Vancouver Coastal

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​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​About the Vancouver Coastal Region

We are the Vancouver Coastal Region.

This section provides a high-​level overview of the Vancouver Coastal Region, including the area it encompasses, its governance structure, the 14 First Nations communities it serves, the Partnership Accord that governs the partnerships between First Nations and health authorities, and a description of the health care partners who are working together to transform health and wellness for First Nations in the region.


Who We Are

Communities We Serve

The Vancouver Coastal Region is home to 14 First Nations and comprised of three sub-regions: the Central Coast, Southern Stl'atl'imx and South Coast. Each of these Nations are unique in their culture, traditions and geography and each sub-regional family faces health and service delivery constraints that require different approaches and supports.​​

  • Central Coast

Central Coast sub-region: Coastal First Nations

The Coastal First Nations are a unique alliance of nine Nations living on BC’s north and central coast and Haida Gwaii. Each Nation has its own distinct culture, governance and territory.

Traditional territories of member communities occupy the Great Bear Rainforest and 102,000 square kilometres of marine coast.
Of these nine Nations, four reside within the Vancouver Coastal Region: the ’Wuìk̓inuxv, Haíɫzaqv, Gitdisdzu/Xai’xais and Nuxalk Nation.

'Wuìk̓inux̌v (Wuikinuxv)

The 'Wuìk̓inux̌v are people whose traditional territory extends from Koeye River to Cranston Point to the head of Wuikinuxv Lake. They are a people whose heritage, history and culture, including their language and spiritual practices, are tied to the land, water and natural environment. Located 480 kilometres northwest of Vancouver, the 'Wuìk̓inux̌v Nation is only accessible by boat and floatplane.

The community currently lives on the banks of the Waanukv River, which connects Owikeno Lake to the head of Rivers Inlet. The nearest town is Port Hardy – located across Queen Charlotte Strait – and there is no direct transport between 'Wuìk̓inux̌v and Bella Bella or Bella Coola. The 'Wuìk̓inux̌v Nation is a member of the 'Wuìk̓inux̌v-Gitdisdzu-Nuxalk Tribal Council. The 'Wuìk̓inux̌v people speak 'Wuìk̓ala, a northern Wakashan language. The 'Wuìk̓inux̌v Health Centre provides health services and programs to members of the 'Wuìk̓inux̌v Nation. Services include general checkups and wellness, pregnancy and prenatal care, mental health and wellness and other health promotion and disease prevention programs.

Haíɫzaqv (Heiltsuk)

The Haíɫzaqv Nation is located in the central Coast region, centred on Campbell Island in the community of Waglisla (Bella Bella). The traditional territory of the Haíɫzaqv encompasses 35,553 square kilometres, extending from the southern tip of Calvert Island, up the Dean and Burke channels as far as Kimsquit and the head of Dean Inlet to the northeast, and up the Mathieson and Finlayson channels to the north. Haíɫzaqv speak Haíɫzaqvḷa, a living language that expresses their world view and way of life. Each of its five dialects has its own distinct pronunciation, tones and phrases.

In April 2019, the Haíɫzaqvḷa Authority Board and the Heiltsuk Tribal Council approved the Haíɫzaqvḷa Revitalization Strategic Plan: Setting Our Course for the Next Five Years 2019-2024. In 2021, the Haíɫzaqv Nation celebrated July 1 as “Heiltsuk Day" with the purchase and transfer of the 70-year-old Shearwater Resort and Marina using funds secured through a reconciliation agreement signed with the Canadian government.

The Hailika'as Heiltsuk Health Centre and its health board are located on-reserve and provides various health services to the community.

Gitdisdzu/Xai'xais (Kitasoo)

Two distinct tribal organizations live in the town of Xłmduulxk (Klemtu): the Gitdisdzu Nation (Tsimshian), originally from Kitasu Bay, and the Xai'Xais Nation of Kynoc Inlet. The Gitdisdzu/Xai'xais people are the only permanent residents within the traditional territories of this First Nation, and they are members of the 'Wuìk̓inux̌v-Gitdisdzu-Nuxalk Tribal Council. The Gitdisdzu/Xai'xais Nursing Station serves the community. Staffed by a community health nurse, the station provides primary care services for urgent and emergent conditions. The nurse also promotes health and wellness by delivering maternal/child health programs, immunizations and disease and illness prevention programs. Gitdisdzu Nation's vision for their land and resources is to ensure that the wealth of forests, fish and wildlife – and the complexity of all life – will be here forever. For the Gitdisdzu and Xai'xais people to remain here forever, they must protect and enhance their culture and heritage. The Gitdisdzu and Xai'xais people acknowledge that they live in the modern world and will have the jobs, revenue and economic development to sustain the community.

