Indigenous Employee Experience

Island Health serves 50 First Nations communities belonging to three cultural families grouped by language: Coast Salish, Nuu-Chah-Nulth, and Kwakwaka’wakw. In addition, six chartered Métis communities and six urban Friendship Centres are part of the communities we serve.

We are committed to fostering a workforce that more closely reflects the diverse population we serve. Island Health’s vision for the future is rooted in respect, understanding, and recognition of Indigenous peoples.

Established in 2012, the Indigenous Employee Experience Team focuses on attracting and retaining Indigenous employees at all levels of the organization. The team is dedicated to promoting a culturally safe workplace where Indigenous employees thrive as valued members of the Island Health community.

Our services

Employment Coaching: Listening to your needs and helping you achieve your career goals
Resume Support: Reformatting your resume and cover letter to better grab the attention of hiring managers
Indigenous Employee Support: Fostering a culturally safe work experience and supporting you along the way
Job Shadowing: Creating health career pathways for Indigenous youth and adults through job shadowing opportunities

Connect with a member of our Indigenous Employee Experience team

Learn about Indigenous Health Services

Why our program is important

Indigenous Peoples continue to face significant barriers to employment due to the legacy of historical genocide and the ongoing impacts of both individual and systemic Indigenous-specific racism. As a result, Indigenous Peoples remain underrepresented within Island Health’s workforce.

To address this disparity, Island Health is committed to targeted Indigenous recruitment and retention efforts. These initiatives are essential to building a representative workforce that reflects the diverse communities we serve, across all occupations and levels of employment.

In addition, Island Health is dedicated to embedding cultural safety and humility into all health and care services. We are actively working to eliminate systemic racism, increase Indigenous representation, and foster a Speak-Up Culture. This culture ensures that staff and patients understand how to report racism they witness or experience, and feel safe doing so.

Salt Spring Island, BC – traditional territory of the Coast Salish Peoples

Our Values

As we strive to recruit and retain a thriving Indigenous workforce, we are guided by Island Health’s C.A.R.E. values and the vision of excellent health and care for everyone, every where, every time. In addition to our organizational core values, our work is further guided by our connection to our respective cultures, to Indigenous Ways of Knowing and Being, and by our relationship with Indigenous communities whose unceded homelands Island Health occupies.

Sidney, BC – traditional territory of the W̱SÁNEĆ People

View of ocean looking past First Nations sculpture

Our program goals, objectives, and benchmarks align with the following program-specific values, which are anchored in trauma-informed practice:

Grounding all our work through collaborative relationships that are respectful of the cultural protocols of the Indigenous communities we serve;
Amplifying the voices and experiences of Indigenous Peoples;
Building for the future Indigenous workforce through advocacy, education and resource sharing;
Advancing cultural safety and humility and Indigenous specific anti-racism work in all our interactions;
Recruiting in ways that advance opportunity and prosperity for Indigenous individuals, families, and communities; and
Retaining Indigenous employees by actively promoting a culturally safer work environment and valuing the experiences and contributions of Indigenous staff.

Meet the team

Alegha Hanuse

Manager

Alegha is from the Wuikinuxv Nation in Rivers Inlet, British Columbia and is a grateful visitor on the traditional and unceded territories of the Lekwungen People.

Alegha’s formal education includes a Bachelor’s degree in social work and she has been working in Indigneous adult education, literacy, anti-violence work, anti-racism and employment for several years.

Email: [email protected]

Gabby Jacobsen

Indigenous Employee Experience Advisor

Gabriel (Gabby) is from the First Nations of Lac La Ronge on Treaty 6 Territory located in Northern Saskatchewan. Prior to joining the Indigenous Recruitment & Retention team, Gabby worked with the Indigenous Health & Diversity, Equity and Inclusion portfolio, providing administrative support to their Leadership team as well as the Partnership Accord between Island Health and FNHA. As an Indigenous woman with a disability, Gabby has dedicated her career to improving the health outcomes for Indigenous people by delivering culturally safe services, and engaging with Indigenous people to strengthen and rebuild relationships.

Email: [email protected]

Ryan Van Haastert

Central Island Employment Advisor

Ryan was welcomed in to the Indigenous Recruitment & Retention team on January 16th, 2023 as an Indigenous Employment Advisor for the Central Island region. Ryan identifies as Nêhiyawak (Cree), Métis and Austrian. Ryan worked with WorkBC as an Employment Outreach Coordinator & member within Maximus Canada’s DEI Committees. Previous years within Tillicum Lelum as an Aboriginal liaison, support worker, and facilitator. Ryan is an advocate to Indigenous rights, Wellness, safe spaces, and DEI Initiatives. Ryan actively participates in many community committees.
Email: [email protected]

Alex Jules

North Island Employment Advisor

Hello everyone, my traditional name is Tatuuc (Tatooch), my English name is Alexander (Alex) Jules, and I have recently worked for Island Health as the Indigenous Wellness Liaison and am now the Indigenous Employment Advisor, Recruitment and Retention.

I was born and raised in Kyuquot as a child then moved away to Port Alberni. I grew up in the foster system and spent a lot of time living with my grandmother.

My working background as of recently is as an Indigenous Wellness Liaison with the Comox Valley Primary Network, also Director of Community Service for our Kyuquot First Nation for over 5 years. I also run a youth Rediscovery Program in our traditional territory and have been doing so for approximately 20 years. I am a certified First Responder as well, and have been for about 25 years. I have also done a lot of Kayaking and Canoeing and am a certified kayak guide where I would led and introduced Kayaking to youth of all ages(8-99). 

I look forward to meeting everyone and look forward to working in my new role as the Indigenous Recruitment and Retention advisor.

Email:[email protected]