MKO 22nd LEGISLATIVE GOVERNMENT HOUSE
Annual General Assembly Opaskwayak Cree Nation
September 9, 10, 11, 2003

Background

AEHHS was established in 1991 as a result of a 1989 directive from Medical Services Branch to design and deliver accredited health training to Manitoba First Nations Health workers in their communities. It received its mandate from Assembly of Manitoba chiefs via resolution in 1989. AEHHS coordinates this training program which was formerly known as the Community Health & Human Services Workers (CHHSW) diploma program. This is done by delivering the program in twelve ten-day modules over a two year period at Assiniboine Community College in Brandon, Manitoba. The training includes a holistic healing approach involving the body, mind and spirit through relevant culturally specific practices, i.e. sweat lodge ceremonies, healing circles, smudging and personal healing journeys. The training covers culturally relevant materials through classroom learning and on-the-job practicum. There is an emphasis on personal growth and wellness.

Since 1991, there has been a total of 91 graduates (53 CHR's and 38 NNADAP) who have completed the program. These graduates are still actively employed in their First Nations and many have gone on to further education in areas of Education, Aboriginal Self Government, and Health. This program offers NNADAP and CHR's an opportunity to acquire and expand their knowledge and skill base to work effectively to address the health and social inadequacies in their communities.

Current Activities

1. FIRST NATIONS AND INUIT HEALTH BRANCH DIRECTIVE

In March of 2001, FIRST NATIONS & INUIT HEALTH BRANCH issued a directive for AEHHS and MCWWG training programs to meet and collaborate on identifying ways to amalgamate their training programs. Since then, AEHHS has been involved in meetings with members from Manitoba Community Wellness Working Group and a representative from First Nations & Inuit Health Branch to continue these talks until such time a collective outcome is achieved. Funding was given to both groups to continue their training programs. In December of 2001, a consultant was hired to do a comparative study of the two programs. This report was finished in February 2002 and found both programs to be valuable and needed in our First Nations. Further meetings took place to review the final report and its recommendations. One of the meetings was to identify three members from each group to form a sub-committee to start this work and begin the implementation of some of the recommendations. One of the recommendations was to develop an amalgamated management board to govern the two training programs. It was decided by both groups that terms of reference be developed for this body. A joint capacity building strategy was submitted to First Nations and Inuit Health and Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs in May of 2003, and Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs supported the strategy by passing a resolution which recommended an integrated mandate for AEHHS and MCCWG to develop a shared management board and to implement the capacity building strategy for First Nations Health and Human Service Workers. This process is on-going.

2. AEHHS TRAINING PROGRAM ACCREDITATION

AEHHS has gained accreditation status with Assiniboine Community College in October of 2002. This was achieved by clustering AEHHS curriculum with the Fundamentals of Human Services that Assiniboine Community College is offering. Fundamentals of Human Services is a new course for the helping profession at a basic level. This course is customized in accordance with the requirements of the AEHHS curriculum in consultation with ACC. When the requirements are completed, the applicant will finish and graduate with a certificate in Fundamentals of Human Services. These courses are fully transferable to other programs at Assiniboine Community College such as Aboriginal Community Development, Early Childhood Education, Comprehensive Health Care Aide, Practical Nursing, etc. AEHHS curriculum was also granted 2 + 2 status with Brandon University Senate in December of 2002 where Health and Human Service graduates can transfer their credits towards the Bachelor degree in First Nations Aboriginal Counseling program. This applies to students who have since graduated from the years 1991 to 1999. AEHHS is currently negotiating with Brandon University to consider this status beyond 1999.

3. AEHHS PROGRAM INTAKE AND APPLICANTS STATUS

Applicants for the training program are experiencing difficulties accessing sponsorship to participate in the training program. AEHHS staff will continue to lobby First Nations Education Authorities and First Nations Employment & Training to obtain financial support. This continues to be a major obstacle for the health and human service workers who are sometimes at the bottom of the priority list of sponsorship. A commitment is urgently needed to ensure that there is an existing tuition base for our workers to take training to upgrade their knowledge and skills, most of all those in the health and human services field. As they are the ones involved in critical incident in our communities. They need training to enable them to handle the crisis and also to learn to take care of themselves during and after the critical incident.

CONCLUSION

Our First Nations Health and Human Service workers need to be constantly on the alert for new health concerns such as SARS, West Nile Virus, etc. These workers are the front line workers that deal with a variety of health problems with little or no training. They are usually the first ones that are called when a crisis happens in the community. They urgently require further training to address these needs as sometimes it becomes overwhelming to deal with so many health concerns with little or inadequate resources. Training is key to providing the quality and best possible service to the needs of our First Nation people. Learning prevention techniques such as changing negative lifestyles will have an impact on how we live and it also our health. Knowledge is power. We, as First Nations people, need to change for better health and for our future generations. Ekosi!