Vancouver Coastal Regional Report
The First Nations Health Council (FNHC) launched a “Health Partnership” in January 2011, and made the Workbook available online and as the focus of a series of First Nations regional caucus sessions across the province. The Health Partnership Workbook summarized the discussions about health governance held at more than 100 First Nations regional caucus meetings over the past three years and asked First Nations Chiefs, leaders and senior health professionals in BC to confirm this summary of feedback gathered and share new thoughts and perspectives. The results will inform further discussions, negotiations and relationship building towards the establishment of a new health governance arrangement of First Nations health services in BC.
The feedback provided by First Nations through the regional caucus sessions and the Health Partnership Workbook has been rolled into 5 summary documents – one for each region in BC. The initial regional reports were provided to each region for review, discussion and further amendment in April 2011 and this revised version of the initial draft report was provided again to each region in May 2011.
Vancouver_Coastal_Regional_Report | PDF Download |
Health Council Members
Ernest Armann
Ernest Armann is a member of N’quatqua of the Stl’atl’imx Nation. He has been married 20 years and is the father of 3 children – 2 sons and a daughter. Mr. Armann has worked as Band Manager for the past fifteen years. In this role he has been responsible for administration of all Band Operations including health and social programs.
Mr. Armann has received formal training in Administration through UBC/Sauder School of Business and has a Diploma in Public Administration/Administering Aboriginal Governance from UVIC.
Mr. Armann also serves as a Resource Advisory for Lower Stl’atl’imx Tribal Council and provides advisory services for four communities: Douglas First Nation, N’quatqua, Samahquam and Skatin Nations. He has served on a range of boards and committees and was selected to sit as a member of the First Nations Health Council during its reformation last spring (2010). Mr. Armann represents one of three seats for the Health Council from the Vancouver Coastal Region Health Governance Caucus.
Charles Nelson
Charles is a member of the Nuxalk Nation and holds the traditional hereditary Chief’s name Lhlalyam. He was raised by his mother, Jessie Nelson, whose parents are Dan Nelson Sr. and Katie Nelson. Charles is currently the director of the Nuxalk Health and Wellness Centre in Bella Coola.
He has worked in the teaching field for approximately 16 years, including 6 years teaching his traditional language and 10 years teaching computer courses. His last position was with the Tillicum Lelum Aboriginal Friendship Centre in Nanaimo as a Career Counsellor, Instructor and Technical Lead. Charles is excited to be back home working with his people in Bella Coola and is grateful to have been introduced to such a strong Health & Wellness team. He has been in this position now for 3 years.
Charles was selected by the Vancouver Coastal Caucus as the representative for the Central Coast Sub-region on the First Nations Health Council when it was restructured in 2010. The Central Coast Sub-region represents the Nuxalk, Heiltsuk, Kitasoo-Xaixis, and Oweekeno Nations in the Health Council.
Leah George-Wilson
Leah, whose ancestral name is Sisi-ya-ama, is a member of the Tsleil-Waututh Nation (TWN), located in North Vancouver. Leah was the first woman elected Chief for the TWN and served for 3 terms. She holds a degree in Anthropology from Simon Fraser University and is currently attending Law School at University of British Columbia. She is on leave from her position as the Director of Treaty, Lands and Resources for the TWN, a position she has held since 2001. Leah also is serving her fourth term as the elected co-Chair for the First Nations Summit, and is a board member for the TWN Olympic Legacy Trust as well as the Lands Advisory Board. Leah is married and has a daughter in University.