Inuk nurse to take charge at Pond Inlet health centre

Sherry Parks has become the first Inuk nurse to oversee a community health centre in Nunavut.

"I'm very excited," she said.

Parks, 30, has been acting in the role for the past two months, but will officially assumethe position ofsupervisor of health programs in Pond Inlet on July 4. The Department of Health has confirmed Parks is the first Nunavut Land ClaimsBeneficiary to be the supervisor of health programs.

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Since starting the job, Parks said she's received positive feedback from the community as well as staff.

"There's quite a bit of understanding between patients and myself," she said.

"It's very important to have community members in a supervisory position representing the community, hearing the communities concerned, coming from the community, so they know the history, the family dynamics and the community dynamics."

Parks saidshe loves her job but the challenges vary from day to day.

"Right now we are short nurses, but working on it."

'Nursing runs in the family'

Like many other teens inNunavut, Parks had difficulty with the school system and dropped out of high school inIqaluit.

Two years later, at age 18, she decided to move to Pond Inlet, her mother's hometown, to complete her education. This time she succeeded and received her high school diploma.

She enrolled inNunavutArctic College's nursing program and graduated in 2009. Since that time she's been working as a nurse in Pond Inlet.Parksis also the mother of two young boys,

Parks is humble and shies away from the spotlight, but hermotherJeannieKatsakis less timid with her feelings.

"I'm super proud," she said."Nursing runs in the family."

Park's grandmother was a nurse at the health centre for more than25 years. Her great-aunt was also a nurse as well as her mother's cousin.

Katsaksaid elders in Pond Inlet have reached out to her to express their delight in having anInuknurse head the health centre. She saidthey tell her that it's easier for them to understand someone from the community who is aware of their cultural background.

"I would like to encourage more people to take the nursing program because I think it really helps," saidKatsak.

"It gives elders a bit more confidence to go to a health centre."

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