In light of the re-traumatizing effects of recent residential school findings on the
health and well-being of Indigenous people, the First Nations Health Authority (FNHA)
is working with communities to identify needs and offer supports and services to
address those needs.
The FNHA continues to support First Nations Communities in British Columbia (BC) by:
– Serving as a liaison with federal and provincial partners to ensure response coordination efforts
meet the needs of communities specific to culturally-relevant mental health and wellness and
public health supports.
– Coordinating service delivery and supports in partnership with communities.
This guide will be updated as more information is gathered and the situation unfolds. Updated
versions will be posted at:
www.fnha.ca/what-we-do/mental-wellness-and-substance-use/residential-schools
- FNHA CULTURAL WELLNESS AND HEALING GRANT
Recent residential school discoveries have affected the health and wellness of Indigenous communities
across the land. We trust and honour that communities will have ways of knowing and the cultural
guidance to help shape the healing work that is needed. A $10,000 flexible grant is available to each
community to help support that work in a good way.
– $10,000 is available per community
– End date for funding is March 31, 2022
Request pathway: grant funds have been distributed to communities through FNHA regional
offices. If your community has not yet received the grant, or if you have any questions, please email:
IRSneeds@fnha.ca - MENTAL HEALTH AND CULTURAL SUPPORTS
The FNHA and partner organizations provide culturally-safe and trauma-informed cultural, emotional, and mental health services to Indigenous people in BC.
– 24-hour Crisis Lines
• Indian Residential School Survivors Society 1-800-721-0066
• KUU-US Crisis Line 1-800-588-8717
• VictimLink – for victims of family and sexual violence 1-800-563-0808 (call or text)
• National Hope for Wellness Help Line 1-855-242-3310 or visit www.hopeforwellness.ca
for an online chat.
• Métis Crisis Line in BC 1-833-638-4722
– Counselling, Traditional and Cultural Supports
• Indian Residential Schools Resolution Health Support Program. Eight providers across the
province provide emotional and cultural support, either virtually or in person. This includes
supports related to Residential Schools, Indian Day Schools, and Missing and Murdered
Indigenous Women and Girls. The FNHA works with each partner to ensure requests for
in-person supports are met wherever possible. Call Lorraine Naziel, FNHA Mental Health and
Wellness Services, at 604-220-3958 for more information.
Resolution Health Support Workers (RHSW) and Cultural Support Providers (CSP):
Adah Dene Cultural Healing Camp Society:
RHSW: Cell 250-996-3813 | Office 250-996-5024
RHSW/CSP: 250-996-1475
Carrier Sekani Family Services:
RHSW Vanderhoof: 250-567-2900 or Toll-free: 1-800-889-6855
Gitanyow Human Services:
RHSW / CSP: Office 250-849-5651 | Cell 250-849-5651
RHSW: Office 250-849-5288 | Cell 250-615-7946
Gitsxan Health Society:
RHSW: 778-202-1355 | irsmhsupport3@gitxsanhealth.com
CSP: 778-202-1703 | irsmhsupport1@gitxsanhealth.com
Nuu Chah Nulth Tribal Council:
Teechuktl / RHSW Coordinator: 250-724-3939 | RHSW: 250-724-3939
Okanagan Nation Alliance: 1-250-470-7048 or Toll-free: 1-866-662-9609
• Indian Residential School Survivors Society provides access to counselling, cultural and
emotional support services to former students of residential and day schools, and their families,
regardless of status. Call toll-free 1-800-721-0066 or visit www.irsss.ca
• Tsow-Tun Le Lum Society provides healing and cultural supports, including services for
communities carrying out work on the sites of former Indian Residential Schools and Indian
Hospitals. Call 1-888-403-3123 or visit www.tsowtunlelum.org
• First Nations Health Benefits provides access to mental wellness and counselling services.
Call 1-855-550-5454 or visit www.fnha.ca/benefits
• First Nations Virtual Substance Use and Psychiatry Service. This referral-based service connects
individuals and their health and wellness providers with specialist support for assessment, harm
reduction, relapse prevention and treatment care planning. Learn more at:
www.fnha.ca/VirtualHealth
• Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls Health Support Services. This is a national
program administered in BC by the FNHA. Services are available to survivors, family members
and others who have been affected. Call First Nations Health Benefits at 1-855-550-5454 for
more information.
You can find more mental health and wellness resources at:
www.fnha.ca/what-we-do/mental-wellness-and-substance-use - PROVINCIAL AND FEDERAL FUNDING
– BC Residential School Response Fund
• BC’s Ministry of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation administers the BC Residential School
Response Fund.
• The fund is open to all First Nations or Tribal Councils with a former Indian Residential School
or Indian Hospital site located in or near their community and who have been identified as the
lead community or coordinating body to undertake site-specific work.
