Bell speaks to Aboriginal health careers students

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The subject of capitalism is not what you'd expect to hear at a lecture on Aboriginal health care.

But John Kim Bell, the president of the Aboriginal Achievement Foundation, did just that in his guest lecture to University of Alberta students in the Aboriginal Health Care Careers Program in the Faculty of Medicine and Oral Health Sciences on Sept. 28.

"In Aboriginal culture, capitalism is not prevalent," said Bell.

He pointed out thatr ,historically, most Aboriginal societies operated in a collective way. But with the new world "globalization" forcing society to be more competitive, every market is being explored. As a result, the belief of a totally collective society today can no longer be afforded by Aboriginal people, he said.

Bell stated there is a need for a greater contribution by Aboriginal people to the economy. Aboriginal people are naturally competitive as a result of the rigors of nature that were imposed on them for survival, he said.

Bell pointed to education as one of the keys for Aboriginal people to become more competitive in the world.

"One of these people may find the cure for cancer," he said.

His own organization can work in partnership with students to better compete in an ever changing word, he said. As programs like the Aboriginal health care careers give opportunities to Aboriginal people, and through the National Aboriginal Achievement Foundation, students can get the financial support they need to succeed.

Dwaine Larose, 28, is one of those students. The Metis man is in his second year of medicine at the university in the Aboriginal health care careers program.

"In medicine you can never stop learning. You can never sort of sit still," said Larose.

He credits the Aboriginal health program for the support he receives. Currently Larose is deciding what area of medicine he will specialize in.

Following the lecture, Larose presented Bell with a blanket on behalf of the faculty and he said it was also in thanks for the scholarship he received from the achievement foundation this year. Larose expects to complete his studies by the year 2001. He hopes his hard work and achievements in his schooling may serve as a n example for other Aboriginal people.