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Aboriginal Careers

Aboriginal Career Specialists

Our Aboriginal Career Specialists support Interior Health's continued movement toward a more inclusive healthcare system, where diversity, inclusion and addressing Aboriginal-specific racism are a recognized priority at all levels of the organization.

Their work primarily supports the recruitment and retention of Aboriginal employees at Interior Health. We invite Aboriginal (First Nations, Métis, and Inuit) applicants to self-identify within cover letters and resumes.

Contact the Aboriginal Career Specialist team at AboriginalEmployment@interiorhealth.ca:

Meet the Aboriginal Career Specialists

Debbie Beaulieu
Aboriginal Employment Advisor

“I am a proud member of the Williams Lake First Nation. I am passionate about my role in supporting First Nations, Métis and Inuit job seekers looking for employment with Interior Health. Being part of the IHAboriginal Career Specialists Team gives me the opportunity to help makethis happen in a culturally safe way for Aboriginal job seekers and staff”.

Email Debbie

Aasia Paterson
Aboriginal Employment Advisor

“I am Métis from the Na-cho Nyak Dun Nation in Mayo, Yukon. Working within Interior Health HR Employee Experience Team, gives me the opportunity to combine both my personal and professional goals. Which has always been to empower Aboriginal (First Nations, Métis and Inuit) individuals and or communities to find their own means of success in a collaborative, supportive and inclusive environment”.

Email Aasia

Shirlie Hatt
Aboriginal Recruiter

“I’m excited to be a part of Interior Health’s Aboriginal recruitment team. I am a proud member of the Westbank First Nation and have lived most of my life the Okanagan and Cariboo Chilcotin area of BC. I am passionate about helping Aboriginal job seekers find meaningful employment."

Email Shirlie

Click here to learn more about the Aboriginal Career Specialists

Community Engagement Activities

Attending Aboriginal employment & career events
Engaging youth in considering careers in healthcare
Fostering relationships with community and members

Read stories on community engagement

Commitment to Recruitment and Retention

Interior Health is committed to increasing its Aboriginal workforce representation and ensuring that we have Aboriginal Peoples at all levels of the organization.

We understand the value of building an Aboriginal representative workforce as an important step in meeting the healthcare needs of Aboriginal Peoples. We invite all applicants who identify as having Aboriginal ancestry (First Nations, Metis, Inuit) to include the information in resumes and cover letters. You increase your chances for job opportunities at Interior Health by submitting separate applications to each posting you are interested in and qualified for.

This includes those who have submitted an application to our Aboriginal-specific casual postings – please continue watching our website for postings or set yourself up with a job alert (bottom of this page) so you can apply to additional postings that match your qualifications (even if they are not posted as Aboriginal-specific).

Interior Health remains committed to advancing cultural safety in the organization through the recruitment and retention of Aboriginal staff who understand the importance of safe, trusting and accessible health services.

-- Addie Pryce, Vice President - Aboriginal Partnerships

Creating a Culture of Collaboration

Interior Health (IH) is dedicated to working with Aboriginal populations (First Nations, Métis, and Inuit) within its boundaries and is focused on improving the health of Aboriginal people we care for.

As we look to the future, IH is shifting toward a more culturally-competent focus both in our hospitals and out in the community, to better serve Aboriginal Peoples within the Southern Interior region. Interior Health remains committed to the work of increasing our Aboriginal workforce, and ensuring that we hire and retain Aboriginal people at all levels of the organization – from front line to leadership.

group photo on orange shirt day

First Nations Communities

There are 54 First Nations Communities within 7 unceded territories in the Interior Health Region. The 7 traditional, ancestral, and unceded First Nations Territories are the Dãkelh Dene, Tsilhoqot’in, Stl’atl’imc, Nlaka’pamux, Syilx Okanagan, Secwepemc, and Ktunaxa.

First Nations & Métis Chartered Communities map

Click here for Interior First Nations Pronunciations

Métis Communities

There are 15 Métis Chartered Communities in the Interior Health region. For more information on Métis Nation BC click here.

I think it’s important to acknowledge the skill sets that the Aboriginal people have and that they can really benefit the team at Interior Health, and that’s from volunteer to CEO. Aboriginal cultures have a holistic way of looking at things. They look at health as the health of community, the health of future generations, and the health of individuals.

-- Tanya Davoren, Director of Health, Métis Nation BC

Interior Voices Podcast

Interior Voices is our Aboriginal 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 and listen to episodes

Learn more about other Aboriginal Departments and Resources

Aboriginal Health and Wellness

Aboriginal Patient Navigator Service

Aboriginal Partnerships

BC Loan Forgiveness Programs

Aboriginal Support Guide

FNHA Guide Book

Our Children’s Medicine