​​​​​​​​For Immediate Release​​

COAST SALISH TERRITORY – The First Nations Health Authority will award grants again this year for events and challenges aimed at encouraging conscious acts of health and wellness during the coldest months.

The 2020 theme is Be My Guest - Youth for Elders. The focus is on youth designing events to hold with or for Elders.

“This theme will foster inter-generational connections and help our youth develop skills in event planning and knowledge of traditional protocol," said FNHA Chief Executive Officer Joe Gallagher. “We know these kinds of connections – connections to community and connections to culture – are integral to wellness. And while we are asking youth to work with and for Elders, we know that other community members will also need to be involved to ensure the success of these Winter Wellness activities."

The grants are open to B.C. First Nations communities, organizations, and schools as well as agencies that deliver direct health services to First Nations people.

Last year the Winter Wellness theme was “Everyone is a Wellness Champion – Time to Live It!" There were 147 events, including, for example:

• Young Wellness Warrior Winter Gathering, hosted by South Surrey/White Rock Learning Centre.  A one-night event for all Indigenous students that attend South Surrey schools, along with their families. The event featured activities representing the four wellness streams (see below).

• Tsilqot'in Winter Carnival & Skidoo Race, hosted by Tl'etiqox Government. Skidoo races and other fun events such as sliding, egg racing, snowshoe race, cross-country skiing, dice throws and polar dip.

• Hobiyee 2019, hosted by Nisga'a Village of Gingolx. A two-day cultural celebration of the waxing crescent moon when the Nisga'a' People watch for the positioning of the moon and the stars as a prediction of the coming harvest.

All Winter Wellness events should support one or more of the FNHA wellness streams of:

• Nurturing Spirit

• Respecting Tobacco

• Being Active

•​ Healthy Eating

This is the program's sixth year and FNHA has already invested more than $1.4 million in Winter Wellness events and $2.7 million in Wellness Grants overall.

Events or initiatives that qualify for a Winter Wellness grant must take place between Jan. 1 and Feb. 16, 2020 and the deadline for applications is Oct. 25, 2019.
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Applications are now closed.​

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