FNHC Infobulletin Volume 1 Issue 3 | October 2008 - First Nations ...

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First Nations Health Council | October 2008 Infobulletin | page 10North American Indigenous Games2008 – August 3-10, 2008The NAIG games were a success and so wasthe information booth for the First NationsHealth Council and Health Careers Recruitment.Much interest was shown in our materialand promotional items, such as post-itpens, picture frame magnets, pedometers,wellness diaries and stainless steel waterbottles; thus, drawing attention from all agegroups.One of the biggest hits was the pedometercombined with a wellness diary. Traffic atthe booth was steady with approximately100+ visitors a day. About 90% of thepeople visiting the booth were unaware ofthe First Nations Health Council or how theTripartite Agreement affected them. Commonquestions/comments included the difficultiesthose are having in access to visionand dental care with the new policies withup front payment. Others expressed lackof access and funding for EHS in their areaendangering low income families health. Afew other comments were made that due toa lack of resources their video-conferencingequipment is not being used to its neededcapacity.HIGHLIGHTS>>The Health Council boothdrew over 1000 visitorsover the course of thegames>>Information sharing aboutthe Tripartite Health Plan,and Health Careers>>34 potential BC FirstNations health careersstudents identified.Health Careers Recruitment officer Erin Mearns (Klahoose First Nation) was on hand at the NAIGand spoke to many First Nations youth and adults about the opportunities in Health Careers.All questions/comments posed weredirected to the appropriate contact of theFirst Nations Health Council for further assistance.Despite the lack of awareness of theHealth Council or TripartiteAgreement, people wereeager to find out, collectedmuch of our information andwere excited to see what thefuture holds.With an attractive new banner,the Health Careers tableadjoined to the Health Council table waseven busier. An activity to increase awarenessof the need for aboriginal people toenter health careers was carried out withthe incentive of giveaways. This provedmuch success and we witnessed othersbringing family members and friends toparticipate at a later time. Parents, grandparentsand youth took much interest in notonly our ‘future health professional’ pictureframe magnets, but also the Health CareerGuidebooks. Approximately 320 guidebookswere handed out and all 1000 magnets weregiven away.It was overheard from other attendeeswitnessing young children were statingthey wanted to be doctors when theygrow up.It was overheard from other attendeeswitnessing young children were stating theywanted to be doctors when they grow up.Prospective health career students contactinformation was recorded and they werealso rewarded with stainless steel waterbottles. Those enrolled in a health careeror close to it also received usb bracelets. Intotal 34 potential BC First Nations healthcareer students were identified.
First Nations Health Council | October 2008 Infobulletin | page 11Red Cross Partnership providesFirst Nations TrainingThrough a Memorandum ofUnderstanding between the CanadianRed Cross and the Assemblyof First Nations, the First NationsHealth Council has been workingwith the Canadian Red Cross B.C.regional office to develop strategiesin the areas of water safety,violence, and first aid.One of our action items in theTransformative Change Accordis to improve First Responderprograms in rural and remote FirstNations communities. Along withthe Red Cross, we are currentlydeveloping a 3-5 year plan to havefirst aid training brought to allcommunities.Through the Mental WellnessProgram, Jody Olsson, First NationsHealth Council’s WellnessCoordinator, and the Red Crossare developing a pilot project totrain crisis responders in RespectEd.The Red Cross’s programteaches how healthy relationshipslook and feel, how to recognizesigns of abuse, dating violenceand harassment, and how to gethelp. Through, “Walking the Pre-vention Circle” the program recognizesthe challenges of Aboriginalindividuals in communities and ismodified to reflect the unique andhistoric experiences of our communitiesby providing a culturallens to training.One area of concern raised at theGathering Wisdom forum waswater safety while participatingin fishing or swimming. Therefore,In the near future, we willbe working with the Red Cross toprovide some water safety trainingto our communities.The Canadian Red Cross hasbecome a keen participant in thehealth and safety of First Nationsand we look forward to developinga strategic long-term plan inthe areas of injury prevention. Ifyou would like more informationon these or any programs, pleasefeel free to contact our office. Ifyou would like to discuss programsthe Red Cross can provideto your community individually,please contact the Aboriginal staffperson in your region.Explore initiativeareas, reports,communityengagementand fundingopportunitiesavailable throughthe First NationsHealth Council.Visit us online atwww.fnhc.caBC Aboriginal Coordinator Contact ListLOWER MAINLAND REGION(Lower Mainland, Whistler, Pemberton, Sunshine Coast, FraserValley to Boston Bar)Aboriginal Advisor: Michael CookDirect Phone Line 604.709. 6646Email: michael.cook@redcross.caAddress: 3400 Lake City Way, Burnaby BC V5A 4Y2Phone: 604.709.6600 Toll Free: 1.800.565.8000Fax: 604.709.6675COASTAL REGION(Vancouver Island, Gulf Islands, Haida Gwaii, Bella Bella, BellaCoola, Ocean Falls, Powell River)Aboriginal Community Development Coordinator:TELAXTEN (Paul Sam)Direct Phone Line 250.995.3506Email: paul.sam@redcross.caAddress: 909 Fairfield Road, Victoria BC V8V 3A3Phone: 250.382.2043 Toll Free: 1.800.661.9055Fax: 250.382.3420BC SOUTHERN INTERIOR REGION(Osoyoos north to 100 Mile; Fraser River at Lillooett east toAlberta border & south to US border; Fraser River south to Lytton& southeast to Osoyoos & US border)Aboriginal Outreach Advisor: Joyce KenorasDirect Phone Line 250.832.6541Email: joyce.kenoras@redcross.caAddress: #5-1414 Hunter Court, Kelowna, BC V1X 6E6Phone: 250.763.1859 Toll Free: 1.800.661.3308Fax: 250.763.6131NORTHERN BC and YUKON TERRITORY REGION(north of Williams Lake and Yukon Territory)Aboriginal Outreach Coordinator: Cameron LauderDirect Phone Line 250.564.6566Email: cameron.lauder@redcross.caAddress: 1399 – 6th Avenue, Prince George, BC V2L 5L6Phone: 250.564.6566 Toll Free: 1.800.278.7717Fax: 250.564.2688After hours emergency answering service* 1.888.800.6493
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FNHC Infobulletin Volume 1 Issue 3 | October 2008 - First Nations ...

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