With unparalleled collaboration, a new program aimed at cultural competency, is making its way into Lethbridge College.
Beginning January 2016, the community health promotion program will open its doors to students.
The new program highlights First Nations, Metis, Inuit (FNMI) and western cultural differences in order to prepare an individual for work in any community, including reserves.
Jerome Yellowdirt, Health Resource Coordinator, at Treaty Six First Nations, said interest for the program came from a need within the communities across the province.
“There was a need to do more work in terms of what a community health representative does in the community, which would alleviate the work load for the nurses,” he said. “The communities are lacking service providers and those working in the health field.”
As a result, the First Nations and Inuit Health Branch in Edmonton sent out letters of interest to post secondary institutions (PSIs) province-wide.
Because the need was provincial wide need, Lethbridge College in conjunction with Red Crow College and Northern Lakes College were chosen as representatives for the program.
Debra Bardock, Dean for the Centre of Health and Wellness at the college, said southern Alberta would benefit from this program due to our first nations population and is the first of its kind in terms of collaboration.
“When you’re talking in magnitude of PSI’s, cultural groups, federal government, provincial government, in terms of innovation, that is unparalleled in our world here,” she said.
According to Bardock the program will be mostly taught online, but will start with a week-long cultural seminar and will end with a practicum.
Karen Schoenbrunn, Program Chair of Health Sciences at the college, said the program is divided into a one year certificate program and a two year diploma program, with the possibility of being able to expand into a degree.
“Right now, talks are going on with the University of Lethbridge in regards to a two plus two degree,” she said.
This would allow students who earned a diploma, to complete another two years at the University of Lethbridge and graduate with an aboriginal health degree.
Currently, Yellowdirt said the focus is on promotion and wants to see a recruitment process put in place to make sure everyone across the province is included.
“We are sending information out to various organizations, communities and contacting people to get the word out the program will start in January,” he said.
“Sometimes people figure it’s pretty scary to work on the reserve and it’s not, it’s just stereotyping and we are trying to break that barrier.”
For more information visit lethbridgecollege.ca/chp.
