategic projects, and recruitment and retention.
- Our team provides administrative support to the entire IH team, coordinating activities related to financial and organizational planning, labor relations, human resources, and management.
- We ensure policies are implemented correctly, manage resources, and support scheduling, budgeting, and record maintenance.
- We support Indigenous procurement projects, ensuring facilities reflect Indigenous language and culture, and develop communication tools for IH and NHA initiatives.
- We integrate Indigenous perspectives into recruitment and retention practices, lead administrative reporting cycles, manage grants and awards, and support the strategy and implementation of IH projects.
Is Indigenous Health the same as the First Nations Health Authority?
Indigenous Health is distinct from the First Nations Health Authority. However, we collaborate, coordinate, and integrate our health programs and services to achieve better health outcomes for BC First Nations.
The First Nations Health Authority (FNHA) is a provincial health authority that plans, designs, manages, and funds the delivery of First Nations health programs and services in BC, including the First Nations Health Benefits program.
How does Indigenous Health collaborate with Métis Nation BC?
Indigenous Health does collaborate, coordinate, and integrate health programs and services to achieve better health outcomes for Métis citizens and self-identifying Métis community members across the North. Métis Nation BC (MNBC) is a provincial government that provides health and wellness supports to Métis in BC. Find more information on the collaborative work between MNBC and Northern Health.