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Maybe you’ve seen their smiling faces on a TV screen at one of our hospitals or maybe you’ve heard the term “APL,” but you’re still not sure what exactly Aboriginal Patient Liaisons are, much less what they do.
Editor's note: May 6-12 is Nursing Week! This story is one of several posted this week to celebrate and showcase the many different types of nursing roles in Northern Health in honour of Nursing Week! Check out the other stories on the Northern Health Matters blog!
Applications are now being accepted for the 2019 Urban Communities Partnering for Reconciliation (UCPR) pilot program.
Northern Health is looking for community partners with ideas for projects that will improve the health of those living, working, learning and playing in northern BC. The call for applications to apply for the latest round of IMAGINE Community Grants is now open.
Northern Health (NH) and the First Nations Health Authority (FNHA) are offering Wellness Grants for a maximum of $5,000 to support Indigenous communities and/or organizations (First Nations, Inuit, Métis) working to improve health and well-being.
First Nations and Aboriginal peoples and partners will be coming together in wellness at 145 Day of Wellness events throughout British Columbia on June 21. This year communities have been encouraged to show cultural pride by bringing together the wisdom of Elders and the energy of youth at their celebrations.
The First Nations Health Authority is now administering Jordan’s Principle cases in British Columbia. The change comes from an administrative arrangement with the Government of Canada.
Genome Canada recently announced 10.4 million in funding to a program out of UBC working to close gaps in health care for Indigenous communities. Specifically, this funding will go to the research genome sequencing project.
The First Nations Health Authority (FNHA) recently announced funding for 168 Winter Wellness events across British Columbia to take place in January and February 2018. FNHA has invested $320 000 in community wellness events, with these events primarily organized by First Nations communities, for First Nations communities.
In December (2017), Northern Health (NH) released a final report that reviewed NH services in the downtown area of Prince George. The purpose of the report was to review all existing services provided or contracted by Northern Health in the downtown core area, and to provide recommendations to support development of accessible, integrated health services in downtown Prince George.
Kitselas First Nation hosted a “Celebration of Successes” event showcasing three First Nations community projects that explore mental wellness from a community and cultural perspective.
On February 23rd the Prince George and Area Aboriginal Health Improvement Committee (AHIC) unveiled a new art piece at the University Hospital of Northern BC (UHNBC). The art piece, created by local Metis artist Carla Joseph, acknowledges Lheidli T’enneh traditional territory and welcomes Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples to the site.
In their commentary on two papers in the Lancet’s Series on Canada, authors Greenwood, de Leeuw and Lindsay draw attention to the persistent health inequities experienced by First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples, despite Canada’s commitment to addressing health equity both domestically, through its universal healthcare system, and internationally.
An important part of culture
Salmon and halibut are important staples in the diet of many people in BC, and continue to be a food of significance to coastal First Nations peoples.
One of the worst fire seasons in decades
This summer, the province of British Columbia saw one of the worst fire seasons in decades. Thousands of people from the Cariboo region were evacuated to centres in Kamloops and Prince George.
A move to self-government and self-determination of Indigenous Peoples
On August 28th, Justin Trudeau announced the split of the department of Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada into two new ministries: the Department of Crown –Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs, and the Department of Indigenous Services.
Individual and collective rights of Indigenous people
On September 13th, 2007, the General Assembly of the United Nations adopted the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), encompassing 370 million Indigenous peoples in more th
Change Day BC – November 17, 2017 – Make your pledge today!
Change Day is a global movement that was started in 2013 by the National Health Service in England. Countries all over the world have since launched their own change days.
As part of the Highway 16 Transportation Action Plan, two new bus routes began running the week of June 19, 2017.
June is National Aboriginal History Month and June 21st is National Indigenous Peoples Day (National Aboriginal Day), with many opportunities to celebrate the unique heritage, diverse cultures and outstanding achievements of First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples in Canada.
On May 16-17, 2017, Indigenous Health hosted the fourth annual Aboriginal Health Improvement Committee (AHIC) Gathering in Prince George.
On July 1st this year, the country of Canada marks 150 years since Confederation. For many, Canada Day is an opportunity to celebrate being Canadian and all that means for them. For others, it ignores the truth of colonialism and erases the 15,000 years of Indigenous history on this continent.
This webinar was hosted live on April 25, 2017. It is the second webinar in a series that will introduce each of the eight Aboriginal Health Improvement Committees (AHICs) undertaking innovative collaborative work across northern BC to support improved health and wellness with Indigen
Join members of Northern Health's newly branded Indigenous Health team and local FNHA partners for an installment of the First Nations Health Authority and BC Patient Safety & Quality Council Cultural Humility Webinar Series.
Overview
The Northern Health Indigenous Health team developed several resources to support Indigenous people in accessing and navigating the health-care system.
In October 2016, all employees were invited to self-identify as Aboriginal or non-Aboriginal. This initiative will help us measure how well the NH workforce reflects the communities of northern BC and any changes over time.
On March 1, 2017, twenty-three health regulatory bodies in BC signed the Declaration of Commitment to Cultural Safety and Humility, joining all health authorities in BC who signed the Declaration in July 2015, and becoming the first health professionals in Canada to make the pledge.