Nuxalk

Pre-contact, Nuxalk people enjoyed a fully developed society, culture, economy and system of governance established within their four distinct territories of Nuxalkmc (Bella Coola Valley), Talyuumc (South Bentinck), Kw'alhnamc (Kwatna), and Ista-Suts'lhmc (Lower Dean, King Island, Dean and Kimsquit Rivers). Geological and historical research has proved that Nuxalk people have been in this region for over 14,000 years. Present-day Nuxalkmc are the descendants of peoples from these four territories who came together at the village of Q'umk'uts after the smallpox epidemic of 1862. This catastrophe reduced their population from around 30,000 to approximately 300 survivors. Today, Nuxalk have seven reserves in total, measuring about 2,025 ha; this is approximately 0.1 per cent of their ancestral territory and their population now numbers 1,787 people. Nuxalk is a nontreaty nation; they view their land as their legal inheritance from the Creator and they will continue to exercise their rights and title throughout their four territories as entrusted to them by their ancestors.

  • South Coast

South Coast sub-region: Coast Salish Nations
The Coast Salish Nations include First Nations living along the northwest Pacific coast in BC, from the Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island south to western Washington and northwestern Oregon in the United States. Although these Nations have distinct customs and traditions and speak various languages and dialects, they share strong ethnic and cultural ties. For example, unlike their northern neighbours, they have a patrilineal rather than matrilineal kinship system. The Coast Salish Peoples that reside in the Vancouver Coastal Region include the ɬaʔəmɛn, shíshálh, Skwxwú7mesh, səlili̓ lw̓ ətaʔɬ and xʷməθkʷəy̓əm.

ɬəʔamɛn (Tla'amin)

The ɬəʔamɛn is part of the Coast Salish Indigenous peoples inhabiting the western coast of BC, located north of Powell River. The traditional ɬəʔamɛn territory was along the northern part of the Sunshine Coast, extending along both sides of the Strait of Georgia. As a self-governing treaty nation, the Tla'amin Nation is a member government of the Naut'sa mawt Tribal Council. The Tla'amin Final Agreement seeks to bring many benefits to their people and future generations and to dramatically – and positively – impact their Nation's status.

Tla'amin Health provides health-care services to the Tla'amin Nation and First Nations between Saltery Bay and Lund and the surrounding area.

As an Accreditation Canada health-care service provider, Tla'amin Health's mission statement is:

Tla'amin Health continues to support and assist the Tla'amin people in creating a healthier community. We are committed to forming respectful partnerships that maintain and advance our health and wellbeing in an equitable and holistic manner.

shíshálh

The shíshálh First Nation is located on the scenic Sunshine Coast between Queens Reach in Jervis Inlet and Howe Sound on BC's south coast. The sashishalhem language, a Coast Salish dialect, is the traditional and distinct language of the shíshálh Nation.

In 1986, the shíshálh Nation became an independent self-governing body, a unique third order of the Government of Canada. The Sechelt Indian Government District holds jurisdiction over its lands and exercises the authority to provide services and education for its residents. Independent and self-governing, the shíshálh Nation chooses to participate in and is welcomed into FNHA governing structures.

shíshálh vision:

The shíshálh Nation is committed to innovation in program and service delivery designed to assist our members and community to achieve greater interdependence, wellness and self-sufficiency. Foundational to our shared work is the protection, promotion and practice of shíshálh culture, language and laws within our swiya. We proudly advance the work of those that have gone before us.

Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw

The Skwxwú7mesh Úxwumixw is a vibrant and dynamic Coast Salish Nation with a strong culture, rich history and bright future. Skwxwú7mesh Úxwumixw speak the Squamish language and are descendants of the Coast Salish Indigenous peoples who lived in the present-day Metro Vancouver area, Gibson's Landing and the Squamish River watershed. The modern era of Skwxwú7mesh Úxwumixw was declared on July 23, 1923, through the “Prayer of Amalgamation." This resulted from eight years of discussion and planning and a legal agreement signed by the 16 Skwxwú7mesh Chiefs. Yúustway Health Services provides service to Skwxwú7mesh Úxwumixw. With the traditional name Yúustway (meaning “taking care of each other''), this department strives to improve the health and wellness of its members by providing community health services and promoting and supporting access to all health services.

