Shared territories of ʕaaḥuusʔatḥ (Ahousaht), ƛaʔuukʷiʔatḥ (Tla-o-qui-aht), ḥiškʷiiʔatḥ (Hesquiaht), tukʷaaʔatḥ (Toquaht),
yuułuʔiłʔatḥ (Ucluelet)
| TOFINO – Nuu-chah-nulth community members and their families will now have access to traditional wellness and primary care services with the opening of the ʔuukʷinkpanač (ook-wink-panach) West Coast Primary Care Initiative.
“ʔuukʷinkpanač means (walking in togetherness) in the Nuu-chah-nulth language,"
said Suzanne Williams,
Director of Operations, ʔuukʷinkpanač, Vancouver Island Primary Care Society. “ʔuukʷinkpanac is the result of our shared vision of providing traditional and primary care services to address both the health and social needs of First Nations peoples living in rural and remote communities, and with it we can offer new services to care for our communities and families."
The ʔuukʷinkpanac Primary Care Initiative brings health and wellness services closer to home through a modified “hub and spoke" model. This model includes a central coordination (hub) site located in Ucluelet, which will provide coordination and administration support for six new or enhanced primary care sites (spokes) in the ʕaaḥuusʔatḥ (Ahousaht), ƛaʔuukʷiʔatḥ (Tla-o-qui-aht), ḥiškʷiiʔatḥ (Hesquiaht), tukʷaaʔatḥ (Toquaht), yuułuʔiłʔatḥ (Ucluelet) communities with an additional site in Opitsaht. Each community site will provide team-based, culturally safe care with the guidance of the Uut Uuštukyuu Society.
“Today marks a meaningful step forward in bringing culturally safe, community-led care closer to home for Nuu-chah-nulth families living on the west coast of Vancouver Island,"
said Brennan MacDonald,
First
Nations Health
Authority (FNHA) Vice-President, Regional Operations, Vancouver Island. “ʔuukʷinkpanač represents the vision of the Nations, the strength of partnerships, and the shared commitment to wellness rooted in culture and community. We raise our hands to everyone who made this possible."
“Our vision at the FNHA is to support healthy, self-determining and vibrant First Nations children, families and communities in BC,"
said Monica McAlduff, FNHA, CEO. “ʔuukʷinkpanac is the second First Nations-led primary care centre to open in the Vancouver Island Region and one of 15 centres being open or underway across the province as part of the First Nations Primary Care Initiative. With the support of health-system partners, First Nations communities and municipalities in BC, we can continue our shared journey towards a culturally safe and sustainable healthcare system that meets the needs of First Nations in BC."
ʔuukʷinkpanac is operated by the Vancouver Island West Coast Primary Care Initiative Health Society and is funded through a partnership between the FNHA and the Ministry of Health. As part of the First Nations Primary Care Initiative, the ʔuukʷinkpanac West Coast Primary Care Initiative is one of three First Nations Primary Care Centres that will support communities in the Vancouver Island region.
“First Nations people in BC often face barriers when it comes to accessing culturally safe primary care or trauma-informed healthcare services that are close to home,"
said Josie Osborne, Minister of Health. “The opening of the ʔuukʷinkpanac West Coast Primary Care Initiative is a key part of furthering the First Nations Primary Care Initiative and will ensure that First Nations communities and families have access to the quality health care that they deserve."
This announcement builds on a series of milestones including the 2019 opening of the Lu'ma Medical Centre in Vancouver, the 2022 opening of the All Nations Healing House in Williams Lake, the 2023 ground-breaking ceremony at Éyameth (formerly the Sts'ailes Community Care Campus), in Harrison Mills, the 2024 opening of the Kwakwaka'wakw First Nations Primary Care Centre on Gilford Island, and the February 2025 opening of the es zumin' Primary Care Centre.
