president's message, The

Aboriginal Nurse, The, Apr 2000 by Hart-Wasekeesikaw, Fjola

Celebration of the 25 years the Aboriginal Nurses Association of Canada has been in existence for the purpose of influencing policy and practice of nursing in Aboriginal communities will take place at the Annual General Meeting and teaching conference in May of this year. This is a call inviting new members, both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal to join those who have participated in ANAC over the years to mark this quarter century event. The first members of the Association (formally known as the Registered Nurses of Canadian Indian Ancestry); early mentors at the Canadian Nurses Association; elders; and, nursing colleagues and staff at Medical Services Branch, Health Canada who share a long history of working in partnership with ANAC are invited to join in the celebrations. Recognition of our cofounders, Jocelyn Bruyere RN and Jean Goodwill RN and their vision for the betterment of health of Canada's First Peoples is an important part of acknowledging our beginnings as a national collective of Aboriginal registered nurses. The activities and accomplishments of ANAC will be remembered and together we will look toward future directions for ANAC. At the core of the future of ANAC is the articulation of Aboriginal Health Nursing as a specialty. Aboriginal Health Nursing involves the way in which nursing interventions are provided to Aboriginal patients. Nurses advocating for the betterment of health among Aboriginal people with the goal of empowering First Peoples in achieving health is a significant consideration. Aboriginal Health Nursing involves the development of a body of knowledge using Aboriginal health sciences concepts based on traditional beliefs and values. Traditional healing ways are integral to Aboriginal Health Nursing. The future holds opportunities to formalize a role description for Aboriginal Health Nursing practitioners. The influence of this nursing specialty on a growing body of knowledge will help guide nursing practice, education and research.

The topic at the teaching conference in May will set the stage for Aboriginal Health Nursing into the new millennium. Professional nursing issues surrounding the provision of nursing care using technologies and the effect technologies have on traditional healing practices in Aboriginal communities will be explored at this conference.

The manner in which ANAC will be approaching Aboriginal health issues will take on additional forms. Working with the `Organization For The Advancement of Aboriginal People's Health' (OAAPH) (initially known as the Aboriginal Health Institute), is one of the ways that ANAC will realize its goals. The overall goal of OAAPH is to assist in the improvement of the health status of Aboriginal people in Canada. Setting ethical standards for research, advocacy guidelines for health care providers and support for the provision of traditional health and healing are some of the activities required to develop the role of the OAAPH. Aboriginal Health Nursing holds a significant place within this structure.

In addition to addressing major health concerns in the communities of First Peoples of Canada, we are encouraging Aboriginal people to become registered nurses. This is part of the larger issues concerning the recruitment and retention of nurses in First Nations, Inuit and Metis communities. By encouraging First Peoples to become registered nurses and supporting nursing education programs which specifically target First Nations, Inuit and Metis groups, it is then expected that the number of Aboriginal people who become registered nurses will increase. It is also reasoned that with increased number of Aboriginal nurses in the workforce, some may choose to work in nursing stations. The need for adequate numbers of nurses in nursing stations has become critical in some areas of Canada. It is also thought that more Aboriginal nurses employed in nursing stations will help to stabilize the nursing workforce to isolated communities. Specific strategies to address issues surrounding recruitment and retention of nurses in communities will be developed as result of ANAC's `Nursing Survey' which is a survey of nurses in isolated First Nations Communities. ANAC is working with Health Canada-Medical Services Branch, as part of the `National Nurse Retention and Recruitment Strategy' to gather information from nurses on the factors which affect their recruitment and retention in northern and isolated First Nations communities in Canada.

The strategy is intended to provide comprehensive policies, actions and specific measures to support nurses in northern and isolated First Nations communities. ANAC is also actively participating in the `Invitational Roundtable of Stakeholders in Nursing'. Part of the Stakeholders' initiative is aimed at completing an analysis of the nursing labour market in Canada and ANAC has representation on the Steering Committee.

These are some of the issues in which ANAL is involved. On behalf of the Board of Directors I would like to express our appreciation to all who sent letters of support to help sustain ANAC into the new millennium. ANAL is open for business! We have entered into a new fiscal arrangement with Health Canada- Medical Services Branch, and are making the transition into this new fiscal year. In the words of Jean Goodwill, "Our objectives are ambitious and the work at hand is great. But we are committed to promoting healthier Aboriginal communities." See you at the Annual General Meeting and Teaching Conference in May.