Fort Providence cuts the ribbon on $9.7M health centre

Fort Providence, N.W.T., cut the ribbon yesterday on a new $9.7 million health centre, and with it, the local chief's call forcultural awareness training for community health care workers.

Chief JoachimBonnetrougeproposeda workshop for healthcare workers coming into the community, consisting of a "one or two day culture orientation to find out who the Dene of Fort Providence are."

"What's their history, what they do, what are their wishes... Our elders have been teaching us there's certain protocols you need to do as a family member, and how your own role in the community has to be further defined," he said.

The idea was echoed by N.W.T. health minister Glen Abernethy, who was present at the opening. Abernethy said that the government is working on something similar to what Bonnetrougeis suggesting, and that it's importantfor health care providers to understand the people they are serving.

'I want to be aware'

One of those providers is Rachel Walpert, a mental health councillorwho will be working at the new health centre.

Walpert, who is new to the community, says that before she moved to Fort Providence, she "tried to do some cultural awareness work on [her] own, but, obviously, I wasn't around Dene people at the time.

"There are differences in the way the Dene people are raised, versusthe way people might've been raised in the south," she said, "and there are things that are very important to their culture that I want to be aware of."

The new centre replaces a 40-year-old building, located down the road. Abernethy says the project came in on budget and on time.

The new facility brings health and social services for Fort Providence under one roof, something that hamlet councillor Bernadette Landrie says is a welcome change.

"Us aboriginal people, we're on a journey to healing," she says."This is a good place to go to if you're dealing with your personal issues, and sometimes, if you don't, an elder will say it will turn into a medical problem.

"So this is a good place to do our healing at the same time, go to a place to heal."