The 2025 Rural BC Community Award was accepted by the Nisga’a Valley Health Authority on behalf of the Nation’s four communities.

Watch the Video: Nisga’a Valley Health Authority – 2025 Rural BC Community Award
We’re honoured to share this short video that highlights the work and leadership of the Nisga’a Valley Health Authority (NVHA), recipient of this year’s Rural BC Community Award.

The award was presented during the BC Rural Health Conference this June on the unceded territory of the Lheidli T’enneh. The moment was met with warmth and deep respect. For many, it was a moving reflection of what’s possible when care is grounded in community vision and leadership. We’re grateful to the NVHA team, community members, partners, and Elders whose efforts have shaped this work. This recognition is a small way of acknowledging the strength and care already present in the valley—and the exciting work that continues to unfold.

Community-Guided Health Transformation

NVHA serves the four Nisga’a communities—Gitlaxt’aamiks, Gitwinksihlkw, Lax̱g̱alts’ap, and Ging̱olx—and supports Nisga’a citizens living away from home. Over the past five years, NVHA has worked closely with community members and regional partners to improve health services and strengthen systems of care.

Key developments include:

• • Regular clinics in all four communities, with full-time physicians now integrated into local life

  • 24/7 emergency and on-call coverage, replacing a previous reliance on sporadic locum coverage

  • An interdisciplinary care team that includes traditional wellness workers, an occupational therapist, a kinesiologist, and a dietitian

  • A locally trained emergency medical transport (EMT) team, reducing long waits and improving access to timely care

  • Community-led quality improvement efforts, including the launch of BC’s first site for the CHANGE program to address high rates of metabolic syndrome

Dr. Christie Chan, NVHA’s Medical Director, noted:

“All of this progress has only been made possible because of partnerships we’ve made in the region.”

These partnerships, built on trust and shared goals, have created space for innovation and continuity in a way that reflects the needs and strengths of the Nisga’a Nation.

Culture, Healing, and Forward Momentum

Alongside clinical improvements, NVHA has also invested in programs that support healing and cultural connection. Through a land-based healing program, community members engage in traditional food preparation, clothing-making, and ancestral practices—reaffirming identity and wellness in everyday life.

NVHA CEO Corinne McKay shared:

“We have a population that is still affected by the issues encountered in residential schools… And we know that there is more we can do. From where I am in the organization, I know there’s great potential to do more.”

These words remind us that the work of health and healing is ongoing. What is being built in the Nisga’a Valley is grounded, responsive, and deeply rooted in place.

Interested in learning about the other 2025 award recipients?
Read our blog post on this year’s Lifetime Achievement Awards and watch the video honouring rural physicians across BC.