Niislaa Naay Healing House

Gaw Tlagée

About Us

Niislaa Naay Healing House provides care for a wide range of needs, from prenatal care, infant and youth health (pediatrics) to adult and Naanii (grandmother) and Tsiini (grandfather) health, all rooted in Haida values and guided by community needs. We offer holistic health and wellness services that support the mind, body, spirit, and heart.

History & Background

From inception until February 21, 2020, Haida Health Centre’s existing structure came under the umbrella and direction of the Old Massett Village Council providing a comprehensive range of health services.

Our current building was established in 1997, with a dental clinic and office expansion in 2004. A community engagement process was conducted in December 2019 of which 98% of participants recommended Haida Health Centre create a new Haida Governance Model inclusive of Haida Laws and values, guiding principles, membership and Board compositions and characteristics.

Through a signed Band Council Resolution on 3 February 2020, Old Massett Village Council approved Haida Health Centre to create Niislaa Naay Healing House Society and form an interim Board of Directors. On 21 February 2020, the Niislaa Naay Healing House became a not-for-profit Incorporated Society under the Societies Act with the BC Registry Service. The name Niislaa Naay, meaning Healing House was created by Tsiinii Stephen Brown and Xaad Kil headed by Jasquan.

A further community engagement was undertaken on January 28, 2020 of which 95% of participants supported Haida Health Centre to become registered as an independent entity to help mitigate the risk on Council operations and to improve transparency and accountability for health care to the community, funders, and Council.

Guiding Directives

Vision

Niislaa Naay Healing House Society serves the health needs of Haida people and community residents while managing and maintaining a high standard of healthcare and is a model of high performance non-profit Haida governance.

Mission

Niislaa Naay Healing House Society secures the resources necessary to meet the purposes of the Society and the integration of programs, services, building and operating the necessary facilities to deliver health programs, including creating and maintaining partnerships with key internal and external agencies to ensure equitable access to health services that meet the needs of Haida communities, and ensure that these services are culturally sensitive.

Niislaa Naay Healing House Society addresses the health needs of Haida people and the residents of our communities through delivery of health programs that address the physical, spiritual, mental, emotional, environmental social, cultural, and economic wellness of the individual, family, community, and Nation.

We embrace the strengths of the Haida people and practice a comprehensive model of health care that encompasses all aspects of our being, bodies, minds, and spirits, using best practice from our culture and from Haida and western medicine to support individual, family and community well-being. We promote and support members (citizens of Haida communities) in their journey to attain and sustain the healthiest lifestyle possible through participation in all aspects and levels of healthcare, including healthcare planning.

Values

The Haida Nation

“Our culture is born of respect, and intimacy with the land and sea and the air around us. Like the forests, the roots of our people are intertwined such that the greatest troubles cannot overcome us. We owe our existence to Haida Gwaii. The living generation accepts the responsibility to ensure that our heritage is passed on to following generations”

Haida people have occupied Haida Gwaii since time immemorial. Our traditional territory encompasses parts of southern Alaska, the archipelago of Haida Gwaii and its surrounding waters. Our pre-contact population was in the tens of thousands in several dozen towns dispersed throughout the islands. During the time of contact our population fell to about 600, this was due to introduced disease including measles, typhoid, and smallpox. Today, Haida people make up half of the 5000 people living on the islands.

All people of Haida ancestry are citizens of the Haida Nation. Every Haida citizen has the right of access to all Haida Gwaii resources for cultural reasons, and for food or commerce consistent with the Laws of Nature as reflected in the laws of the Haida Nation.

Haida reside throughout the islands but are concentrated in two main centers, Skidegate at the south end and Old Massett at the north end of Graham Island. Besides these two communities there are many 2000 more Haida scattered throughout the world. Vancouver, 770 km south of Haida Gwaii, has a large population as does Prince Rupert which is 100 km east across Hecate Strait. The Haida Nation collectively holds Hereditary and Aboriginal Title and Rights to Haida Territories and the cultural and intellectual property rights of the Haida Nation.