The Latest News from IH Aboriginal Partnerships

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A message from VP for Aboriginal Partnerships,
Nox Saga We’en Addie Pryce

I am excited to share highlights from the ongoing work within Interior Health and with Aboriginal Partners towards improved health and wellness for all Aboriginal people in the Interior Region. Over the last couple months, my team and our colleagues have traveled to many areas within the Interior for Nation gatherings, the Interior Region First Nation Health Caucus, and an Indigenous Food Forum. We have continued educating IH staff and the public through our monthly podcast and have sought more ways to incorporate Indigenous ways of knowing and being into the planning and delivery of services. Additionally, through a new hiring program, we are increasing Indigenous representation within the IH workforce. I feel grateful for the progress we are making and recognize the ongoing impacts of colonialism and racism in the healthcare system and the long road ahead.

Thank you to everyone involved in moving toward reconciliation and health equity across the region. Here’s to our ongoing progress in partnership.

Community visit builds connections

The Xeni Gwet’in First Nation hosted a meeting of the Partnership Accord Leadership Table (PALT) earlier this year, providing important insight into for health care leadership.

Read the full story

Kukpi7 Willie Sellars joins podcast

Williams Lake First Nation Chief Willie Sellars joined IH’s Interior Voices podcast to discuss Orange Shirt Day and the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation, and the WLFN community.

Listen in to learn more

Interior Region Indigenous Food Forum

On Nov. 8 and 9, First Nation community members and staff, along with sponsors including IH, FNHA and United Way, gathered at Spirit Ridge in Osoyoos for the first annual Interior Region Indigenous Food Forum. Keynotes, panelists and attendees discussed, shared ideas, best practices and learned about Indigenous food systems and sovereignty.

Next year's Indigenous Food Forum will be co-hosted by IH and FNHA; dates will be announced in the new year.

Implementing the Section 42 Special Hiring Program

Interior Health has implemented a special program for the preferential hiring of qualified Aboriginal candidates into excluded positions. The program went into effect on Oct. 17, 2022.

Learn more about Section 42

Supporting Culturally Inclusive Healing

One of the questions that the Peer Inclusion Framework has asked is, “How do we make our Mental Health and Substance Use (MHSU) services more culturally inclusive and bring Indigenous approaches to healing, knowing and being?”

Read about peer inclusion work within MHSU

Highlighting Métis Partnerships

Partnerships, such as the ones between IH and Métis Nation BC (MNBC), are crucial to changing our health system and eliminating racism and discrimination.

Read more about ongoing work

Brodie Douglas talks Métis history

In advance of Louis Riel Day, Brodie Douglas joined the Interior Voices podcast to talk Métis history and the importance of learning our shared history as a crucial step towards reconciliation.

Listen in to learn more

Honouring Our Loved Ones

For International Overdose Awareness Day, First Nations Health Authority (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.

Visit the Honouring Our Loved Ones website

IH Healthy Communities Team

Our Healthy Communities team works with Indigenous communities, municipalities, regional districts and other partners to create opportunities for all people to live well. Healthy built and natural environments, along with supportive social and economic circumstances, are the essential building blocks for health and the focus of the team's work.