The First Nations Health Council was created in February 2007 to support BC First Nations to implement the Tripartite First Nations Health Plan
First Nations Pre-Contact Health
In pre-contact times First Nations enjoyed good health due to an active lifestyle and healthy traditional diets. Oral history suggests good health and longevity. Traditional health included ceremonial, spiritual, and physical elements. Specific types of healers included midwives, herbal healers, and shaman. In addition, there were customary laws regarding food and hygiene that assisted the people in staying healthy. For more about First Nations health history check out our 2010 publication entitled: Implementing the Vision- Reimagining First Nations Health in BC. This book is meant to provide the reader with an overview of where we have come from and where we are going in terms of the collective goal of the Tripartite First Nations Health Plan: to ensure First Nations are involved as equal partners in the planning and management of health services for our people. The work that BC First Nations are doing today will help us achieve that goal, and to ensure future generations have authority to enact policies, measure success, allocate resources, and establish service standards that are accountable to our communities.
Implementing the Vision- Reimagining First Nations Health in BC| pdf download |
Aboriginal Health Issues Today
Although First Nations health has improved in some areas in the past few decades, there are still serious health issues within First Nation communities. The health gap between First Nations and other British Columbians that continues to exist can only be addressed through
strategies that consider the overall social determinants of health and improved information on performance indicators to measure success of these strategies. Some of the prevalent health concerns within First Nations communities include mental health, diabetes, obesity, cancer, respiratory disease, dental health, HIV/AIDS, addictions and children’s health. Many of these problems can be attributed to adverse effects to the social determinants of health that accompanied colonization. In addition, First Nations are subject to world-wide trends such as urbanization, lower levels of physical activity and increased reliance on processed foods. For example, diabetes is partially caused by a considerable change in diet and an increased dependence on market foods.
It is clear that there needs to be a multi-faceted approach to combat health issues and challenges. Through collaboration, First Nations people are creating opportunities for positive change to help strengthen health outcomes. First Nations are in the process of assuming a role in managing First Nations health, in partnership with government.
BC First Nations Health Council History
The First Nations Health Council was created in February 2007 to support BC First Nations to implement the Tripartite First Nations Health Plan. 
FNHC TIMELINE | image |
Political Background
Transformative Change Accord: On November 25, 2005, the First Nations Leadership Council (FNLC), Province of British Columbia (BC) and Government of Canada (Canada) signed the Transformative Change Accord, committing the parties to: establishing a new relationship based on mutual respect and recognition; reconciling Aboriginal title and rights with those of the Crown; and closing the social and economic gap between First Nations and other British Columbians, in the areas of relationships, education, health, housing and infrastructure, and economic opportunities. The Transformative Change Accord calls upon the Parties to negotiate a 10-year implementation strategy. Transformative Change Accord | pdf download |
The Transformative Change Accord: First Nations Health Plan was released on November 27, 2006 by the FNLC and BC This ten-year Plan includes twenty-nine action items in the following four areas: Governance, Relationships and Accountability; Health Promotion/Disease and Injury Prevention; Health Services; and Performance Tracking. Download TCA: First Nations Health Plan.
First Nations Health Plan Memorandum of Understanding: Although Canada was not part of the Transformative Change Accord: First Nations Health Plan, it was interested in negotiating a tripartite plan and demonstrating support for the efforts between First Nations and BC. To this end, a First Nations Health Plan Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed by the FNLC, Canada and BC on November 27,2006. This MoU includes the same sections and action items as the Transformative Change Accord: First Nations Health Plan, proposes a number of new action items, and required the Parties to develop a Tripartite Health Plan by May 27, 2007. Download the First Nations Health Plan Memorandum of Understanding
Tripartite First Nation Health Plan: A new ten-year Tripartite First Nations Health Plan was signed by the FNLC, Canada, and BC on June 11, 2007. This plan builds on the Transformative Change: First Nations Health Plan and includes an agreement by the parties to create and implement a new structure for the governance of First Nations health services in BC. Download the Tripartite First Nations Health Plan
First Nations Health Council: A key action item referenced in each of these health plans is the establishment of a BC First Nations Health Council, composed of representatives of the First Nations political organizations in BC. This Health Council has been formed, is supported by BC First Nations, and is mandated with: serving as the advocacy voice of BC First Nations in achieving their health priorities and objectives; conducting health-related policy analysis and research; participating in policy and program planning processes related to First Nations health; and providing leadership in the implementation of the First Nations Health Plan Memorandum of Understanding, the Transformative Change Accord; First Nations Health Plan, and the Tripartite First Health Plan.