Unceded Territories of the St'át'imc Nation| Lillooet – First Nations people, families and Elders living in and near Lillooet will now have access to wellness services grounded in St'át'imc culture, language and values, with the opening of the northern St'át'imc Primary Care Centre (n. SPCC).
“Our new primary care centre holds a different aspiration—health and wellness practices that are rooted in our ancestral knowledge,"
said Chief Justin Kane, Ts'kw'aylaxw First Nation. “This is important as it helps to mitigate the impacts of colonialism and helps us to return to our wholistic and traditional healing practices. Having an appropriate, safe and accessible space for our members to reach out for their health needs is important to our wellness."
The n. SPCC opening celebration marks the latest milestone in the journey to provide primary health care and wellness to all St'át'imc Nation members. Through a team-based care approach and strong partnerships, 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. 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.
"We have some work to do to provide safe services that help individuals meet their health priorities and goals",
said Ernest Armann, St'át'imc Nation Representative, Interior Region Nation Executive. “This is our opportunity to do better and ensure we can address the wellness gaps in BC. Our services and service providers need to balance conventional healthcare and traditionally based healing to move forward in a meaningful way that works for our communities and is governed by our people."
The n. SPCC will be interim operated by the FNHA, governed by representatives from the six communities of the St'át'imc Nation.
This new First Nations Primary Care Centre (FNPCC) is a partnership between the n. St'át'imc Nation, FNHA and Ministry of Health. The n. SPCC is part of the Province and FNHA's
First Nations-led Primary Health Care Initiative, which is intended to improve and increase access to culturally safe health services by supporting the Nation-led establishment of 15 new FNPCCs throughout the province.
"This centre will offer safe, reliable, and high-quality care grounded in St'át'imc values and ways of being",
said Lisa Montgomery-Reid, Vice-President, Regional Operations, Interior Region. “It will be a space free from racism and systemic inequities, supporting healing and belonging."
“Our shared vision at FNHA is to support healthy, self-determining and vibrant First Nations children, families and communities in B.C,"
said
Monica McAlduff, CEO, First Nations Health Authority. “The northern St'át'imc Primary Care Centre is the second First Nations-led primary care centre to open in the Interior Region and one of 15 centres open or in development across the province in partnership with First Nations and the BC Ministry of Health. These centres are helping to bring culturally safe health services closer to home and represent an important step on our shared journey towards a safe and sustainable health-care system."
This announcement follows the 2019 opening of the Lu'ma Medical Centre in Vancouver, the 2022 opening of the All Nations Healing House in Williams Lake and the 2023 ground-breaking ceremony at Éyameth (formerly the Sts'ailes Community Care Campus), in Harrison Mills. It also follows the 2024 opening of the Kwakwaka'wakw FNPCC on Gilford Island, the es zumin' Primary Care Centre opening in February 2025 and the grand opening of theʔuukʷinkpanač West Coast Primary Care Initiative on Vancouver Island in May 2025.
The six communities in the n. St'át'imc Nation are as follows:
- Tsalá̓ lh (Seton Lake Band)
- Sekw̓elw̓ ás (Cayoose Creek Band)
- T̓ít̓q̓et (Lillooet Indian Band)
- Xwísten (Bridge River Indian Band)
- Ts̓kw̓aylaxw (Pavilion Indian Band)
- Xaxli'p (Fountain First Nations)
Learn More:
Media Contacts:
Media Relations
778-984-5962
media@fnha.ca