In June 2016, the First Nations Health Authority (FNHA) initiated a social media campaign to engage people throughout the Health Authorities in making a commitment to advance
This webinar was hosted live on January 25, 2017. It is the first webinar in a series that will introduce each of the eight Aboriginal Health Improvement Committees (AHICs) undertaking innovative collaborative work across northern BC to support improved health and wellness with Indigenous people and communities.
This article was originally published by the First Nations Drum, Canada's largest First Nations newspaper, in the January 2017 edition on page 27.
The Aboriginal Health team has changed our name to Indigenous Health. We are excited to make this change that reflects evolving contexts and new relationships. Updating our name and all that goes with it will be a big job, so please be patient with us as we begin to make this change.
Northern Health (NH) is a vibrant part of communities across the north. When people come to seek health services, we want them to see their community reflected in the workforce. A workforce that reflects the local community supports a culturally safe health system for everyone.
Margo Greenwood, Vice President of Aboriginal Health, was recently appointed to the Health Innovation Advisory Board for the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR).
Margo Greenwood, Vice President of Aboriginal Health, is a co-investigator on a project based at the University of Victoria. The project is developing an electronic reporting system called GlobalChild.
In the spring of 2016, the Northern First Nations Health Partnership Committee launched an exciting new awards initiative to support Indigenous students in northern BC pursuing a health-related discipline.
This summer, the First Nations Health Authority initiated a social media campaign to engage people throughout the Health Authorities in a commitment to advance cult
On June 15, 2016, an announcement was made at Lheidli T’enneh Memorial Park by local and provincial government representatives about the progress made on implementing the Highway 16 Tra
In July 2015, all Health Authority CEOs in BC signed a Declaration of Commitment to advancing cultural humility and cultural safety within their organizations.
The third annual gathering of Aboriginal Health Improvement Committees was held in Prince George on May 17-18, 2016. It was an exciting two days of celebration, sharing, learning, relationship building, action planning, and visioning for the future.
In response to the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal ruling on First Nations children, the Government of Canada announced a new approach to
The North Coast Aboriginal Health Improvement Committee is pleased to launch a new video titled: Honouring Our Journey.
On January 26, 2016, the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal ruled that the federal government discriminates against First Nations children by providing flawed and inequitable child welfare services compared to that available to other children.
On March 22, 2016, the federal government tabled its firsbudget, which “proposed to invest $8.4 billion over five years [...] to improve the socioeconomic conditions of Indigenous peoples and their communities and bring about transformational change.” Areas of investment includ
The Aboriginal Health department was excited to launch a survey on December 1, 2015 to learn about what we can do to support Northern Health employees provide quality, culturally safe health care for First Nations and Aboriginal people and families.
In northern BC, Highway 16 from Prince George to Prince Rupert is known as the Highway of Tears because of the high number of women, mostly Indigenous, who have gone missing along it. An RCMP investigation identified 18 women and girls who went missing or were murdered along Highway 16 and the nearby highways 97 and 5 since 1969.
On December 8, 2015, the Government of Canada announced a national inquiry into the high number of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls across the country.
Indian Residential Schools (IRS) are part of Canada’s history that is not well known or understood by many. Indian Residential Schools were created to separate Aboriginal children from their families in order to minimize and weaken family ties and cultural linkages, and to indoctrinate children into Euro-Christian Canadian society.
A new book, Determinants of Indigenous Health in Canada: Beyond the Social, edited by Drs.
Health care in BC has just celebrated a unique milestone! October 1st marked the two-year anniversary of the transfer of health services from Health Canada to the First Nations Health Authority (FNHA).
In 2005, Northern Health initiated several Aboriginal Health Improvement Committees (AHICs) that bring together local health leaders and community members from diverse sectors across the north.
Over 2,000 people arrive in Prince Rupert every year to take part in the All Native Basketball Tournament. This year’s tournament was held February 8 - 14th and approximately 60 teams competed in four divisions: men’s intermediate, men’s seniors, men’s masters and women’s division (open).
On February 24, Aboriginal Health participated in a webinar called Partnering for Change: Building new relationships for the health and well-being of northern First Nations people and communities.
Daryl Petsul manages the medicine and maternity departments at GR Baker Memorial Hospital in Quesnel. He supervises over 80 full-time and casual staff, 85% of who have completed the Indigenous Cultural Competency training course offered through PHSA.
Aboriginal Health was invited to participate in a project with key collaborators from UNBC and the First Nations Health Authority about the use of storytelling and narrative in relation to health and well-being in northern British Columbia.
The All Native Basketball Tournament is an annual celebration of sport, community and culture that is hosted in Prince Rupert. This year the tournament will be February 8 to 14. Northern Health is proud to have been a sponsor since 2002.
Northern Health’s Aboriginal Health Initiative Program (AHIP) is a granting program that began in 2002. Through these short-term grants, we support First Nations and Aboriginal communities and organizations in their work of improving health for First Nations and Aboriginal people.
Through Aboriginal Health Improvement Committees (AHICs), Aboriginal Health is investing in mapping, a collaborative learning process with First Nations and Aboriginal communities and organizations, to better understand service gaps and opportunities for improvement in First Nations and Aboriginal patient experie
