​​​​​​​​​​​Overview • Bringing Care Closer to Home • Community Inspired Strategies and Solutions • The Path Forward​ • Join the First Nations Wellness Advisory Group

Overview

Wholistic Integrated Continuum of Care (WICC) is focused on developing better systems and relationships for bringing care closer to home. Our vision comes directly from community engagement; we are listening and want to learn more from First Nations people in BC.

In 2022, the WICC team engaged with First Nations communities in BC on gaps in long-term and continuing care. The intention of the engagement was to learn if current community health systems are working and if not, what would improve the system.

The goal of engagement was to better understand future care needs and priorities across the lifespan. The documented learnings from this engagement were then validated across the province.

For more details on the engagement, see the news story​ and reports:

• Enagagement Report 2022
• Engagement and Validation Report 2023​​

​​Listen to the messag​​e from cultural and language Knowledge K​eepers Jo-Anne Gottfriedson of Tk̓emlúps te Secwépemc and Shirley David of Gitxsan and Wet'suwet'en as they explain what wholistic integrated continuum of care means to them and their families living in BC. 

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• Knowledge Keepers

Weytk ren skwest es Kiye’y7e Qwisp Nu’xwenxw ell

Jo-Anne Gottfriedson Tk’emlu’psemc te Secwepemc

I am extremely proud to be Tk’emlu’psemc. I am a proud mother of two daughters, a traditionally adopted son, and a grandmother of five grandsons and a beautiful granddaughter; I also have five step children and many adopted children, grandchildren from various Nations across the country and U.S. I am married to Reverend James Isbister from the Cree Nation, Ahtahakakoop Sandy Lake, Saskatchewan.

Formally educated at Simon Fraser University (BGS and Post Baccalaureate Programs graduate), Certified Provincial Adult Instructor/Teacher- I am a member in good standing with the BC College of Teachers-BC Adult Instructor Certified, Language Proficiency Diploma SFU.

I credit my ‘traditional’ education to the persistence and commitment of my parents, grandparents and various other elders/teachers that I have met along my journey. My accomplishment and work are testimony to my belief that formal education compliments ‘traditional’ education, and that the traditions, beliefs, teaching and language of our ancestors is just as, or more important than any other education First Nations can achieve.  

I believe in the traditional approach to teaching, which is holistic, and combines both traditional and modern approaches to passing on the language and culture. My commitment and respect for my culture and traditions is of the utmost importance in all aspects of my life, and I am proud of my family support and commitment to maintaining this along with me; as I not only teach it, but live it with my family, community and nation.

Hi, my name is Shirley David, and I am Gitxsan and Wet’suwet’en. I hold a Masters of Indigenous Social Work (MISW), and a Bachelor of Indigenous Social Work (BISW), in addition to being an Addictions Counselor, an Aboriginal Life Skills Facilitator and having my Aboriginal Trauma Certificate.

I work for the Indian Residential School Survivors Society as a Resolution Health Support Worker (RHSW) and Aboriginal Therapist. I regularly counsel residential school survivors, their families or intergenerational survivors. ​

Family is vital to me, and having a wellness plan and keeping all aspects of my life in balance is something I value and prioritize in my wellness plan. I like to promote wellness and am an active participant in my community. I am a Pow Wow Traditional Dancer. My favourite activity is walking. I attend and participate in Spiritual and Traditional Ceremonies and Gatherings near me. In my spare time, I like to bead and sew. 

“When we can get past the darkness, our journey to recovery and healing become a little easier.” – Shirley David 

Dr. Garry Gottfriedson, Secwépemc knowledge holder, poet, and cultural leader, advocates for language preservation, education and the arts. Speaker in Secwepemctsin and Cree languages, he combines land-based teaching with creative writing. Born into a ranching family in Kamloops, BC, Dr. Gottfriedson holds an MA in education from Simon Fraser University and has studied creative writing at the Naropa Institute. His works include Clinging to Bone (2019), Chaos Inside Thunderstorms (2014), Skin Like Mine (2010), Whiskey Bullets (2006), Glass Tepee (2002), In Honor of Our Grandmothers: Imprints of Cultural Survival (1994), 100 Years of Contact (1990), and the children's book Painted Pony (2005).

