Office of Indigenous Health
Last updated on September 26, 2022The Office of Indigenous Health (the Office) aims to improve the health and well-being of Indigenous peoples in B.C. The Office provides an Indigenous lens to strategic priorities, legislation, policy and program development in the Ministry of Health, as well as other ministries where appropriate.
The Office works collaboratively with the First Nations Health Authority, the regional health authorities, and the Provincial Health Services Authority to address the needs of Indigenous peoples during service planning, policy development and to promote culturally safe and appropriate service delivery. The Office also collaborates with key Indigenous partners and organizations such as Métis Nation BC and the BC Association of Aboriginal Friendship Centres.
Vision
First Nations and Indigenous individuals, families, and communities in B.C. are healthy and well.
Mandate
To champion systemic change that promotes health and wellness for all First Nations and Indigenous peoples in B.C. through advocacy, knowledge exchange, and partnerships.
Priorities
- Uphold the commitments in the British Columbia Tripartite Framework Agreement on First Nation Health Governance with a particular focus on improving mental health and substance use services, access to primary care, maternal-child services, elders care, the cancer patient journey, prevention and health promotion.
- Promote and support cultural safety and humility across the health system.
- Work across the ministry, health system and with Indigenous partner organizations to develop tools that connect data with effective health service planning to achieve positive outcomes.
- Track B.C.’s implementation of the health-related Calls to Action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
- Support the Ministry of Health's implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
Partnerships & Collaborations
The Office of Indigenous Health maintains strong partnerships with health authorities, other health partners and Indigenous organizations to support improved Indigenous health outcomes in B.C.
Health Authorities
Each of the health authorities in British Columbia has an Indigenous/Aboriginal health team that works across their organization to improve service delivery to Indigenous people by implementing the health authority’s Indigenous/Aboriginal health plan and regional partnership accord. The regional partnership accords reflect the joint commitment between the health authority and their local First Nations to create a more integrated, culturally appropriate, safe, and effective health system.
- Provincial Health Services Authority
- Fraser Health
- Interior Health
- Island Health
- Northern Health
- Vancouver Coastal Health
Partners
Guided by the First Nations Health Plan, the Tripartite First Nations Health Plan, and the British Columbia Tripartite Framework Agreement on First Nation Health Governance (the Framework Agreement), the Office of Indigenous Health is working collaboratively with the First Nations Health Council, the First Nations Health Authority and First Nations and Inuit Health, Health Canada to implement the Framework Agreement and other initiatives to improve the health and wellness of Indigenous people in B.C.
First Nations Health Authority
The First Nations Health Authority is a health service delivery organization created and mandated to support B.C. First Nations to implement a number of guiding agreements seeking to elevate B.C. First Nations health outcomes through the creation of a more effective health care system.
First Nations Health Council
The First Nations Health Council (FNHC) is a provincial-level organization that is representative of and accountable to B.C. First Nations. FNHC membership is regionally-driven by First Nations. It is composed of fifteen members, with three members appointed by each of the five regions in B.C.
Department of Indigenous Services Canada
The Department of Indigenous Services Canada works with First Nations, Inuit, other federal departments, and provincial and territorial partners to support healthy First Nations and Inuit individuals, families and communities. In British Columbia, the programs and services run and managed by the Department (previously the First Nations and Inuit Health Branch, Health Canada) were transitioned to the First Nations Health Authority in October 2013.
Métis Nation British Columbia
Métis Nation British Columbia develops and enhances opportunities for B.C.'s Métis people by implementing culturally relevant social and economic programs and services among the 37 Métis Chartered Communities. The Government of BC first signed the Métis Nation Relationship Accord in 2006 and updated it in 2016, renewing the commitment to work together for the betterment of Métis people throughout British Columbia.
BC Association of Aboriginal Friendship Centres
The BC Association of Aboriginal Friendship Centres is the umbrella association for 25 friendship centres which provide a number of services to urban Aboriginal people throughout the province.