The First Nations Health Authority 2024/25 Annual Report Highlights
The FNHA is the first provincial First Nations health authority in Canada.
It is the only provincial health and wellness partner dedicated to serving over 200 diverse First Nation communities and more than 230,000 First Nation citizens in urban, rural and remote locations across BC.
Download the Annual Reports
Each year, we publish the FNHA annual reports to demonstrate our progress in implementing commitments outlined in our Summary Service Plan and to share our independently audited financial statements.
Leadership Messages
Message from our Board Chair
Dr. Sheila Blackstock
It is my pleasure to share our Annual Report for 2024/25 and to express gratitude for the continued vision andguidance of First Nations in BC. In my first year as Chair of the First Nations Health Authority Board, I have had the privilege of meeting with Chiefs, Health Directors and health leads throughout BC to better understand the needs and priorities of First Nations communities residing both at home and away from home. Through these connections I have gained further insight into how the Board can walk alongside our staff, partners and key stakeholders on our shared journey to transform health services in this province.
This year, we bid farewell to Richard Jock, who concluded his tenure as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the FNHA in March 2025. We remain grateful for Richard’s contributions since he joined the FNHA in 2013, and particularly since he assumed the role of the CEO in 2019. His leadership, integrity and commitment to First Nations self-determination have profoundly shaped the FNHA’s evolution. His wisdom will continue to inspire us as we move forward.
Message from our CEO
Monica McAlduff
I am honoured and excited to step into the role of CEO and grateful for the trust placed in me to undertake such important work. I want to start by expressing my deepest gratitude to Richard Jock for his leadership and service as the former CEO. Richard’s remarkable strength and insight have left an indelible mark not only on me, but also on the entire organization. His guidance through moments of both progress and adversity helped build the strong organization we stand on today. We wish him well as he embarks on his well-deserved retirement.
I also want to thank Katie Hughes for her service as the Acting Chief Operating Officer from October 2024 to June 2025. Since joining the FNHA, Katie has served in a variety of leadership roles, consistently demonstrating humility and kindness in working with staff, partners and communities. I look forward to working with Katie for many more years to come.
Healthy, Self-Determining and Vibrant BC First Nations Children, Families and Communities
Five Goal Areas, Five Guideposts, Five Regions
One health authority for First Nations health and wellness
In our Annual Report, we continue to track progress on our five goals through performance measurement of both quantitative and story-based data. Five guideposts keep us paddling together in the right direction, highlighting the wisdom and guiding principles that ground all our work. Our report contains updates from each of the five regions, highlighting progress made towards our goals and the Regional Health and Wellness Plans for the Fraser Salish, Northern, Interior, Vancouver Coastal and Vancouver Island Regions.
Our goals reflect the strategic-level aspirations of the FNHA for the duration of our multi-year health plan. In accordance with our ground-up approach to planning, the FNHA’s five goals are directly tied to the health and wellness plans of the five regions.
The 7 Directives
Through hundreds of regional and sub-regional caucus meetings and Health Partnerships, First Nations in BC have developed the 7 Directives. These directives describe the fundamental standards and instructions for the new health governance relationship and are shared by the FNHA, the FNHC and the FNHDA.
We are leading by example to address Cultural Safety and Humility and Anti-Indigenous Racism
The FNHA’s Journey towards Cultural Safety and Humility
Advance First Nations approaches to addressing anti-Indigenous racism. Improve culturally safe health care experiences where First Nations in BC feel heard, valued and seen.
Outcome Statement: Culturally safe health care experiences where First Nations in BC feel heard, valued and seen.
Strategy 4.1: Work with partners in BC to support a racism-free health system with embedded cultural safety and humility practices.
Strategy 4.2: Champion cultural safety and humility in BC through regional innovation, First Nations-led responses and service excellence.
Strategy 4.3: Advance First Nations approaches to addressing complaints.
2023/24 Operational Priorities
- Work in collaboration with Accreditation Canada and the Health Standards Organization to promote adoption of the Cultural Safety and Humility (CSH) Standard and the integration of CSH amongst health system partners.
- Champion anti-Indigenous racism and CSH efforts across FNHA and in Regions, implementing recommendations from the internal CSH assessment.
- Strengthen health system partner accountability in transforming models and pathways for supporting patient-centered and culturally grounded approaches for First Nations to sharing and addressing complaints with the health system.
These efforts demonstrate the FNHA’s commitment to fostering an inclusive and equitable health system grounded in respect for Indigenous cultures. Progress in cultural safety and humility is measured across all our goal areas.
In 2022 the FNHA, in partnership with Health Standards Organization, created the British Columbia Cultural Safety and Humility Standard to help health care providers in BC integrate cultural safety into practice with First Nations clients.
In 2023, the FNHA completed its self-assessment against the standard, with plans to implement recommended actions.
In 2025, the FNHA partnered with the Health Standards Organization (HSO) on The Winds of Change, a national cultural safety and humility initiative.
15 First Nations-Led Primary Health Care Centres
Thirteen of fifteen First Nations-Led Primary Care Centres now open, bringing services closer to home.
The First Nations-Led Primary Health Care Initiative (FNPCI) is a collaborative effort between the FNHA, the BC Ministry of Health, and 114 participating First Nations communities, including urban and away-from-home First Nations individuals. This initiative is part of the broader Primary Care Transformation underway in BC and aligns with the principles of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP). As a start, the initiative aims to establish 15 First Nations-led Primary Health Care Centres (FNPCCs), three in each of the FNHA’s regions, to serve both rural and urban areas.
Strengthening health and wellness by reaching First Nations patients virtually
The First Nations Virtual Doctor of the Day and First Nations Substance Use and Psychiatry teams connect patients and their families living in BC with primary and allied health care providers in a culturally safe online environment.
In 2023, the FNHA Virtual Health and Wellness Services received a BC Quality Award in the category of Strengthening Health and Wellness, alongside partners in the Real Time Virtual Support Network.
Enhancing access to mental health and wellness approaches, emphasizing cultural healing and prevention
The FNHA’s annual First Nations Health & Wellness Summit unites participants from BC to tackle the toxic drug crisis and promote First Nations health. It includes keynote speakers, workshops and discussions on community best practices, allowing attendees to share insights for positive change in their communities.
Advancing the First Nations Health Foundation
The First Nations Health Foundation (the Foundation), a registered charity established by the FNHA to raise funds in support of FNHA programs and services, made significant strides in 2024/25. Over the year, the Foundation built its team and began actively advancing fundraising initiatives.
Expanding Treatment and Healing Centres Across BC
The FNHA is committed to addressing the root causes of trauma and addiction within First Nations communities.
In partnership with various organizations, the FNHA has expanded addiction treatment services across BC. Concrete steps have been taken to build two new treatment centres and rebuild six existing ones to create a system of care that respects First Nations culture and provides vital services for First Nations people and their families. This work is supported by a Tripartite Partnership with Government of Canada and the Province of BC, with approximately $95 million in funding for two new treatment centres and replacement of six existing ones.
Thank you to all that make a difference
We would like to thank the First Nations communities, FNHA staff and our partners who are tirelessly dedicated to developing the services and infrastructure necessary to support healthy, self-determined, and vibrant First Nations communities across BC.
Downloads & Archive
The FNHA is committed to a high standard of accountability and transparency, including reciprocal accountability with First Nations in BC and our Health Governance partners.