More than 100 members of the n. St'át'imc Nation and guests gathered in Lillooet on June 26 with anticipation, hope and celebration as part of the opening ceremony for the new n. St'át'imc Primary Care Centre (n. SPCC).

The opening ceremony for the n. SPCC saw Elders, Chiefs, community members and partners, including the FNHA, Ministry of Health, Interior Health and others gather to celebrate the creation of a new primary care centre that reflects n. St'át'imc culture, traditions and values. The opening celebration was grounded in n. St'át'imc ceremony and culture with a performance by traditional n. St'át'imc Bear Dancers.

The n. SPCC is a partnership between the n. St'át'imc Nation, FNHA and the Ministry of Health under the auspices of the First Nations-led Primary Care Initiative (FNPCI). It's a community-driven, Nation-based project that will improve and increase access to culturally safe health services by supporting the Nation-led establishment of 15 new First Nations Primary Care Centres (FNPCC) throughout the province.

n. St'át'imc community members, like many First Nations people in BC, continue to face inequity in their health care services. Remoteness, hospital closures, and culturally unsafe care are some of the challenges when accessing health care in and near Lillooet. With the opening of this centre, the n. St'át'imc Nation takes back control of a fundamental and important part of their overall health and wellness in a key act of self-determination.

The n. SPCC will tailor services to meet the unique needs of the community and support clients to take charge of their health journey in a culturally safe setting through a team-based care approach and strong partnerships. The centre is the fruition of the community's vision, and the culmination of many years of hard work and dedication by the Chiefs, Health Directors, and staff of the six n. St'at'imc Nation communities.  It essentially repatriates health and wellness back into their communities. People like Chief Sid Scotchman worked towards opening the centre to uplift the community and bring the centre to life.

As a part of the FNPCI, the centre brings health care services closer to home for First Nations communities in BC. It'll allow community members to stay in their community and receive culturally appropriate care without worrying about long travel times or fears of Indigenous-specific racism.

Clients can access traditional wellness, mental health, wellness navigation and outreach services, with primary care and allied health services becoming available once recruitment and staffing is complete. The wrap-around health and traditional wellness services at the n. SPCC are the result of a dedicated local team. Many of the n. SPCC staff are from or have extensive experience working within n. St'át'imc and Indigenous communities.

The n. SPCC provides care from two locations in Lillooet:

• n. St'át'imc Primary Care Centre (Clinical Office) 296 Main Street, Lillooet, BC,

• n. St'át'imc Primary Care Centre (Groups and Cultural Programs) 107 7th Ave, Lillooet, BC

Community members can learn more and book their appointments at:

Website: www.nstatimcprimarycare.ca

Email: n.statimc@fnha.ca

Phone: 250-256-7017