By Glenn Hicks

Indigenous education

Health care workers to be trained for future needs at Mistawasis

Feb 12, 2019 | 6:04 PM

The Mistawasis First Nation and Saskatchewan Polytechnic have signed an agreement that will bring the polytechnic’s Continuing Care Assistant (CCA) program to the community’s Iron Buffalo Centre.

Mistawasis is located about 70 kilometres west of Prince Albert, and it is hoped this initiative will enable youth to access post-secondary educational programming close to home, according to Chief Daryl Watson.

“Continuing care assistants are needed in our community and this will help keep them on-reserve for the education portion of the program and eventually have them working here at Mistawasis Nehiyawak,” Watson said in a media release.

Theoretical courses will be delivered at the community’s Iron Buffalo Centre, while lab classes will take place at the Sask Poly Prince Albert campus.

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Clinical practice education for the one-year certification will take place at health care agencies in Shellbrook, Canwood, Hafford and Duck Lake.

Certified professionals earn the skills to work in long-term care, home care, assisted living, some areas of acute care and special needs classrooms. They assist clients with mobility, personal care, eating meals and medication monitoring.

“They provide an invaluable service and work as part of the nursing and care team,” Sandra Blevins, dean for the schools of nursing and health sciences told paNOW. “This is giving folks the opportunity to be actively involved in the care.”

Blevins said by offering the instructional aspect of the course in Mistawasis it was a way for the polytechnic to be involved in what she called “the beautiful vision” the community has toward post-secondary education and providing an economic backbone by providing work.

“They see these folks as potentially coming back and working in and caring for those in the community which would be a beautiful win-win,” Blevins said.

Currently there are 15 students enrolled in the program from the area and Blevins said they’d be working with Mistawasis to decide on the level of future potential intakes.

(Photo: Saskatchewan Polytechnic/ Mistawasis Chief Daryl Watson signs agreement with Saskatchewan Polytechnic President and CEO Dr. Larry Rosia, with Student Association president Justin Skwark looking on.)

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glenn.hicks@jpbg.ca

On Twitter:@princealbertnow