The BC NEIHR is guided by three Indigenous-governed, community-led organizations leading health and wellness research across BC, with members from each sitting on our Governing Council.
First Nations Health Authority (FNHA)
The First Nation’s Health Authority’s vision is healthy, self-determining and vibrant First Nations children, families and communities in BC. The FNHA also aims to reform the way health care is delivered to First Nations in BC, reduce health disparities and improve health and well-being. To that end, the organization provides health programs and services throughout the province to all First Nations communities. The FNHA works with with BC First Nations, government partners and others to improve health outcomes for BC First Nations people and provide trauma-informed care. The organization also supports data sovereignty and self-determination in the area of health research and is committed to system-wide change, as well as supporting a collective health systems’ goal of culturally safe research and health services for First Nations and Indigenous people in BC.
BC Association of Aboriginal Friendship Centres (BCAAFC)
The BC Association of Aboriginal Friendship Centres (BCAAFC) provides umbrella services and provincial supports to the 25 Friendship Centres in British Columbia. Friendship Centres provide services to Indigenous peoples (First Nations, Inuit and Métis) living in urban settings and hold space for all members of the community to celebrate culture, share knowledge, and connect with others. With a focus on health and wellness, one of the BCAAFC goals is to help people create a balanced and fulfilling lifestyle by building a supportive network of health and wellness initiatives that acknowledge the diverse needs of the population.
Métis Nation British Columbia (MNBC)
Métis Nation British Columbia develops and enhances opportunities for Métis Chartered Communities and Métis people in British Columbia by providing culturally relevant social and economic programs and services. Recognized by the Métis National Council, the Provincial Government of British Columbia and the Federal Government of Canada, the MNBC is the official governing body of the Métis in BC, representing almost 90,000 self-identified Métis people in British Columbia; of that, almost 17,000 are provincially registered Métis Citizens with MNBC. The MNBC Ministry of Health is committed to enhancing Métis wellness and has developed a responsive Five-Year Plan, which was informed by Métis Chartered Communities through community consultation processes.
University Partners
The BC NEIHR has representatives from the following universities acting as principal investigators as part of our operations team,
University of British Columbia (UBC)
University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC)
Centre for Collaborative Action on Indigenous Health Governance (CCAIHG)
The CCAIHG has stepped up to become one of the BC NEIHR’s main operational partners. The CCAIHG is an Indigenous-led research centre that paves a transformative path for Indigenous people, communities, Nations, scholars to learn from and share their experiences on Indigenous health governance. With a shared governance model that reflects the partnership of Simon Fraser University (SFU) and the First Nations Health Authority (FNHA), the CCAIHG fosters global dialogue on Indigenous approaches to health and wellness. Some of the key goals of the Centre focus on dialogue and knowledge exchange, collaborative training initiatives, and research.
Michael Smith Health Research BC
Michael Smith Health Research BC is British Columbia’s health research agency. Michael Smith generously co-funds BC NEIHR Indigenous student and ICCO grants supporting Indigenous-led health research in BC. They are working toward a future where BC is recognized worldwide for its vibrant, coherent, inclusive and globally competitive health research system that improves the health of British Columbians, the health system and the economy. To achieve this, they support BC’s top health researchers through funding programs that build the province’s research capacity and address health system priorities. They also enable research through programs and resources in the areas of patient-oriented research, clinical trials, research ethics and knowledge translation. They further increase their impact through active partnerships with provincial, national and international organizations who collaborate with them on funding, training, and other initiatives.
The BC NEIHR is partnered with the BC SUPPORT Unit, which is funded by CIHR. The BC SUPPORT Unit generously co-funds all BC NEIHR IHRF positions. Broadly, the underlying mandates of the BC SUPPORT Unit and the BC NEIHR complement each other in that ultimately, community voices are honoured and uplifted to inform self-determining health research.
Each of the six non-Indigenous BC Health Authorities has dedicated Indigenous Health departments and programs, an Indigenous or Aboriginal Health Lead, Director or Advisor, and dedicated research departments and teams. The Indigenous Health Leads, Directors, and Advisors within each Health Authority play a key role in providing leadership and support for Indigenous health and wellness initiatives, policy development, and strategic planning. Each of the six Health Authorities has also identified cultural safety and Indigenous health and wellness as priorities and in July 2015, all Health Authority CEO’s signed a “Declaration of Commitment […] to advancing cultural humility and cultural safety within health services” (First Nations Health Authority, 2015).
Additional Partners
Aboriginal HIV/AIDS Collaborative Research Centre (AHA)
The AHA Centre supports HIV and AIDS research conducted in First Nations, Inuit, and Métis communities across Canada utilizing Community-Based Research (CBR) approaches. AHA’s leadership team includes Indigenous (and allied) community members, researchers, Elders, and Knowledge Keepers.
BC Patient Safety & Quality Council (Now Health Quality BC)
Health Quality BC provides system-wide leadership designed to improve the quality of health care in British Columbia. They maintain collaborative partnerships with health authorities, patients, and those working within the healthcare system, in order to promote and inform a provincially-coordinated, patient-centred approach to quality.
National Collaborating Centre for Indigenous Health (NCCIH)
The National Collaborating Centre for Indigenous Health (NCCIH) is hosted by the University of Northern BC (UNBC) on the traditional territory of the Lheildli T’enneh in Prince George, BC. The NCCIH is a national Indigenous organization established in 2005 by the Government of Canada and funded through the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) to support First Nations, Inuit, and Métis public health renewal and health equity through knowledge translation and exchange.