First Nations in the Fraser Salish Region have formed the Fraser Salish Regional Caucus which provides a forum for the governance and health leads from the region's First Nations to come together at regular intervals to engage on key health and wellness issues through:

• Sharing information and perspectives as it relates to the work of the First Nations
  
• health governance structure;
• Providing guidance on regional health matters;
• Developing, and monitoring progress of, a regional health and wellness plan;
• Monitoring the progress of the Regional Partnership Accord;
• Providing direction and guidance to the Regional Table and Fraser Salish First
• Nations Health Council (FNHC) Representatives; and
• Providing direction for political advocacy.

The Fraser Salish Regional Caucus is represented by the First Nation communities that reside within the Fraser Salish Region, which is organized into three sub-groups: Sto:lo Nation, Sto:lo Tribal Council, and Independent communities. Each sub-group appoints one representative to serve as a member of the First Nations Health Council.

The Regional Caucus has created the Joint Working Group which discusses topics such as, "Engagement & Transformation" and "Collaboration and Partnerships,". This serves as the working extension of the Caucus, and whose collective responsibilities are to:

• Advise on the development and implementation of agreements with Fraser Health;
• Engage with key stakeholders, organizations and government agencies, as appropriate;
• Collaborate with the First Nations Health Council, First Nations Health Directors Association, First Nations Health Authority, and Fraser Health to implement the regional health and wellness plan;
• Carry out work directed by the Regional Caucus; and
• Plan the engagement with First Nations in the region.

The Fraser Salish Regional Caucus receives administrative, professional, technical and logistical support from the First Nations Health Authority - Fraser Region.

Governance refers to the authority to make decisions and the processes by which those decisions are made. Since 2005, First Nations have been involved in a historic journey of health governance and systems transformation. Fraser Salish leadership have formed the Fraser Salish Regional Caucus (the “Caucus"), which serves as an engagement forum for our political (i.e. Chiefs) and technical leaders (i.e. Health Directors or Health leadership) to have a conversation on health

The Fraser Salish Regional Caucus:

• Has representation from all 32 Fraser Salish communities;
• Is the decision-making body for matters relating to Fraser Salish First Nations health;
• Elects three representatives to the FNHC. These positions represent and report back to the Caucus at various tables such as the Partnership Accord Aboriginal Health Steering Committee (PA AHSC), and the Provincial FNHC;
• Elects three representatives to the FNHDA. These positions represent and report back to the Caucus at the Provincial FNHDA;
• Meets twice per year to receive updates, engage in dialogue, and make decisions on regional and provincial health matters;
  

Wholistic Wellness​

We have adopted the philosophy shared with us from our communities, which is to offer these services to individuals from the time they are born until the time they enter the spirit world.

We take a culturally-informed and community-based approach, with a strong focus on prevention. Our goal is to empower Fraser Salish First Nations and eradicate gaps caused by systemic barriers (i.e. poverty, racism, oppression) that have resulted in the fragmentation of services and increased health system inequities.

Our work is supported by dedicated and experienced teams:

• The Programs and Services Supports team of Wellness Initiative Facilitators, Wellness Navigators, Child and Youth System Navigators, an Aboriginal​
• Head Start On-Reserve (AHSOR) Coordinator, and a Tobacco Cessation Coordinator, with more supports planned for the future;
• The Regional Nursing team consists of a Regional Nursing Manager and two Community Health Practice Consultants shared with the Vancouver Coastal Region; and
• The Environmental Public Health Services (EPHS) team consists of an EPHS Manager and four Environment Health Officers and a Technician, also shared with the Vancouver Coastal Region.

Health Literacy

Fraser Salish First Nations are resilient and continue to survive and thrive in the face of the ongoing effects of colonization. Health and wellbeing have always been at the centre of Indigenous culture, and the Fraser Salish region supports this inherent strength. We will engage with and empower community members to become strong and informed health advocates and champions at both the individual and community levels. This will inform, educate, and build capacity in community.

Maternal Child and Family Wellness

A core priority is the development of a Fraser Salish Maternal Child and Family Wellness approach grounded in wellness from birth to spirit. This approach is inclusive of services and supports, encompassing:

• Pre/post natal;
• Sexual and reproductive health – men, women, adolescents;
• Healthy relationships;
• Early years not limited to AHSOR;
• Family, parenting, care provider advocacy and support;
• Access to early learning;
• Children and youth celebrating life; and
• Engagement and advocacy with child and family service agencies and the FHA.

Client Quality Care

The Fraser Salish Region will champion and implement a client quality care/complaints process that aligns with FNHA values and reflects the culture and the resilience of Fraser Salish First Nations. We will develop a system that serves our people, in our way, in an effort to reconcile historic injustices. We will examine existing plans, policies and laws that have inhibited fair treatment and create the opportunity for a Fraser Salish-specific process.

Urban and Away-from-Home

The Fraser Salish region has the largest total off reserve population in BC. This serves as a reminder of how important the need is to support these community members. Using the FNHA Urban and Away-from-Home Health and Wellness Framework (the “Urban and Away-from-Home Framework") (2020), we can work towards securing the supports needed to ensure our away-from-home populations have access to the same supports available to them at home. 

Umbrella Health Organizations

Umbrella health organizations can be defined as an organization that coordinates the activities of a number of member organizations and hence promotes a common purpose. The organizations in the following table receive funding from the First Nations and Inuit Health BC Region.​

​​​Documents and resources​

Partnership Accord

• Partnership Accord (2021)
• Partnership Accord (2011)