British Columbia, Canada, has pioneered a more localist approach to indigenous health care. Health services for members of the province’s First Nations are delivered through the First Nations Health Authority.

The system maintains a strong emphasis on local voice in determining health priorities and in finding solutions that work for each community. At the same time, the system is embedded within an overall healthcare system far more constraining than New Zealand’s.

Understanding the context of Canada’s health system, First Nations’ place as a third tier of government in Canada, and Indigenous Services Canada’s provision of healthcare services for First Nations overall matters when drawing lessons from British Columbia’s experience.

This report on the Canadian First Nations Health Authority describes how their indigenous-led healthcare initiatives work for them – and what lessons they hold for New Zealand.