Hosting Wellness Activities on National Aboriginal Day: June 21, 2017

The First Nations Health Authority (FNHA) is a committed wellness partner for each and every First Nations person and community in British Columbia. FNHA has a vision of wellness, doing so in a manner that honours First Nations inherent teachings, values our diversity and respects traditions and culture. FNHA hopes the June 21 Day of Wellness events will become an annual wellness movement for First Nations peoples in BC.

This year we are requesting all successful applicants host their wellness activities on National Aboriginal Day, June 21^st 2017 to promote BC First Nations as a whole by celebrating Wellness in a unified effort on this day.

Again this year, the FNHA encourages communities to invite local health care professionals to your Day of Wellness event if you see fit. This will be a positive opportunity to shine light on the strength of your community and spend time with health care professionals in an environment of wellness, rather than in a hospital or other health care environment.

It is also an opportunity to have conversations around cultural safety and humility with health providers. In July 2015, all BC Health Authority CEOs signed a Declaration of Commitment to advancing cultural humility and cultural safety within their health service organizations. Importantly, this whole health system commitment to the declaration means all health professionals have the mandate to pay attention to, and advance, cultural humility and safety in their practices with First Nations in BC.

Cultural humility is a process of self-reflection to understand personal and systemic biases. It is about pausing in the moment to question our assumptions. Questioning our own assumptions enables us to develop and maintain deeper and more respectful relationships based on mutual trust. Cultural humility also involves humbly acknowledging oneself as a learner when it comes to understanding another's experience. Cultural safety is our end goal. As an outcome, it is based on respectful interactions between health care practitioners and clients that recognize and strive to address power imbalances inherent in the health care system.

Grant Eligibility and Criteria

• BC First Nations Community

• First Nations School in BC

• Organizations or agencies delivering health services to BC First Nations and/or Aboriginal people

• Combination of the above (3)

• Event must be held on National Aboriginal Day, June 21^st 2017

• Proposals must be received by: May 5^th, 2017

Proposals will be assessed to ensure that funding is distributed equitably to First Nations communities across all five regions, with preference and consideration given to the following:

• BC First Nations community-based applications

• Applications where collaboration or partnership with other communities is possible and demonstrated

• Quality and detail of application with clear description of how the proposed event fits into the respective wellness streams

• Closing Reports received from previous successful applicants

• Only fully completed applications will be considered

Apply online at the link below or download a copy of the Wellness Grant application form.  Applications can be received via email or fax no later than May 5^th, 2017. If a fax is being sent then please first call the phone number below to let them know that your entry will be received that way.

First Nations Health Authority – Wellness Event

Email: active@fnha.ca  Phone: (604) 699-3104 

Fax: (604) 913-2080