Native Indians embark on nursing c

ie

Two of the spacial guests invited at the opaning ceremony of
the NNIPNP Included Atlin MLA Larry Guno, and speaker
Perry McKay, who talked about the history of the Nisga'a
Valtey Health Board.

Halen Robinson, secretary for the NNIPNP sald, ‘The even-
ing was very good, especially for the students.” The
ceremony and dinner in recognition of NNIPNP students
took place at the Kermode Friendship Centre.

“Tivited guest Father lan MacKenzie opened the ceremonies
for NNIPNP with a word of prayer and a blessing for the meal.

TERRACE — Northern
Native Indians Profes-
sional Nursing Programs
(NNIPNP) recently held
an opening ceremony at
the Kermode Friendship
Centre. “It was a wonder-
ful evening, very suc-
cessful,”’ stated Marilyn
Mardiros, program co-
ordinator.

by Daniele Berquist

Dick Kilborn welcomed
nursing students and their
families and guests on
behalf of Northwest Com-
munity College, followed
by an opening prayer and
blessing for the meal
which was offered by
Father Ian MacKenzie.

Nursing students and
their families and guests
savored a feast of tradi-
tional regional native
foods. ‘‘The feast was to
honor the Nisga’a Valley
Health Board, New
Aiyansh, the sponsoring
community agency of the
NNIPNP,’’ said Helen
Robinson, secretary for
the program. Mardiros
added, this project is one
of the most successful of
the Indians Inuit Health
Career Program.

The major incentive of
the program was to get
native Indian people to
become registered nurses.
The project is also
oriented at giving native
Indians the health care
training in disciplines such
as medicine and nursing,
Mardiros said.

An important point was
addressed by Beverly
Anderson, on behalf of
Indian and Inuit Nurses of
Canada, about the impor-
tance of traditional
medicine such as native
spirituality and the need to
learn from the elders.

During the course of the
evening time was taken to
reflect on where native In-
dians are coming from
and where they are going
in terms of health care in
communities of the
Pacific northwest.

The Nisga’a Valley
Health Board, through the
incentive of the Indian
and Inuit Health Careers
Program, Medical Ser-
vices Branch of Health
and Welfare Canada, has
given directions to BCIT
and Northwest Communi-
ty College to ensure
academic excellence and
cultural sensitivity in im-
plementing the nursing
program for native and
non native people from
the northwest seeking
careers ‘as registered
nurses, Mardiros said.
“The program is to help
increase the number of
native R.N.’s from rural,

a
EXPERIENCED
FILIPINO NANNY
Age 47, with 5 years
Canadian experiance
seeks position. as
nanny/housekeeper_ in
Terrace area. Excellent
references avaliabie.

Phone:

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‘Community College. The

. Terrace Review — Wednesday, November 19, 1986 15

northern communities as
well as focus on specific
health needs of native peo-
ple, Mardiros added.

Presently, 15 students
are enrolled full time in
Term 1 of the BCIT Gen-
eral Nursing Program, of-
fered through Northwest

students are to com-
plete Term 2 of the BCIT
program next May, said
Mardiros. The students
will then transfer to BCIT
in Burnaby in August of
1987, to complete studies
for the genera! nursing
diploma, she added.

” Students who received a
pin and membership for
Indian and Inuit Nurses of
Canada during the pin-
ning ceremony which
followed the feast were:
Phyllis Adams, Jennifer
Azak, Candy Burkett,
Judy Hail, Liza Grant,
Kathy Hansen, Pat
Holland, Norma Lloyd,
Jacqueline Moore,
Frances Morven, Florence
Misyok, Lilac Robinson,
Karen Simonds, Dorothy
Smith-Lattie and Michele
Vandermeer.

2a eR

co-ordinator at Northwest Com-
munity College for Northern Native Indians Professional Nur-
sing Programs. She acted as master of ceremonies at a feast
recently held in honor of NNIPNP students.

Marilyn Mardiros is progra

a -

Students of the Northern Native Indians Professional Nursing Program recelved a pin and
membership for Indian and Inuit Nurses of Canada during a recent ceremony held at the Kar-
mode Friendship centre.

Ree ee ee

Glaucoma Clinic

FREE OF CHARGE

ee

Saturday, Nov. 22, 1986 — 2:00 - 6:00 pm

SKEENA MALL

(in former Winter Games Shop)

Paul Clark — Optometrist

sponsored by Terrace Centennial Lions

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areers

Sega ARE en FO ee rt ST AS STR

ante

iii es gm a~A  g

agit