Bringing Care Closer to Home

There were four main findings we heard about bringing care closer to home.

Equity = Riverbed

The riverbed represents equity and is the foundation for health and wellness. The riverbed is essential to contain the river, the life within the river and the canoe. The riverbed represents basic human needs or social determinants of health. We heard that housing, food, money to pay bills and transportation were generally insufficient yet foundational to health and wellness. 

Investment = Water

Water represents investment. The smaller the amount of water in the riverbed, the more restricted and difficult the journey. We heard that many communities are frustrated by the small, disconnected inaccessible puddles and that there is more opportunity in a river full of water.

Capacity = Ca​​noe

The canoe, paddlers and paddles reflects the community strengths. The canoe is important to transform funding into positive outcomes. In the canoe, there is representation of life from womb to spirit. All members are​​ valued on the wellness journey. 

Paddles represent the mental, emotional, spiritual and physical aspects of the wellness journey. How members are able to move these paddles and canoe through the water is affected by the environment, wind and currents.

Connections = Environment, Wind, Rocks and Currents

The environment, win​d, rocks and currents represent connections outside the community and how these impact the canoe to move forward easily or with challenges. Rocks represent racism within the health care system.

This component was added during validation (phase two) as many disturbing experiences were shared. Hitting a rock can stop the wellness journey in the same way that accessing unsafe care results in no care being accessed. ​

Where communities described strong connections with their regional health authority and other nonprofit organizations, the system supported pathways towards seamless, culturally safe and accessible care. ​​​

Community Inspired Strate​​gies and Solutions​

The inner circle depicts the individual / family on their wellness journey from womb to spirit wrapped in the strong value of care close to home. The second circle surrounds the individual / family with four guiding objectives to support care close to home. Th​e outer ring of paddles indicate how partner collaboration is essential to provide appropriate and accessible health programs and services.​

First Nations people and communities clearly expressed that wholistic care includes bringing care closer to home. During validation we heard more about:

• Anti-​​Indigenous racism in health care
  
• Greater financial costs for rural and remote communities
  
• Gaps in staff retention related to inequities of salaries across the health sectors
• No housing for health staff in isolated communities​​
  

The Path Forw​ard

The path forward includes more discussions to determine what wholistic and inclusive care closer to home looks like in First Nations communities across BC, including Caregiver Support, Transitions in Care, home health policy, Wholistic Wellness Centres, and 2SLGBTQQIA support. 

3. Accessing safer care

 

Relationships and pathways are essential to support access and seamless care, so that when care is needed outside of the community, the length of time is as brief as possible. We need to hear what relationships and pathways would make the difference to get you home sooner and stay home lo​nger. 

4. Wholistic wellness center 

We heard the need for a multi-use building for short term support, no matter the age or reason. To meet this need, we seek to learn more about the services that would best support care closer to home. Most importantly, we need to understand how these services should be provided in this setting.​ 

5. 2S/LGBTQQIA+​ care 

People who are two spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and/or gender expansive, queer and/or questioning, inte​​rsex and asexual are members of every community and have rights to access health services. How can we support inclusivity in accessing care closer to home for people who identify as 2S/​LGBTQQIA+? How accessible is gender affirming care and what supports would keep people home?​

First Nations Wellness Advisory ​​

Founded in August 2024, the First Nations Wellness Advisory (FNWA) meets monthly to ground our work in First Nations perspectives, traditional knowledge and community wisdom. Through collective knowledge-sharing, the FNWA focuses on enhancing access to safer health care and supporting family and friend caregivers for First Nations people living within their communities. The Advisory team brings together community members with different lived experiences including Elders, youth, family caregivers, spiritual and cultural support across all five regions in BC.

