Deadline: 2-Dec-22
The First Nations Health Authority – Health through wellness (FNHA) is seeking applications for The 2023 Winter Wellness Grants.
The changing of seasons and winter season for many is an opportunity to nurture the spirit by reflecting, gathering and connecting with friends and family. With this in mind, the FNHA is providing another year of Winter Wellness Grants to support community-led celebrations and events, in alignment with ever pivoting public health guidelines.
Here are some examples of community events that can inspire your wellness initiative:
- Namgis First Nation hosted a two day Wellness Basket Weaving workshop in person and virtually for youth in the community (photo).
- Stswecem'c Xget'tem First Nation spent a day on the land snowshoeing, sledding and bannock making contests over an open fire.
- Bridge River Indian Band (Xwisten) held Youth Zoom Cooking classes, where ingredients and recipes were delivered to families and the youth cooked dinners with others virtually.
Some additional Winter Wellness Grant ideas:
- Healthy Eating: Canning workshops, traditional foods and plants harvesting, community feasts, food hampers, cooking classes etc.
- Being Active: Snowshoeing, sledding, ice skating, tobogganing, cultural games and activities, dancing, powwow Zumba, yoga workshops etc.
- Nurturing Spirit: Making medicine bags, drums, moccasins, ribbon skirts, beading workshops, language workshops, Elders teachings, drumming etc.
- Respecting Tobacco: Tobacco and traditional medicines workshop, growing or harvesting traditional tobacco and other medicines, gifting tobacco etc.
Theme
- This year's theme is: “Gathering in Wellness: Wholistic connections to nurture spirit, culture and community."
Funding Information
- First Nations communities will be eligible for up to $2,500 and schools and health and social organizations that provide wellness services to First Nations in BC will be eligible for up to $2,000 to conduct their own Winter Wellness Celebration.
Eligibility Criteria
- The Grants are intended to support gathering initiatives that encourage First Nations in BC to celebrate and the winter season.
- Activities must be conducted through methods that are in alignment with the current orders of the Provincial Health Officer. As of the time of this writing, there are currently no orders restricting gatherings in BC. However, this may change and may require you to pivot your initiatives to be in alignment with orders as needed. See provincial and regional restrictions – Province of British Columbia.
- Eligible recipients include First Nations communities, BC schools, and health and social organizations that provide wellness services to Indigenous people in BC
- Please note: For-profit organizations and Métis Chartered Communities/organizations are ineligible for wellness grants.
- One application per community, organization, and/or school. Recipients are encouraged to collaborate with neighbouring communities and organizations where feasible, if more than one application is submitted.
- A completion of a brief closing report will be required to capture the highlights of your initiative.
- FNHA recommends that events or initiatives take place between Jan. 16 and February 10, 2023.
For more information, visit FNHA.
For more information, visit https://www.fnha.ca/about/news-and-events/news/the-2023-winter-wellness-grants-are-now-open
