Health workers enhance skills

Page 10

More than 30 Community Health Representatives (CHRs) attended an annual, week-long, skill enhancement in-service at Portage College last month, presented by the college's CHR program. This year's topic was cancer.

Nurse Jacqueline Demmare, the CHR program co-ordinator for the college, was responsible for overall organization at that end and media liaison.

"The Elders all mentioned the need for prayer and early prevention as the key (to overcoming cancer) . . . . Some Aboriginal people are not comfortable with the word cancer and put off seeing a doctor until it is too late." Demmare added that the Elders' message was one of a balanced approach to medicine, Western and traditional.

The CHRs who added to their knowledge during the session came from the graduating classes of 1974 to 2000. All applauded the role that the organizers play in promoting the role of the CHR in their communities. Often CHRs go unrecognized as they attend to health promotion, injury prevention and act as a cultural liaison between health professionals and their clients.

Beverly Alook, Stanley Courtereille and Rachael Saddleback wrote about their education as CHRs: "Our experience during our journey to success wasn't so easy. As a student there are lots of trials and barriers. It took a lot of effort and hard work: most of our time was dedicated to the role of a student. We put everything on hold so we could accomplish the one dream we had and that was to help others, be role models for our communities, our people, and most of all our children.

The role of the CHR is to promote wellness (healthy lifestyles). They assist individuals, families, and groups in our communities to take responsibility for their own health; they also work with others to improve and maintain their spiritual, physical, intellectual, social and emotional well-being."

The following students got special recognition:

* Outstanding student - Rachael Saddleback (Samson Cree Nation)

* CHR Association of Alberta Award for dedication and commitment - Joanne Littlebear-Wells (Blood Tribe, Standoff)

* Bayer Bursary for excellence in Health Promotion - Stanley Courtereille (Misikew Cree Nation, Fort Chipewyan)

* Bayer Bursary for excellence in Practical Skills - Sonia Alexander (Thunderchild First Nation, Sask.)

Other CHR graduates attended from the communities of Frog Lake First Nation, Bigstone Cree First Nation, Goodfish Lake First Nation, the Paul band, and Duffield, Alta.

The Alberta Cancer Board and the First Nations and Inuit Health Branch (FNIHB) supplied doctors and staff for the in-service.

Louise Forest, provincial co-ordinator for the Aboriginal cancer control strategy of the Alberta Cancer Board co-ordinated the guests and presenters.

Kay Half, CHR co-ordinator with the Alberta FNIHB ensured that invited Elders were able to attend. They were Jules and Mary Half from Goodfish Lake, Eve Yellow Old Woman from Siksika, and Francis and Juliette Macadam from Big River, Sask.

The accredited CHR program offered at Portage College has run for 28 years and is the only one of its kind in Alberta. It is 35 weeks with 20 weeks of instruction and 15 weeks of fieldwork, plus the yearly skill enhancement training. Distance education and on-line courses are being planned. The program emphasizes personal well-being; holistic health; understanding the community and getting the message across; public speaking and teaching skills. It also provides a sound base in human development, environmental health, health promotion and computer skills.

Graduates are employed by health units or boards to work in health centres in First Nations and Metis communities.

(with files from Beverly Alook, CHR - Bigstone Cree First Nation; Stanley Courtereille, CHR - Mikisew Cree Nation; and Rachael Saddleback, CHR - Samson Cree Nation)