• First Nations Wellness Advisory Bios

Jared Basil is a cultural Framework Educator with the Social Sector of the Ktunaxa Nation. His work consists of cultural safety and humility trainings, presentations, as well as continuous educational opportunities derived from the Nation’s Social Sectors Practice Framework. In conjunction with education, he continues to work with health partners to develop culturally safe spaces with the hope and intention of impacting and benefitting future generations. His work also reaches education institutions creating meaningful opportunities to learn about cultural safety, creating long lasting relationships that translate to strong, healthy conducive working partnerships moving forward.

Norman H Alexis is a Communications Officer with Tl'azt'en Nation and a Director on the Board of Tanizul Timber Ltd. With over a decade of experience in emergency management, payroll and benefits administration, Norman brings a deep understanding of First Nations community needs to his work. He is committed to advancing health and wellness, both through strategic communication and leadership in emergency preparedness. Norman is proud to contribute his expertise to the Wholistic Integrated Continuum of Care project, supporting transformative initiatives for First Nations communities.

Carrie Reid lives and works out of Qualicum First Nation on Vancouver Island. She has been working in the helping field for a long time. She is a registered art therapist, teacher, gramma, and she loves walking in the woods. Carrie has been working with traditional medicines for about 50 years and she lives a very full cultural life.​​

Reneé Morven is from Gitlaxt’aamiks, Nisga’a Nation. She lives in Prince Rupert with her fiancé and together they share four adult children. She has consistently advocated for her daughter’s medical and physical needs, as her daughter lives with complex needs. She also supports families who have family members who live with serious and persistent mental illness. She is passionate about working with wild medicine and plants that heal.

Jenny Damstrom is the Community Health Nurse (LPN) for ʔaqa̓m, a community of the Ktunaxa Nation in southeastern BC. She is also an elected board member for BCCNM (2024-2027) and an appointed Governance Committee member for BCCNM. She is honoured to work and play in the unceded territory of the Ktunaxa people. Jenny is a member of the Oneida Nation of the Thames (Turtle clan, mother) and Eastern European (Slovakian and Polish, father) ancestry. She is also a wife and mother to three grown boys (27, 25 and 21). Jenny is an advocate for standardized health care systems in all Indigenous communities, that are community driven. She wants to ensure health care providers are providing trauma informed care to Indigenous community members and protecting the health and safety for all.

She is passionate about social advocacy, specifically harms reduction, menstrual equity, and food security. In her spare time, you can find Jenny with a can of paint and a paint brush, refinishing furniture or seeking solace in the woods.

Janet Hanuse is a member of the Gwa’sala-‘Nak’waxda’xw Nations and the ‘Wuikinukv Nations. Born and raised in rural Port Hardy, BC, Janet has grown accustomed to limited access to services, resulting in her passion for innovative approaches to increasing access to meaningful program delivery and authentic leadership. Janet’s inspiration for resilience derives from the untold experiences of her parents who were both residential school survivors. Janet lives and breathes each day in honour of her ancestors, family, and future generations. She previously worked with the Province to deliver funding to all First Nations across BC to support skills training and post-secondary education in community. Later, Janet worked at the Royal BC Museum as the Vice President for Engagement and UNDRIP Implementation to support the organization in aligning its practices and policies with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. In 2011, she received a bachelor’s degree with a major in Psychology from the University of Victoria and in July of 2024, she completed her master’s degree in Executive Leadership at Royal Roads University.

Corina Clement is a daughter, sister, aunt, mother, friend and a Nazko First Nation member currently living and doing good work in the beautiful unceded territory of the Nazko First Nation. She is honoured to have three children, and many others that she helps. Corina works as the Wellness Coordinator for her Nation at the Nazko Health Centre. She also sits on the board at the Quesnel Season’s House, and is an advocate for harm reduction, mental health and wellness, and provides support for substance use. Corina is very passionate about supporting her community, and coordinating traditional wellness events, and supports that include low barrier supports. She also initiated the highly successful harm reduction walks through Quesnel & Nazko. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her family and children. You can often find Corina out on the land exploring the outdoors and connecting with nature.

