Skip to content

Four new faces on Gitxsan Health Services board

The Gitxsan Health Society (GHS) received four new members last week with the new members taking their posts shortly before the new year.

The Gitxsan Health Society (GHS) received four new members last week with the new members taking their posts shortly before the new year.

Elections were held in four separate communities, Kispiox, Glen Vowell, Gitanmaax and New Hazelton.

The newly elected will serve 2-3 year terms and be expected to make decisions on such things as bursary recipient, programming and funding priorities.

“Dynamics will change a bit with the new members,” Julie Morrison, executive health director, said.

“But we’ve been through strategic planning already.”

There are several services already underway through GHS.

Support for pregnant women and parents, in-home care for the elderly and patient transportation are some of the regular services offered by the GHS.

The GHS is currently providing flu shots for anyone wanting to partake in the seasonal service.

One of the more specialized programs is the mental health and addictions branch GHS provides.

“We try to be as preventative as possible,” Morrison said.

“Every community we serve has slightly different needs and we do our best to meet those needs.”

Gitanmaax, Glen Vowell and Kispiox are the only communities GHS serves, as the other Gitxsan communities have opted to provide health services locally.

However, the First Nations Action Support Team (FAST) is a program that focusses on youth and is provided for all Gitxsan and neighboring Nations, as well, such as the Kitselas and the Wet’suwet’en.

The GHS also provides Gitxsan elders with lunches on occasion and a drop-in program to help residential school or day school survivors and their families heal.

For more information visit www.gitxsanhealth.com or call 250-842-6876.