Aboriginal Nurses Association of Canada, Canadian Association of Schools of Nursing and Canadian Nurses Association collaborate to Strengthen Aboriginal Nursing Human Resources

OTTAWA, March 2 – On the 2nd of February 2009, a memorandum of understanding was signed in Ottawa to establish an exciting collaboration among the Aboriginal Nurses of Canada (ANAC), the Canadian Association of Schools of Nursing (CASN) and the Canadian Nurses Association (CNA).”Making it Happen: Strengthening Aboriginal Health Human Resources” is the empowering project bringing together ANAC with CASN and CNA. This joint venture addresses cultural proficiency through the creation of a framework that will guide the development of cultural competencies in education of nursing students.

This cultural proficiency project utilizes and builds upon existing work and is being supported by the Aboriginal Health Human Resources Initiative, First Nations and Inuit Health Branch, Health Canada. The underlying goal of this project is to enhance the health status of First Nations, Inuit and Métis through culturally safe nursing practices and excellence in Aboriginal Health Nursing.

Rosella Kinoshameg, President of the Aboriginal Nurses Association of Canada, feels that implementation of the framework is just the beginning. She states, “It doesn’t stop here, it needs to go on. What happens after the framework? More needs to be done. We need resiliency”.

The three organizations hope this project is just the first phase of a comprehensive program of work that will attract more Aboriginal peoples into nursing and health careers, support them during their education, and put structures in place to retain them in practice settings across Canada’s health system.

For further information: Maria Jacko, Project Coordinator, ANAC, (613) 724-4677 ext. 24, mjacko @ anac.on.ca (no spaces)