For Immediate Release

New Resource Available Free to Metis Expectant Parents

Vancouver, B.C. - The MNBC Ministry of Health is pleased to encourage Metis expectant parents throughout the Province to contact MNBC head office for their complimentary copy of the Baby's Best Chance (DVD), company guide to the popular parenting book.

Baby's Best Chance: A Guide for Expectant Parents (DVD)

This DVD is a companion to Baby's Best Chance: Parents' Handbook of Pregnancy and Baby Care. It provides information about planning for and having a healthy pregnancy and childbirth, as well as care of your baby in the weeks following birth.

The DVD is divided into 7 chapters. In the first 6 chapters, 4 BC women share their personal prenatal journeys and welcome their new babies into their lives. Chapter 7 focuses on pre-conception health, and highlights things to consider in planning for a healthy pregnancy, before becoming pregnant.

For your copy contact:
Angel Ahmadzai-Fisher
Metis Nation British Columbia
604.801.5853

Aboriginal Sports, Recreation and Physical Activity Partners Council

Invites you to participate in a 2 Day Regional Planning Workshop on the implementation of BC's new Strategy for Aboriginal Sports, Recreation and Physical Activity

The Partners Council is conducting 7 Regional Workshops across the province and is inviting Aboriginal sports, recreation, physical activity, and health leaders to attend and participate in a new structured regional engagement and project coordination process for BC.

The following are the preliminary dates for the 7 Regional Engagement Workshops that will be delivered through the months of April and May please retain the ASRPAPC workshop schedule for your respective region. Each region will receive a registration package that is specific to that region via email.

Please retain these dates for your community reference:

1. Fort St. John - April 15-16
2. Terrace - April 19-20
3. Prince George - April 22-23
4. Abbotsford - April 26-27
5. Vancouver - April 29-30
6. Vernon - May 3-4
7. Nanaimo - May 17-18

All Regions

• Workshop Notice
• Registration Form

Métis Elders - Wellness Day

"Health Through The Lifespan"

Friday MARCH 5th 2009
Cascadia Hotel and Suites
1234 Hornby Street
Vancouver BC

1-5pm - Wellness speakers, activities, and workshops

• Door Prizes
• Elders Wellness Bingo
• Elders Lounge

6pm - Banquet Dinner and Entertainment

Participation is FREE (accommodation and/or travel cannot be provided). Banquet tickets are limited so please call MNBC Reception today to register.
1-800-940-1150 OR 604-801-5853

Sponsored by: Metis Nation British Columbia and the Metro Vancouver Urban Aboriginal Strategy

• Elder's Health Conference Draft Agenda (PDF)

H1N1 Flu Virus

What symptoms should I watch for?

If you have the H1N1 flu you may experience symptoms such as:

• Fever
• Sore Throat
• Headache
• Body Aches
• Muscle Pain
• Runny Nose
• Cough

Some people, especially children, may also have nausea, vomiting or diarrhea. Adults over 65 and children under five may not have a fever when sick with the H1N1 flu virus. Although colds and other viruses may cause similar symptoms, influenza generally makes you sicker than other viruses.

To help prevent spread of the virus visit www.fightflu.ca and wash your hands frequently!

HealthLink BC

• Website: www.healthlinkbc.ca
• (Toll Free) 811 / (Deaf & hard of hearing) 711
• In case of emergency please call 911

BC residents can now visit HealthLink BC's more user-friendly website to directly access reliable, up-to-date information on the H1N1 flu virus and to use the H1N1 symptom checker.

Visit HealthLink BC online or call 24-hours a day/seven days a week if you have questions or concerns.Translation services are available in over 130 languages.

For vaccination clinics for H1N1 and Seasonal Flu enter the below site and click on the icon to the right "find your local flu clinic, Immunize BC" http://www.gov.bc.ca/h1n1/ or alternately call 811

Children under 5, Pregnant Women and all Aboriginal People (First Nation, Métis and Inuit) are priority for first shipment of H1N1 vaccination.

On the web Health Authorities

• Government of BC: www.gov.bc.ca/h1n1
• Fraser Health: www.fraserhealth.ca
• HealthLink BC: www.healthlinkbc.ca
• Interior Health: www.interiorhealth.ca
• Immunize BC: www.immunizebc.ca
• Northern Health: www.northernhealth.ca
• BC Centre for Disease Control: www.bccdc.ca
• Provincial Health Services: www.phsa.ca
• Vancouver Coastal Health: www.vch.ca
• Vancouver Island Health: www.viha.ca

Cooking for Life

Whether you're a gourmet chef, an admitted amateur or somewhere in between, Cooking for Your Life! might be your ticket to healthier eating. This is a 4-week, hands-on, cooking and nutrition class taught by a registered dietitian and a cooking instructor. Participants walk away with a new set of cooking skills and practical advice on how to find out what's in the products they buy. Discover healthy food choices, add more variety to what you eat, and increase your sense of well-being! Cooking for Your Life! participants learn to: prepare and cook delicious, nutritious meals read food labels, modify recipes, and plan menus, include the right amount of fat and fibre in meals without sacrificing flavor, manage or decrease the risk of diabetes or heart disease and enjoy a healthier lifestyle Classes are held in a fun, informative atmosphere where individuals receive as much instruction as they need.

• View Full Information on What We Can Do (PDF)

Evaluation Study of the Compassionate Care Benefit (CCB)

Calling Participants! Have you helped care for and support someone at their end of life? We are conducting a national study of people who have helped look after and support a family member or other loved one during the final stages of their life at any time since 2004. Are you currently or have you ever cared for and/or supported someone at risk of death? This may include persons suffering from a terminal illness including but not limited to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, congestive heart failure, cancer, or Alzheimer's.

• View Full Information (PDF)

Canada's New Government launches first ever national Food Guide for First Nations, Inuit and Métis

This is the first time that Canada's Food Guide has been tailored nationally to reflect the unique values, traditions and food choices of Aboriginal populations.

• View Full Information (PDF)