Team brings rehab services to reserves

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Life has its challenges for people with spinal cord injuries and other physical disabilities, but there is a team of dedicated Aboriginal people employed by the Alberta branch of the Canadian Paraplegic Association (CPA) who are reaching out to Native people across the province and farther afield.

The four, Director of Rehabilitation Services for First Nation and Metis Programs, Kim Gernack, and his staff consisting of Betty Ridsdell, Elmer Cardinal and Ken Jobin, try to raise awareness of the issues facing disabled people and provide services and support where they are needed. Aboriginal and community rehabilitation counselling is defined as one of CPA's eight core services.

Jobin was in the Sweetgrass office recently and was eager to talk about CPA's push to expand client services in Aboriginal communities in Alberta.

Jobin, 58, who was born near High Prairie, used to be an alcohol and drug counsellor and worked with Poundmakers Lodge and Nechi Institute.

"I've borrowed elements from their program and added more cultural and spiritual aspects," he said. Jobin adds he tries to enlist the support of Elders in the places he visits.

Jobin was the first Aboriginal person to take the Addictions program at the University of Alberta, from which he graduated in June 1998.

"There are not enough people doing field work; nobody's going to isolated communities," he said, speaking of disabled people's services once more.

Jobin says he would like to start a peer support program on every reserve. He adds that a lot of Aboriginal people are not aware of the services or agencies that exist in their communities, and a big part of the fieldworker's job is helping people connect with what is available where they live.

Jobin also does contract work for the Workers Compensation Board. He goes as far as Nunavut, on a three-month schedule, to visit a quadriplegic man in Iglulik, where he does family counselling, checks equipment and ensures that needed services are in place.

He and his colleagues visit clients, health care centres and nurses in charge in far-flung places. Each brings unique experience to the job.

Elmer Cardinal, a member of Saddle Lake First Nation, has worked with CPA for a year. He is credited with starting a disability society in his home community and is reputed to have the highest number of clients returning to education or employment in the province of Alberta.

Betty Ridsell, a Metis from Saskatchewan, has a child welfare agency background. She's now helping Treaty 7 First Nations get their own rehabilitation organizations up and running. The Blood Tribe and Siksika First Nation, both in Alberta, have consulted with her regarding their programs.

Kim Gernack, a Cree from Saskatchewan, formerly worked five years as a counsellor at Hobbema, Alta. He now provides administrative expertise to communities that want to run their own rehabilitation services, and is negotiating with the Blood Tribe and with Metis settlements regarding a pilot project to establish best practices and solid outcomes. In addition to his provincial role, Gernack is also regional director of the Red Deer, Alta. office.

Jobin said further that as part of the rehabilitation team at Edmonton's Glenrose Hospital he goes home with Aboriginal clients to make sure they have wheelchair access, unless it is in Betty's or Elmer's areas. CPA funds part of the team's travel expenses through bingo and a golf tournament.

CPA's Aboriginal and Community Rehabilitation Services Division is the largest division in its Alberta operation, with an active caseload of around 1,000 people.

In addition to its Aboriginal component, the organization provides contract services, vocational evaluation and counselling, job placement, community advocacy, assessment services, peer support, information services and special events.

From Sept. 27 to 29, CPA, in conjunction with the Brain Injury Association of Alberta, is hosting a symposium in Edmonton. "Neurotrauma Connections'99" is billed as being for "people with disabilities, professionals and researchers working in neurotrauma-related fields." Jobin said Aboriginal Services will have their own booth there.