The Yúustway mission is:

Providing quality holistic care in a respectful, safe manner to ensure the health and wellness of all people by empowering our community and offering the tools for living in health from birth to end of life.

səlili̓ lw̓ ətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh)

The səlili̓ lw̓ ətaʔɬ is located on the north shore of səli̓ lw̓ ət (Burrard Inlet) and is surrounded by the City of North Vancouver. The səlili̓ lw̓ ətaʔɬ is one of many groups of Coast Salish peoples living in the Pacific Northwest, throughout BC, Washington and Oregon. The knowledge of the lands and waters in their territory has shaped this strong and growing Nation. Community members access services from the health team located on-reserve and through North Shore physicians, Vancouver Coastal Health's Lions Gate Hospital and community services. As of 2021, a new Tsleil-Waututh Nation Administration and Health Centre, a focal point for community and administrative affairs, is being built.

səlili̓ lw̓ ətaʔɬ's vision for the future is:

To maintain our identity as Tsleil-Wautt people, respecting our past and being mindful of our future, sharing a collective vision for a healthy, holistic community in harmony with our surroundings, guided by our spiritual, emotional, mental and physical teachings, thriving in our cultural excellence.

xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam)

The xʷməθkʷəy̓əm are traditional hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓-speaking people whose traditional territory occupies what is now Vancouver and its surrounding areas. Many members currently live on a small portion of their traditional territory, known as the Musqueam Indian Reserve, located south of Vancouver's Marine Drive near the mouth of the Fraser River. However, xʷməθkʷəy̓əm has always moved through their lands and waters for cultural, traditional and economic practices. The name xʷməθkʷəy̓əm is derived from the flowering plant, məθkʷəy̓, which grows in the Fraser River estuary. A xʷməθkʷəy̓əm's ancient history that has been passed on from generation to generation explains how they became known as the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm – People of the məθkʷəy̓ plant.

  • Southern Stl'atl'imx

Southern Stl’atl’imx sub-region
The St’át’imc are the original inhabitants of the territory that extends north to Churn Creek and to South French Bar; northwest to the headwaters of the Bridge River; north and east toward Hat Creek Valley; east to the Big Slide; south to the island on Harrison Lake and west of the Fraser River to the headwaters of the Lillooet River, Ryan River and Black Tusk. The St’át’imc Nation is made up of 11 distinct self-governing communities, including the Líl’wat Nation, a distinct Nation with linguistic, cultural, familial, and political ties to the St’át’imc Nation. Five out of 11 St’át’imc communities reside within the Vancouver Coastal Region. These five southern Stl’atl’imx communities include the N’Quatqua, Samahquam, Skátin, Xa’xtsa and the Lílwat Nation.​

N'Quatqua

Located near Anderson Lake and the community of D'Arcy in the southern Coast Mountains, the St̓át̓imcetsspeaking N'Quatqua community is part of the Stl'atl'imx Nation. As a member of the Lower Stl'atl'imx Tribal Council and the St'at'imc Chiefs Council, N'Quatqua collaborates with fellow St'at'imc First Nations on a variety of projects and initiatives to promote their physical, economic and social well-being. N'Quatqua is one of four nations served by the Southern Stl'atl'imx Health Society and has also developed many health services through its Health Station and Child and Family Development Centre.

The N'Quatqua vision statement is:

We will honour and respect our lands and resources through a holistic approach. We will be committed to a strong, loving, healthy and sustainable community that will have a consistent approach to education, culture and language. A self-governance system that will allow us to grow and meet our needs.

Samahquam

Samahquam Ucwalmicw is a St̓át̓imcetsspeaking southern Stl'atl'imx community near Lillooet Lake. The Nation is a member of the Lower Stl'atl'imx Tribal Council and is served by the Southern Stl'atl'imx Health Society. Through culture, language and familial ties, Samahquam are related to the Xa'xtsa and Skatin. As part of the St̓át̓imcets Ucwalmicw, Samahquam's vision is of a continuing and renewed relationship between the St'át'imc people (ucwalmicw) and the land (tmicw).

Skátin

The Skátin are Ucwalmícwtsspeaking St̓át̓imcets members of the Lower Stl'atl'imx Tribal Council. The community of Skátin is located on the east side of the Lillooet River, on the 19-Mile Post of the old Harrison- Lillooet wagon road (about 35 kilometres from the head of Harrison Lake). Before the arrival of European settlers, this community was considered the largest on the lower Lillooet River, comparable in size to the pre-contact village of present-day Líl̓wat. A moderately sized waterfall on the Lillooet River, about one kilometre north of the community, had a significant effect on the size of the community in prehistoric times and today. Now commonly known as Skookumchuck Rapids, the Ucwalmicwts call the waterfall qmemps (k-MEMP-sh). This site was and continues to be an excellent fishing spot. Located 60 kilometres east of the Southern Stl'atl'imx Health Society offices, the community is accessible by the Lillooet forestry service road; however, this road is subject to washouts and challenging winter driving conditions.

Xa'xtsa (Douglas)

The Xa'xtsa consists of the Port Douglas and Tipella communities. Xa'xtsa is part of the Sti'atl'imx linguistic group and is a member of the Sti'át'imc Chiefs Council and Lower Stl'atl'imx Tribal Council. Nearby, the Xa'xtsa is related to the Skatin and Samahquam communities through familial ties and culture and language. In 2015/16, the Nation completed its child care centre in Tipella and expanded its early childhood development offerings with the Southern Stl'atl'imx Health Society. In addition to early childhood development support, the Southern Stl'atl'imx Health Society ensures Xa'xtsa members have access to holistic health services that support the whole person in culturally appropriate ways and that consider the land, family, community and nation.