Quick Facts:
- ʔuukʷinkpanač is part of the Province and FNHA's First Nations-led Primary Health Care Initiative (FNPCI), which is intended to improve and increase access to culturally safe health services by opening 15 First Nations Primary Care Centres (FNPCCs) province-wide.
- Recruitment for clinical and traditional roles is currently active in all regions of the FNHA.
- The team-based staffing model includes 13 FTE's - including primary care providers, allied professionals, and traditional wellness practitioners.
- Once all clinics are in operation, there will be three clinics in each of the five regional health authorities for a total of 15 FNPCCs in BC.
Learn More:
To learn more about recruitment, interested applicants can find positions listed here: https://workwithus.fnha.ca/
To learn more about the First Nations Primary Care Initiative: First Nations-led Primary Health Care Initiative – YouTube
To read more about the First Nations Primary Care Initiative, visit: https://www.fnha.ca/about/news-and-events/news/improved-access-to-first-nations-led-primary-care-on-the-way-to-communities-province-wide
Media Cont acts:
First Nations He alth Authority
Media Relations
778-984-5962
media@fnha.ca
Ministry of Health
Media Relations
250 952-1887
A backgrounder follows.
Additonal Quotes
“The core principles that I believe Uut Uuštukyuu encompasses, are hisuk?is cawaak (everything is one), we are breaking down the barriers of systemic racism. The only way we can prevent systemic racism, is to not mention the differences of color, but mention acknowledge hisuk?is cawaak (everything is one). I see lisaakstalth (respect one another), for too long, we have not been respected in the colonial system, but I see a big opportunity here, where we are being respected. huupiitstalth (help one another), for far too long we have not been able to help one another through our Indigenous lens and now we are being respected, and it is really taking ground. ya?akstalth (care for one another). Caring for one another is so important, compassion, love, empathy, in our culture is another element that Uut Uuštukyuu brings to the initiative. Last but not least, hahuupstalth (teach one another), when we teach one another, not just looking through a one-eyed lens, but by opening ourselves up to many different lenses, you never know what is going to work for you as far as healing goes, whether it be through our Indigenous culture or the many non-Indigenous avenues to explore. So, moving forward I fully support, and will continue to support this initiative, and I really feel it is a breath of fresh air. We are going to be working alongside the colonial system and be acknowledged for what we bring to the table." said Hasheukumiss Richard George, Hereditary Chief, ʕaaḥuusʔatḥ (Ahousaht).
“Living on the West Coast of Vancouver Island, we are limited when it comes to resources, particularly, resources for our health and well-being". Last year, Chiefs and leaders from across B.C voted in support of a 10-year strategy on the social determinants of Health, having health care services brought directly into our community is a big part of improving our social determinants of health. We look forward to having health services and resources coming into our community. This initiative will benefit everyone." said Mariah Charleson, Hesquiaht First Nation, Elected Chief Councillor.
“ʔuukʷinkpanač West Coast Primary Care Initiative will be beneficial for all our communities and we are looking forward to participating. “This initiative is a great opportunity for us to take the lead and control of our care. We know the needs of our communities and we know what is going to be successful for us." said Elmer Frank, Chief Councillor, ƛaʔuukʷiʔatḥ (Tla-o-qui-aht) First Nation.
“We have our own ways of doing things, and seeing our Toquaht ways represented in this initiative is so overwhelming. I need to thank everyone who got us to where we are today." said Anne Mack, Hereditary Chief, tukʷaaʔatḥ (Toquaht).
"Travel and the lack of culturally safe care have long been significant barriers to accessing healthcare on the West Coast of Vancouver Island. The grand opening of ʔuukʷinkpanač marks meaningful progress in improving access to basic, holistic healthcare for Nuu-chah-nulth people within our own communities. By bringing together traditional Nuu-chah-nulth and Western healing practices, the West Coast Primary Care Initiative enables us to shape our own path to wellness." said President Charles McCarthy, Yuułuʔiłʔatḥ Government (Ucluelet First Nation).
