Community-led learning is a key part of the Northern Health (NH) Indigenous Health (IH) Cultural Safety and Anti-Indigenous Racism Education Strategy that supports enacting recommendation #20 of the In Plain Sight Report: "to refresh an approach to anti-racism, cultural safety, and trauma-informed training for health care workers.”
The Education Strategy allows for connection to cultural safety learning for Northern Health staff and medical staff throughout their employment, offering Northern Health leaders and service providers to learn from First Nations, Inuit, and Métis people.
First Nation, Métis, and Inuit communities are encouraged to apply for the Community Led-Learning Grant to provide information and resources to Northern Health staff.
Indigenous Health wishes to support community-led learning by offering support for First Nation, Inuit, and Métis communities to share and build relationships and understanding with Northern Health staff, clinicians and medical staff. The intention of this work is to learn about First Nation, Inuit, and Métis people, from whom we recognize we have much to learn.
We are grateful for the opportunity to sit as students of your communities to learn how we can better support safety, respect and understanding in our facilities by supporting Indigenous traditions and wellness practices. Through community-led learning our staff can be better advocates and allies in creating holistic safe care experiences now and into the future.
Communities can apply to the different funding projects:
Large regional projects
A large regional event might include more than one community and be held in a larger location in any one of the three sub regions in the Northwest, Northeast or Northern Interior Health Service Delivery Areas (HSDAs). It can have aspects of in-person and virtual, if deemed appropriate and possible. It might include new and innovative approaches that support Northern Health staff in better understanding First Nation, Métis, and Inuit communities and their people.
- 1 grant per sub region to a maximum $30,000 per project is available ($10,000 each year) over a three-year term.
Lunch and learns
These can be virtual or face to face, and can be information sharing and include, but are not limited to, cultural protocol practices, successful programs, or showcase excellence in Indigenous-led services and Indigenous health champions and leaders.
- 6 grants per sub region are available to a maximum of $750 per lunch and learn.
Local learning
This can be learning that occurs by invitation to a local community and occur on the land. It can include, but is not limited to, learning through such things as medicine walks, discussion around traditional wellness practices, tours of a health centre, and knowledge sharing around supports that are offered and how health staff can provide further supports.
- 2 grants per sub region are available to a maximum of $10,000 per project.
Applications are now open!
- Application form
- Apply by September 15, 2024
Support
The Indigenous Health team recognizes that many Nation communities are already sharing through educational opportunities with Northern Health staff. This work can now be supported by the Indigenous Health Education team who will walk alongside and support community.
The Indigenous health education team members can meet with communities' who have opportunities to share to:
- Offer support and guidance to help shape your ideas and application.
- Share templates with examples of written resources/supports.
- Provide a list of project examples to share with interested communities.
- Determine other Indigenous Health supports that might be needed. e.g.: IH Communications.
- Assist in coordinating Northern Health invitations and attendance.
On behalf of the Northern First Nations Health Partnership Committee (NFNHPC), Northern Health (NH) and the First Nations Health Authority (FNHA), wellness funding awards are being offered up to $8,000 to support projects aimed at improving the health and well-being of First Nations communities.
Wellness Grant criteria:
Projects must support community based initiatives that focus on holistic health and wellness and one or more of the following priorities:
- Cultural safety
- Primary care
- Mental wellness and substance use
- Population and public health: Community wellness activities
- Traditional wellness
Preference will be given to projects that:
- Support collaboration by encouraging different groups to work together towards a common goal such as community members (youth, families, Elders, etc.), health staff (Band, NH, FNHA), physicians, and other communities.
- Support health and well-being by combining Indigenous Wellness approaches with current health care approaches.
- Build healthy relationships and enhance how people connect with each other, their families and their community (e.g. community holiday gatherings).
- Capacity building and training of local First Nations and Indigenous staff.
Eligible applicants must be:
- Located within Northern BC (Northern Health and First Nations Health Authority Northern Region)
- A First Nations community or organization
Applications are open for the 2024/2025 year
Applicants must complete the application form and submit by mail, email or fax to:
Northern Health
Indigenous Health
500 - 299 Victoria Street
Prince George, BC, V2L 5B8
Indigenous.Health@northernhealth.ca
250-645-3144
250-645-8095
On behalf of Indigenous Health, Northern Health we are offering Wellness awards up to $5,000 to support projects aimed at improving the health and well-being of Métis communities.
To be eligible for these funding awards, applicants must be:
- Located within Northern BC (Northern Health)
- A Métis community or organization
Projects must support community-based initiatives that focus on holistic health and wellness and one or more of the following priorities:
- Mental wellness
- Harm reduction and education
- Primary care and community wellness activities
- Traditional and cultural wellness
Preference will be given to projects that:
- Support collaboration by encouraging different groups to work together towards a common goal such as community members (youth, families, Elders, etc.), health staff (NH), physicians, other communities.
- Support health and well-being by combining Indigenous Wellness approaches with current health care approaches.
- Build healthy relationships and enhance how people connect with each other, their families and their community (e.g. community holiday gatherings).
- Capacity building and training of communities and Indigenous staff.
Applications are open for the 2024/2025 year
Northern Health recognizes that Northern BC communities are unique with different health and wellness priorities. IMAGINE Community Grants exist to support projects that address community-led health and wellness initiatives while improving the well-being of all Northern BC residents.
Grants are available for a maximum of $10,000.
Projects should seek to support community-based initiatives that focus on one or more of the following health and wellness priorities:
- Mental wellness
- Community diversity
- Harm reduction
- Climate health action
- Food security
- Active living
- Community safety
Preference will be given to projects that:
- Support partnerships and build relationships therefore will encourage different groups to work together, connecting people to each other and their community.
- Identify a community need and will address something that is missing that could benefit the community and its residents to improve health and well-being.
- Reduce health inequities and improve access to supports and resources for better health for all.
- Build capacity which will develop and strengthen skills and resources within the community.
- Last and thereofore have a good chance of living on after the funding ends.
Learn more about IMAGINE Grants.