Xa'xtsa's vision:

Focuses to be the community that our members call home. We will create and maintain a healthy lifestyle-sufficiency, promotion of Ucwalmicwts and our culture. With infrastructure and recreation opportunity services, we will be a self-governing, self-supporting, equal and united community. We will be the eyes, the ears and the voice for the present and the future to protect our children; moreso, to create a secure path for all other future generations to come.

Lílw̓at

The Líl̓wat Nation, an Interior Salish People, is a progressive First Nations community located seven kilometres north of Pemberton. The Lil̓wat7úl's 797,131 ha traditional territory is about one-quarter of the size of Vancouver Island, extending south to Rubble Creek, north to Gates Lake, east to the Upper Stein Valley and west to the coastal inlets (Toba Inlet) of the Pacific Ocean. However, starting in the late 19th century, the Líl̓wat Nation was increasingly disenfranchised and confined to 10 reserves, totalling only 2,930 ha or 0.4 per cent of their traditional territory. Líl̓wat Nation is a member of the Lower Stl'atl'imx Tribal Council. The first language of the Líl̓wat, and other Interior Salish people, is Ucwalmícwts. The Líl̓wat Nation is the third largest First Nation in BC. The Pqusnalhcw Health Centre, located within the community, provides various health services. Today, the Nation continues to work towards selfdetermination and remains committed to the preservation of Líl̓wat lands, language and culture for future generations.

What We Do

Programs & Services
To learn more, click below for an overview of the FNHA Vancouver
Coastal Region Programs and Services developed along with the region’s
needs and priorities.
  • Regional Operations

The Regional Operations Team provides leadership as well as corporate and administrative expertise to support the Vancouver Coastal Region.
Some responsibilities of the team may include:
  • Community Projects & Development 
  • Financial Support 
  • Regional Planning Support
  • Regional Engagement & Governance

The Regional Engagement team provides support to the 14 Vancouver Coastal First Nations community’s interests and priorities. In partnership, the team works closely with strategic guidance from the VP of Regional Operations, Office of the Chief Operating Officer (CNCO), First Nations Health Council (FNHC), First Nations Health Directors Association (FNHDA) Shared Secretariat and other departments. 

Activities include engagement, service improvements/ integration, investment strategies and partnership implementation. The Community Engagement Coordinators (CEC) and other engagement team members provide communications, collaboration and planning support, in addition to resources and front-line support to Vancouver Coastal First Nations communities.​
  • Health Emergency Management

The Health Emergency Management (HEM) team facilitates FNHA Vancouver Coastal Regional activities in response to emergencies that may impact the health of the 14 BC First Nations communities we serve. Through collaboration and partnership with various federal, provincial, regional and non-governmental health organizations, Vancouver Coastal Regional HEM team will ensure that Vancouver Coastal Region communities will be effectively incorporated into emergency preparedness, prevention, response and recovery activities. Brent Tom, Vancouver Coastal Region’s Director, HEM is currently partnering with leadership and the regional team to add capacity.
  • Community Health & Wellness

Community Health & Wellness provides senior leadership and oversight to regional community health and wellness services including Environmental Public Health Services, Nursing Services, Primary Care, Public Health and Mental Wellness Substance Use.​
​Regional Update - Annual Report
To view the 2022-2023 regional update please watch this message
from Vice President - Regional Operations, Kim Brooks.

 

Latest Community Activities

In the Vancouver Coastal Region, we are dedicated to bringing services
closer to home.​

Graphic Recordings

At each Vancouver Coastal Caucus, we capture the transformational work being done in partnership within the region through graphic recordings. The Spring 2024 graphic recordings can be viewed below.​​​


What Guides Us​​​

Vancouver Coastal Region First Nations Health Governance Structure

The First Nations health governance structure established by First Nations, for First Nations, supports and enables decision-making and influence across the health system. As a result, First Nations are in a position to transform the healthcare system in BC. The RHWP will guide the work of the region as the FNHA contributes to this system transformation journey. The process and work is grounded in the 7 Directives, shared values, the BC First Nations Perspective on Health and Wellness and guiding principles.

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Vancouver Coastal Partnership Accord

The Vancouver Coastal Partnership Accord offers integrated, culturally competent and effective First Nations health plan.

 Contact

For engagement or
communications requests
please email:

FNHA Vancouver Coastal
Region Communications

For Health Emergency
Management support please
email:
Health Emergency
Management

For Environmental Public
Health Support please email:

Vancouver Coastal
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Related Links

Vancouver Coastal
Regional Caucus
To learn more about the Vancouver Coastal Regional
Caucus, visit our

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