How the FNHA is Reimagining Indigenous Healthcare in BC
Hello readers! This week’s blog will be focusing on the First Nations Health Authority (FNHA) and its implications for improving health experiences and outcomes for Indigenous populations in BC.
In recent years, there’s been a growing recognition that the persistent health disparities faced by Indigenous peoples in Canada can’t be fully understood or addressed without confronting the colonial history they stem from. Unfortunately, this history isn’t limited to the past; they're consequences continuously perpetuate generations of systemic violence, cultural erasure, and ongoing exclusion from institutions like healthcare.
For Indigenous communities in British Columbia, the effects of this legacy are clear. First Nations populations experience disproportionately high rates of chronic illness, mental health struggles, and substance use disorders (Allbaugh, 2024; Cole et al., 2025). These disparities are largely linked to colonial trauma and are worsened by a healthcare system built largely without Indigenous voices or values.
However, amid this challenge, an alternative health model is emerging, one that offers not only hope but tangible solutions. At the center of this shift is the First Nations Health Authority (FNHA), Canada’s first and only provincial Indigenous health governance body, which is transforming what culturally safe, community-led healthcare can look like.
To understand the FNHA’s relevance, we need to revisit colonial history, which didn’t end with the Canadian government’s formal apology in 2008 - it’s ongoing. Policies like the residential school system, which forcibly removed Indigenous children from their families starting in the late 1800s, inflicted trauma that manifests across generations. Survivors of these institutions endured abuse, starvation, and the loss of language and culture, violence that has left a psychological imprint on many Indigenous communities today (Reynolds, 2021).
Colonial attitudes remain embedded in our systems, as mainstream healthcare, for instance, is fundamentally built upon a Eurocentric definition of health, one that often ignores or dismisses Indigenous approaches grounded in balance, land, community, and spirituality. As a result, many Indigenous patients report experiences of racism, neglect, and miscommunication when seeking care.
Many researchers have examined methods in bridging the healthcare gap. One promising answer lies in the concept of cultural continuity, the idea that connecting to ancestral traditions and community identity can actively protect and improve health. Research has shown that Indigenous communities with strong cultural practices, language use, and governance structures often have lower rates of youth suicide and chronic illness (Chandler & Laldone, 2008).
Although cultural continuity has been studied at the community level, less attention has been paid to how it might work within formal systems like healthcare, which is where the FNHA comes in.
One of the FNHA’s standout initiatives is the All Nations Healing House (ANHH) in Williams Lake, BC. It’s a primary care center that offers wraparound care that includes traditional healing, land-based activities, mental health support, and even transportation for those living in remote areas.
Here, healthcare isn’t simply about standard medical treatment. It’s about holistically addressing every element of health and wellbeing by provisioning activities such as sewing circles, drum-making workshops, and medicine walks activities that strengthen identity and reconnect people with their culture.
At its core, the ANHH was built around strong partnerships with local First Nations representatives, ensuring the services truly reflect the voices of the community members they serve.
Feedback from Indigenous Community Members
Overall, the response of the FNHA’s health services have been overwhelmingly positive. Indigenous patients have described the feeling of being seen and treated with dignity, contrasting it against poor experiences in mainstream health institutions.
Chief Lennon Solomon of Yunesit’in recounted a devastating story of his father-in-law being blamed by staff for “waiting too long” to seek care at a hospital. In contrast, he praised ANHH: “They treat you like a person here, and that’s all every First Nation has ever wanted” (FNHA, 2024)
Another community member, Debbie Hassan, shared how she is able to receive support for her diabetes, anxiety, and everyday challenges, all under one healthcare institution (FNHA, 2024).
Conclusively, the FNHA’s philosophy isn’t just about service delivery, it’s about reconciliation in action. By embedding Indigenous knowledge, leadership, and healing practices into the very structure of healthcare, the FNHA is showing how systems can evolve to heal those they once harmed. They point toward a future where Indigenous people can access care that respects their identities, revitalises their traditions, and promotes true wellness.
Thanks for reading!
By Angela Cai (she/her/hers) | Blog Committee Member
SOURCES:
Allbaugh , L. J., George, G., Klengel, T., Profetto, A., Marinack, L., O’Malley, F., & Ressler, K. J. (2024, March 13). Children of trauma survivors: Influences of parental posttraumatic stress and child-perceived parenting. Journal of Affective Disorders. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0165032724004828?utm_source=chatgpt.com c
Cai, Angela. “Bridging Gaps in Indigenous Health: Assessing the Impact of Culturally Restorative Primary Care .” 2025. The University of British Columbia, unpublished paper.
Chandler, M. J., & Lalonde, C. E. (2008, January). Cultural continuity as a moderator of suicide risk among Canada’s First Nations. Healing Traditions. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/241607902_Cultural_continuity_as_a_moderator_of_suicide_risk_among_Canada’s_First_Nations
Cole, A. B., Sittner, K. J., Bruyere, T., & Walls, M. L. (2025, January 20). Intergenerational impacts of historical trauma on contemporary depression symptoms among indigenous communities. Journal of American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39842634/
Reynolds, B. (2021, March 10). Indian Residential Schools. Alberta Doctors’ Digest. https://add.albertadoctors.org/issues/special-issue-indigenous-health/indian-residential-schools/
YouTube. (2024, September 9). All Nations Healing House: A story of Reconciliation. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R01yEEm3VIY&t=623s&ab_channel=FirstNationsHealthAuthority
