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Indigenous Health & Wellness

Indigenous strategic health plans

Learn more about the Indigenous health & wellness strategy and Indigenous mental wellness plan.

Indigenous Health & Wellness Strategy

Indigenous Health and Wellness Strategy (IHWS) 2022-2026

The IHWS serves as a framework for IH’s 23,000 staff and 1,900 physicians to provide high quality, safe and effective health services to all Indigenous peoples and families. The strategy is informed by and supports commitments to Indigenous partners through signed agreements, including the Letters of Understanding (LOUs), Partnership Accord, and Cultural Safety Declaration, as well as the IH Strategic Priorities and Ministry of Health (MOH) mandate.

Read the strategy

Indigenous Mental Wellness Plan

Directly aligned with our focus on providing quality driven, people-centred care for Indigenous peoples, the Indigenous Mental Wellness Plan (AMWP) aligns with our mental health and substance use, First Nations Health Authority and Indigenous community planning. It was developed through input by Indigenous peoples, families, communities, organizations and health-care providers.

Read the strategy

Indigenous engagement

Learn more about Indigenous Health & Wellness engagement initiatives within the Interior.

Indigenous Engagement Forum

The inaugural Indigenous Engagement Forum was successful in creating space for external Indigenous partners and IH leaders and staff to come together, build and strengthen partnerships, share information on joint projects, learn about IH services and programs, and gather input on services. The Forum also highlighted successful partnerships and outstanding initiatives.

Final Report Indigenous Engagement Forum

Addressing racism & discrimination in Interior Health

In Plain Sight

In June 2020, Dr. Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond was appointed by the B.C. Minister of Health to review Indigenous-specific racism in the provincial health care system. The investigation found extensive examples of racism and discrimination against Indigenous patients and resulted in the In Plain Sight (IPS) Report – the full report and a data report – published in November 2020 and February 2021 respectively. IPS made 24 recommendations to be implemented within and integrated into the B.C. health-care system in response to Indigenous racism.

The following reports show Interior Health’s progress on those recommendations on changing systems, behaviours and beliefs. As part of IH’s commitment to action, we will publicly report progress towards implementing the IPS recommendations annually.

Our commitment to change

We are committed to working together with First Nation and Métis partners to change our health system and eliminate racism and discrimination at Interior Health.

Read statement on behalf of B.C. health authorities

Indigenous Partnerships

Our commitment to Indigenous health and wellness is strengthened through partnerships.

Learn more

Indigenous Patient Navigators

Indigenous Patient Navigators (IPNs) are important members of our care teams. They work in hospitals and health centres throughout Interior Health and are available to support Indigenous peoples and their families during their care. Having an Indigenous Patient Navigator as part of the patient care team creates a safe space for Indigenous peoples to interact with the health system.

Whether or not you wish to self-identify as Indigenous, Indigenous Patient Navigators are here for you. The goal of an Indigenous Patient Navigator is to help make your hospital care and journey to wellness safe, comfortable and less confusing.

Learn more about Indigenous Patient Navigators

Planning and coordinating safe discharges from Royal Inland Hospital

The Indigenous Discharge Toolkit was developed to assist clinicians with discharge planning for Indigenous patients from Royal Inland Hospital to their home communities within the Thompson Cariboo Region of Interior Health.

The toolkit's resource document helps the care team connect with appropriate community members and resources based on the patient's needs and wishes. The toolkit is also informative for many clinicians within the Thompson-Cariboo region.

Much gratitude to all of the Indigenous partners, First Nations Health Authority Community Health Practice Consultants, Nation Health Managers, First Nations Health Directors, Métis Health System Advocates, Nation Community Engagement Coordinators, Indigenous Patient Navigators, and the many more who contributed to the toolkit development.

If you have any queries about the department, program or project identity, or if there is any missing/updated information you would like to provide, please do not hesitate to contact us at RIH.EDU@interiorhealth.ca.

Access the Indigenous Discharge Toolkit: Thompson Cariboo

Interior Voices podcast

Interior Voices is our Indigenous health and wellness podcast series that explores the intersection of health and culture in the workplace, our everyday lives and patient care.

Learn more about the podcast

3 Minute Read

Health & Wellness

Growing food and minds – Learning about food with a modular farm

KLO Middle School students are learning about food in a fun, innovative and hands-on way thanks to a modular farm and a creek restoration project.

/stories/growing-food-and-minds-learning-about-food-modular-farm

4 Minute Read

Community & Culture

We are IH: Nurse educator fosters equitable access to education

Blending her two passions of teaching and health care, Echo Porlier aims to promote equitable access to education through her work in rural and remote nursing.

/stories/we-are-ih-nurse-educator-fosters-equitable-access-education

3 Minute Read

Community & Culture

Launch your nursing career with the ESN/ESPN paid work program

Our Employed Student Nurse/Employed Student Psychiatric Nurse program offers students real-world experience under the guidance of an experienced RN, RPN or NP.

/stories/launch-your-nursing-career-esnespn-paid-work-program

2 Minute Read

Community & Culture

We are IH: Registered nurse of 35 years pursued her dream

Diana Heighes has much of her career at Royal Inland Hospital. For 10 years she has worked in day care surgery and even had a chance to work with her daughter.

/stories/we-are-ih-registered-nurse-35-years-pursued-her-dream