Consultants urge young Native people look into health careers

Page 2

Natives have to start seeing health careers as valuable and attainable professions, according to health consultants.

"It is heartbreaking as a Native individual how few Indians think a health career is within their grasp," said Dianne Moir, a consultant with the Alberta Indian Health Care Commission.

She's currently working on a project for the commission to identify career needs in Native communities throughout the province.

A project worker has been criss-crossing the province interviewing between 10 to 15 key people in the communities like nurses, elders and community health representatives (CHRs) to gather information.

Recommendations are expected to be presented to the commission this month.

Moir was one of a number of speakers at a recent Treaty 6 health conference held in Edmonton to encourage Indians to look towards health professions as a career.

A member of the Waskaganish Band from Quebec, Moir has lived in Alberta since 1973.

The swelling youth population should concern leaders, she said.

It's "frightening" to see, for instance, that 600 people in a community of just 2,000 are under 15 years-old.

"If they're not taught what their potentials is, they're going to be angry, unemployed rebels," predicted Moir.

Young people, who are thinking of health careers, need to know that math and science are essential subjects to have, she said.

Elders, chiefs and parents have to encourage youth to go into health careers, and those careers have to be valued, said Moir.

"My challenge to you is make sure that sometime in the next 24 hours you look at a child you have influence over and challenge them to look beyond what is easily acceptable and to reach for a dream," said Moir.

"If these children do not have access to appropriate, challenging, highly-skilled education and leadership that can look and plan and which has the latitude to take futuristic approaches to government and economic development, then there's this huge bubble of kids on our doorstep who are undereducated without jobs. What are we going to do?" she said.

Gaye Hanson of the medical services branch with Health and Welfare Canada also stressed the importance of students taking sciences like biology and chemistry.

"In health careers, there are no shortcuts. The sciences are a must," she said.

Hanson criticized some school administrators for steering students away from the sciences.

She said a full-time person will be hired in the Treaty 7 area to go into schools to promote health careers. She said she'd like to see a similar initiative in the Treaty 6 and 8 areas.

Native dentist Deb Crowfoot said determination and goal-setting will help anybody reach their goals. No one should settle for second best, he said.

Hanson said role models like Crowfoot have a significant impact in encouraging young people to follow their lead.

Leo Sasakamoose, Treaty 6 zone director with medical services branch, said the Indian community needs pharmacists, physiotherapists, X-ray technicians, mental health workers and occupational therapists.

Young people have to be inspired while at school to get into health careers, he said.