(Submitted Photo/Sturgeon Lake Health Centre)

By Derek Craddock

FIRST NATIONS HEALTH

‘Excited to see it continue’: The story of a graduate’s experience in Sturgeon Lake Health Center

Oct 26, 2022 | 12:00 PM

In what’s being called another step on the journey to reconciliation with First Nations peoples, a graduate from Saskatchewan Polytechnic is sharing her experience of working in a First Nations health centre.

Ilona Monkman graduated from the Health Management Program in 2021. After COVID derailed plans for her first-year practicum, she was eager to achieve hands-on work experience in her second year.

She is now one of Canada’s first Health Information Management professionals to work in a First Nations health centre, after completing her practicum and being hired full-time at the Sturgeon Lake Health Center.

Monkman, who grew up in the Regina area, said she’s always appreciated the north-central regions of the province and took hold of the opportunity to move here for her work.

“At first, I was traveling back home almost every month just to visit family,” she said. “I actually have had some family and friends move here permanently since I made the move last year.”

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During her two-month practicum in 2021, she worked a lot with COVID-19 data for the nation. Monkman started working full-time for the health centre the day her practicum ended.

In the 1990s Sturgeon Lake First Nation’s governance transferred control of first-level services, including health care, from what was then the First Nations and Inuit Health Branch of Indian and Northern Affairs Canada. This allowed the First Nation to develop its own holistic model of health care blending western and traditional Cree practices.

“The idea of self-governance has always been important there,” said Monkman. “At the health centre, I’m really excited about helping with policies that can make the health centre, and the First Nation as a whole, more in charge of their own data and the information they present.”

One of the achievements Monkman has been a part of so far is the implementation of a new community electronic medical record (cEMR) system developed by Mustimuhw Information Solutions, a Cowichan-owned company based in BC.

“It’s a project that’s really important to me and is already doing great things for the community,” Monkman said.

Aside from the hard work and being welcomed at the health centre, Monkman admits there were some learning curves, which she embraced.

“I really needed to take a step back from my western education and learn a lot more about Cree values and spirituality and just keep in mind that there are different ways to do things out there,” she said. “All the nurses and staff out there are welcoming. I never really feel like an outsider. I don’t feel left out.”

Thankfully, her experience at Sask Polytech helped prepare Monkman to embrace the interdisciplinary environment at Sturgeon Lake Health Center.

Ida Sadowski, a Health Information Management instructor at the school said culture is something they have in their curriculum.

“Our students participate in the Kairos Blanket Exercise, learn about issues Indigenous peoples may experience in the health care system, and learn about the significance of the tipi in Indigenous culture,” she said. “Students are encouraged to embrace and share their culture, through conversations about food, traditions, humour or other unique aspects.”

This year, Monkman said her work came nearly full circle as she helped teach practicum students from Sask Polytech. She said the entire journey from the start of classes to the practicum and being employed is something other schools and communities can learn from.

“I feel like the relationship between Sask Polytech and Sturgeon Lake has definitely been taking steps towards reconciliation and I’m excited to see it continue.”

To find out more about the Health Information Management program or other options at Sask Polytech, you can visit their official website.

–With files from Saskatchewan Polytechnic

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derek.craddock@pattisonmedia.com

Twitter: @PA_Craddock