Purpose

Sharing our Vision


“Staying Connected to the Circle…Changing Hearts”

We are committed to creating a Centre of Excellence for Aboriginal nursing grounded in Indigenous ways of knowing leading to the improved health and sustained well-being of all Aboriginal people and their connection to the land.

Mission

In collaboration with Aboriginal people, as Partners in the Learning Circles for Aboriginal Nursing (LCAN) on Vancouver Island we are engaged in creating culturally safe learning environments for students, nurses, clients and institutions; building culturally safe practice environments; participating in research to establish evidence that facilitates relational practice and culturally safe and competent nursing practice.

Goals and Objectives

Goals:

To work toward the establishment of a Vancouver Island-based Center of Excellence for Aboriginal Nursing that is recognized, collaborative and sustainable.

To establish core funding to sustain activities and support the establishment of a Centre of Excellence.

Objectives:

1. To further the network of working professionals within and amongst the First Nations Health Authorities, Vancouver Island Health Authority - Aboriginal Health (VIHA), Educational Institutions and Aboriginal and other Nursing Associations. Identifying other potential partners: e.g., ANAC, NINA, Native Mental Health Association, CRNBC, etc.

2. To support the development of a student-centered learning process that includes Aboriginal community standards, First Nations Health Authority standards and Nursing professional and educational standards.

3. To create venues that foster and support Indigenous knowledge and cultural safety with the goal to influence curricular changes and nursing practice, locally, provincially, nationally and internationally.

4. To create strategic activities to encourage Aboriginal people to enter nursing.

5. To create activities that provide culturally appropriate/safe resources for Aboriginal students enrolled in Vancouver Island nursing programs.

6. To build capacity required to optimize partnerships between First Nations Health Authorities, VIHA, Nursing Programs and Aboriginal communities.

7. To promote the Indigenization of nursing research, education, administration and practice.

8. To promote and inform cultural safety competencies for all nurses working with Aboriginal peoples.

9. To engage with ongoing community consultative and evaluative processes of LCAN activities to further inform direction and activities. Connecting with communities to ensure relevant cultural protocols, research and evaluations are built into activities. (In Joan’s notes: Connecting with communities to ensure cultural protocols surrounding research and evaluations are built in to activities).

10. To develop activities related to ongoing LCAN funding, for example, MOU signing, regular meetings, communication plan, promotional materials, student event, provide scholarships, a LCAN coordinator position etc.

Revision of Memorandum of Understanding (All)


1) To further the network of working professionals within and amongst the First Nations Health Authorities, Vancouver Island Health Authority - Aboriginal Health (VIHA), Educational Institutions and Aboriginal and other Nursing Associations.

2) To support the development of a student-centered learning process that includes Aboriginal community standards, First Nations Health Authority standards and Nursing professional and educational standards.

3) To create venues that foster and support Indigenous knowledge and cultural safety with the goal to influence curricular changes and nursing practice, locally, provincially, nationally and internationally.

4) To create strategic activities to encourage Aboriginal people to enter nursing.

5) To create activities that provide culturally appropriate and safe resources for Aboriginal students enrolled in Vancouver Island nursing programs.

6) To build capacity required to optimize partnerships between First Nations Health Authorities, VIHA, Nursing Programs and Aboriginal communities.

7) To work toward the establishment of a Vancouver Island-based Center of Excellence for Aboriginal Nursing.

8) To promote the Indigenization of nursing research, education, administration and practice.

9) To promote and inform cultural safety competencies for all nurses working with Aboriginal peoples.

10) To engage with ongoing community consultative and evaluative processes of LCAN activities to further inform direction and activities.

Current Memorandum of Understanding Signatories


Camosun Collegewww.camosun .bc.ca
Cowichan Tribeswww.cowichantribes.com
Kwakiutl District Councilwww.kwakiutldistrictcouncil.com
Malaspina University-Collegewww.mala.bc.ca
North Island Collegewww.nic.bc.ca
Nuu chah nulth Tribal Councilwww.nuuchahnulth.org
Nursing Program
Sh’ulh-etun Health Societywww.vifn-ehealth.ca
“Namqis Health Centrewww.namgis.bc.ca
Sh’ulh-etun Health Societywww.vifn-ehealth.ca
Ts’ewulhtun Health Centre,
Cowichan Tribeswww.cowichantribes.com
University of Victoriawww.uvic.ca
Vancouver Island Health Authoritywww.viha.ca

Communications

The parties will hold regular meetings hosted by the signatories. Any announcements or communications relating to this collaborative agreement will be initiated jointly and on behalf of all participants. No member of this agreement will release any communication or announcement without providing said communication or announcement to the other participants at least five working days prior to planned release. Requests for information and sharing of group knowledge and resources will be vetted by all the partners through E-mail communications. All information, knowledge and resources shared with others will be done with full acknowledgement of the LCAN signatory representatives.

Funding

Funding for the 2005/2006 year for the LCAN project came with support of the Ministry’s of Advanced Education’s Aboriginal Special Project Funding via North Island College, Malaspina University College and the University of Victoria. The second year of funding was provided through the Ministry’s of Advanced Education’s Aboriginal Special Project Funding via North Island College for 2006/2007 year. This years funding has come from the Ministry of Health Nursing Directorate ,Aboriginal Nursing Strategies, and is being administered by the Kwakiutl District Council (KDC), a First Nations Transferred Health Organization that is well positioned to ensuring sustainability of this project.