Helpers needed – Elders & Knowledge Keepers program
Indigenous Medicine
LEARNING OPPORTUNITY FOR INDIGENOUS STUDENTS
Vancouver Coastal Health’s Aboriginal Health Department has a pilot project opportunity! A select few will be given the opportunity to work alongside Indigenous Elders and Knowledge Keepers. Traditional teachings tell us our Elders & Knowledge Keepers must always have Helpers for safety and so that the knowledge can be passed onto the next generation. We are looking for Indigenous students who would like to be Helpers for our Elders & Knowledge Keepers program.
The Helpers group will start small and then grow as we assess and make adjustments. The pilot project’s initial roll out will contain four adults, eight youth and two Traditional Elders. The adults will commit to a minimum of sixteen hours a month while the youth will commit to a minimum of four hours per month [The hours do have some flexibility].
The work of the Elder & Knowledge Keepers (KK) is very diverse at Vancouver Coastal health as noted below:
- Use traditional ways to support Indigenous patients with their families in health care settings;
- Provide cultural support to Indigenous patients and their families in crisis or at times of passing;
- Provide cultural teachings and guidance at health authority meetings (addictions, mental health, DTES, youth, seniors, maternity, health care education, etc.);
- Lead and provide cultural support to small groups in health care settings, such as Indigenous youth at the HOpe, or Indigenous seniors in long-term hospital care;
- Share Indigenous teachings at meetings, conferences and workshops;
- Provide openings/closings/land acknowledgments for Vancouver Coastal Health conferences/gatherings/events.
Description: Indigenous Medicine – VCH – Student Opportunities
Please contact Shawna.duncan@vch.ca for more information.
