Generous funding received

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It's not all cutbacks and bad news when it comes to local hospitals.

In February, the local Aboriginal Health Council was pleased that their newly approved Aboriginal Hospital Representative Program received generous transfusion of government funding.

The Calgary Regional Health Authority and Alberta Health's Aboriginal Health Strategy Project will each contribute $150, 000 over the next three years.

"That's why we are so optimistic," said Richard Folster, chairman of the Aboriginal Health Council.

Thanks to the new $300,000 program, and Aboriginal person will be hired to work at each of the city's three adult acute-care hospitals-the Rockyview, Peter Lougheed Centre and the Foothills.

"Certainly from my perspective and the [regional] boards perspective, the need for [the program] was there," said Dave Bilan, a regional health authority executive officer and Aboriginal Health Council member.

The new program is designed to make Aboriginal people in Calgary and from the Treaty Seven area feel more comfortable about accessing health-care services, particularly hospitals.

"It's a very frightening experience to go into the hospital," said Folster, recounting his own childhood experience of having his appendix out.

Talking with an Aboriginal hospital representative will give Aboriginal people "some sense of security," he explained. "They are also proud that an Aboriginal person is on staff."

"We are anxious to see [this program] break some new ground in other areas," said the Aboriginal Health Council chairman. "How can we involve Aboriginal Elders and cultural advisors in terms of healthcare?"

Elders already perform ceremonies at the Alberta's Children Hospital in Calgary.

"it's now at the policies and procedure level," said Sally Goodstriker, the Native liaison officer there. "it's been accepted."

Calgary's new Aboriginal hospital representatives will not fulfill the same role as Goodstriker, who now is beginning her third year as a Native liaison worker at the children's hospital.

"The [Aboriginal] health representative is not as in depth as a liaison program, but there are similarities, such as bridging the gap and creating cultural awareness," Goodstriker said. Folster added that Goodstriker served as a model for the new program. Goodstriker in turn, gave credit to her supervisor Connie Sparrow and Bob Robinson for the success of the Native liaison program.