• Up to $475,000 is available for each site. This can include funding for mental health and cultural
supports.
• While the funds are application-based, there is no application deadline.
• The Province of BC has appointed Charlene Belleau and Lydia Hwitsum as First Nations liaisons
to advise and assist in the provincial response. You can contact the liaisons by email at:
ResidentialSchoolsResponse@gov.bc.ca
• The Response Fund has allocated $1.5 million to enhance wellness and cultural supports. This
includes $1.25 million to FNHA to enhance the Indian Residential School Survivors Society 24/7
crisis line and Tsow-Tun Le Lum Society healing and cultural supports
• For more information, visit:
BC Residential School Response Fund – Province of British Columbia (gov.bc.ca)
– Federal funding and supports
• Crown Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada is distributing the Residential Schools
Missing Children Community Support Fund (total of $110 million over 3 years) to support
Indigenous partners and communities in site-specific research and knowledge-gathering,
memorialization or commemoration and bringing children home.
• In August, 2021, the federal government announced renewed funding for programs to support
healing from intergenerational trauma, with a further $107 million to expand these services.
The announcement did not include details on how funds will be allocated.
• Additional supports are available from Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) around school site
remediation, and repurposing and/or replacement of residential school buildings.
• For more information:
Residential schools missing children – community support funding (rcaanc-cirnac.gc.ca)
Please contact IRSneeds@fnha.ca
with any questions about available supports and resources mentioned in this guide.
Request pathway: the FNHA is supporting the provincial and federal government to coordinate
response efforts and ensure a “no door is the wrong door” approach to accessing supports.
• For information on provincial funding, contact: ResidentialSchoolsResponse@gov.bc.ca
• For federal funding, contact: aadnc.enfants_disparusmissing_children.aandc@canada.ca
• For information on additional supports from ISC, contact: aadnc.IRS-ISC.PI-SAC.aandc@canada.ca
You can also send questions or requests to IRSneeds@fnha.ca. The FNHA will coordinate with our
provincial and federal funding partners to ensure your request is received, reviewed and responded-to by the correct agency(s). - GATHERING SAFELY DURING COVID-19
– Community Service COVID-19 Supplies (CSCS), such as hand sanitizer and non-medical masks,
may be eligible expenses in support of COVID-19 safety during events and gatherings.
– For additional information, resources and supports specific to COVID-19, please visit:
www.fnha.ca/what-we-do/communicable-disease-control/coronavirus
INDIAN RESIDENTIAL SCHOOL SURVIVORS SOCIETY (IRSSS)
- 1-800-721-0066
- The Indian Residential School Survivor Society (IRSSS) will be open during the 2022 Holiday Season, including the 24 hour Crisis Line. The highly trained and dedicated staff have created a work schedule to ensure continued services.
The 24 Hour Crisis Line
- A personal, family, or community crisis can happen at any time. The IRSSS has a team with culturally-safe training to support survivors/students, their families and loved ones
FIRST NATIONS VIRTUAL DOCTOR OF THE DAY
- Provides virtual health care and referral support for people who do not have a doctor or are unable to get an appointment. It is for all First Nations people living in BC and their family members, including family members who are not Indigenous. Doctors are available by video or phone from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. every day
Call 1-855-344-3800 to book an appointment. Learn more at fnha.ca/virtualdoctor
VIRTUAL SUBSTANCE USE & PSYCHIATRY SERVICE
- Is an FNHA service providing virtual specialist support in addictions medicine and psychiatry to First Nations people in BC and their family members. This service requires a referral from a health and wellness provider. The first Nations Virtual Doctor of the Day provides referral support for anyone who does not have a provider
TSOW-TUN LE LUM SOCIETY
- Provides confidential outreach services in BC, such as counselling, cultural supports and personal wellness programs
- 1 888 403 3123 or visit www.tsowtunlelum.org.
KUU-US CRISIS LINE SOCIETY
- Provides crisis services for Indigenous people
1 800 588 8717 or visit https://www.kuu-uscrisisline.ca/
MISSING & MURDERED INDIGENOUS WOMEN & GIRLS HEALTH SUPPORT SERVICES
- A national program administered in BC by First Nations Health Benefits. Services are available to survivors, family members and others who have been affected
- Call 1 855 550 5454 for more information
MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS COUNSELLING IN BC
- You may be eligible for Health Benefits coverage. Many providers are registered to bill Health Benefits directly for services so clients do not have to pay out of pocket. Before booking an appointment with a counsellor
- Call 1 855 550 5454 or visit fnha.ca/benefits to check if they are registered and if the service is eligible for coverage
REGIONAL HEALTH & WELLNESS SUPPORTS
The contact person for wellness supports is Jen Smith
- If you require further supports or are looking for clarifying questions, please reach out to Jen Smith at Jennifer.L.Smith@fnha.ca or call 604 329 0903
Download Support Guides PDF