First Nations Lead New Culturally Safe Health Centre

The Dadzi Wellness Centre, a new facility on Dak'elh territory in northern British Columbia, is now open to provide First Nations-led, culturally safe primary care. This initiative is poised to connect around 1,250 patients with essential healthcare providers. The centre operates five days a week, offering services that span primary care, maternal health, and traditional wellness and healing programs.

Its approach emphasizes holistic care, recognizing and addressing patients' overall well-being, including trauma, medical issues, and addiction. By integrating traditional Indigenous teachings within a medical setting, the centre aims to create an environment where patients feel their identity is respected and barriers to accessing healthcare are reduced.

The facility will host 15.65 full-time equivalent health-care providers, including doctors, nurse practitioners, nurses, and mental health professionals. It will also include Elders, traditional food advisers, Indigenous navigators, and social workers, ensuring comprehensive support for the community.

This centre represents a significant step in delivering holistic healthcare closer to home, blending Western clinical practices with First Nations knowledge. It is a collaborative effort funded by the First Nations Health Authority and the Ministry of Health, with support from Dak'elh partners, and is part of a broader initiative to establish three such centres in northern B.C.