Cassandra Puckett is a seasoned professional with a Master of Social Work degree, specializing in a wholistic Indigenous worldview. She brings extensive leadership experience in health and wellness, driving transformative change by fostering culturally safe, trauma-informed approaches, building collaborative partnerships, and advancing equity and inclusion. Cassandra combines traditional knowledge with modern strategies to strengthen program development, policy creation, and capacity building. Deeply committed to reconciliation, she uses her expertise to champion Indigenous self-determination and wholistic well-being.​

Annette Loe is from northern BC and carries Northern Dené, Norwegian, and French roots. Though she has lived as a guest in the urban land of the sylix with her two adult sons for over 10 years due to medical needs, she remains grounded in her Indigenous ways and deep connection to the land. With a university degree and nearly 30 years in BC government, she now offers support where it’s needed through her broad knowledge and balanced experience. A proud mom, caregiver, mentor, artist, and more, Annette values family, strong relationships, and healing through Ancestral Ways of Being. She’s passionate about sharing Indigenous strengths and wisdom to foster unity and meaningful change.

Jean M Brown is a registered Splatsin member. Jean has two daughters and a son, six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Jean has been employed with Splatsin Health since 2019 as an Outreach & Mentor, and now as a Traditional Wellness Elder. Jean co-facilitates an Indigenous 12 Step Wellbriety program on a weekly basis and organizes harm reduction workshops. She also brings in resource people to provide information and support for grief and loss due to opioid overdoses and healing on-the-land programs, and helps organize National Aboriginal Addictions Awareness Week. Jean is a board member of Le7teMelamen Society which includes 16/17 Shuswap bands. ​

Kelley Williams is a Cree Métis woman with experience supporting health programs for Nations in northwest and central BC. She has a strong commitment to improving health outcomes for Indigenous communities. Kelley is excited to belong to this amazing committee that was formed to serve the people.​

Equiiti Strategic partners with Elder Maria Reed (Waabigekek Ikwe - White Hawk Woman) to support cultural training, reconciliation work, and wholistic wellness for teams and organizations. An Anishinaabe Elder with over 12 years of experience, Maria brings deep knowledge, guidance, and a commitment to fostering understanding, healing and connection. With ancestry from Batchewana First Nation, Métis, and the Sámi people of Sweden, she offers a unique perspective on Indigenous knowledge, cultural safety, and community-building. As a guide, advisor, speaker, and trainer, Maria helps organizations create inclusive, mindful spaces where people can do their best work.

Dalena Beitel is a citizen of the Métis Nation of BC and a health and administration leadership professional. She recently graduated from the UBC Indigenous Health and Administration Leadership Program (2024). With over 30 years of experience working with community members, she currently supports patients by providing access to traditional cultural practices, Elders, and community resources, as well as discharge planning. In addition to her clinical role, Dalena offers cultural sensitivity training to health care professionals, promoting respect and understanding to improve patient care and interactions. Her work focuses on bridging Western health care and traditional Indigenous knowledge to foster more inclusive and wholistic care for Indigenous communities.​

éntsa sTsícwaľus, st’at’ímclhkan, tsaľálhemclhkan, liľwat7úllhkan. Darla John is from the St’at’imc Nation and lives in her home community of Lil’wat. She has worked in a supporting role with her communities since 2002 and with FNHA since 2016. She brings knowledge from her work and some of her own personal experiences to share and support the WICC.

Mellissa Craghtten works as a counsellor for the Cowichan Tribes. She is a member of the Oneida Nation of the Thames in Ontario. However, she has lived on the unceded Coast Salish territory since childhood. Mellissa is very grateful to the Coast Salish people for accepting her in their Nations. Mellissa is currently working on upgrading her education to obtain a Master of Counselling degree. After graduation, she plans to continue working for the Cowichan Tribes. Mellissa is invested in social justice and contributing to the wellness of the community members she serves.​

Brittany Vivier – Vancouver Coastal Region 

Christine MacIntosh – Northern Region 

Nadine (Montah) McGee – Vancouver Island Region ​

If you would like to share your perspectives and priorities to advance and support access to safe care and family/friend caregiver support within First Nations communities in BC, please contact us at WICC@fnha.ca​. ​