The Indigenous Engagement Team at Interior Health (IH) has been recognized as Runner-Up for the BC Quality Awards in the Leadership in Co-Designing Health Quality with Communities category. This recognition celebrates the team's innovative partnership with First Nations and Métis communities to create Nation-based health-care advocate roles, a groundbreaking approach to fostering equity and cultural safety in health care.
Each advocate is co-managed by the engagement manager and a Nation manager. The advocates take direction primarily from their Nation’s priorities, ensuring their work aligns with community-specific needs and aspirations. For example, the Métis Nation BC Health Systems advocate worked to develop the Métis Health and Wellness Plan, which set forth eight priority areas for MNBC and IH to work together to create better health outcomes for Métis people in the Interior. This collaborative effort demonstrates the power of co-design in addressing systemic gaps and advancing community health.
"In co-designing these positions with First Nations, Interior Health (IH) has done an incredible job in showcasing how a Health Authority and an Indigenous Nation/Community should work together," shared the Ulkatcho First Nation. "All work with our people and for our people should be driven by our people (nothing about us without us)."
Another example is the role that advocates play in managing the letter of understanding (LOU) work between IH and the Nations. This includes organizing LOU meetings, revising the document, socializing the document with the Nation, and incorporating changes as needed. By facilitating these processes, advocates ensure that the agreements are living documents that reflect current needs and mutual commitments.
