Native Community Worker; Traditional Healing Methods Diploma Program

This course will help students develop practical interpersonal, structured group and formal presentation skills. Emphasis will be placed on critical thinking, culture and gender, communication process and public and private contexts. This course will apply the principals of communication to prepare students for many of their future communication experiences.

This course surveys Native literature in Canada. Topics include a study of the various genres of Native literature, literary forms and interpretations both past and present, as well as theoretical applications of the oral and written dissemination of culture and tradition among Native peoples. Students will also examine traditional oratories (storytelling) of the peoples of Turtle Island.

This course examines various traditional health practices of Native peoples in North America. Topics include the concept of health, healing traditions and practices, the role of healers and elders, medicinal and herbal treatments, and the differences between traditional and mainstream health methodologies. Finally, strategies for health promotion and wellbeing are discussed.

This course is an introduction to the study of psychology of First Nations peoples. Topics include the effects of colonization, psychological worldviews, psychological dysfunction and etiology, theoretical and treatment approaches, and clinical interventions specific to alcohol use and suicide for individuals, families and the community.

This is a survey course of the traditions, cultures, histories and contemporary issues of the Native North American people. Topics include European intrusion, colonial administration and policies, treaties, the Indian Act, residential schools, self-determination and social justice. Students will make application of these topics in their professional role as a future Native Community Worker.

This course is designed to introduce the student to how traditional and spiritual processes can be utilized to support personal growth and development. The student will learn how to implement specific strategies to promote harmonious relationships, peace keeping, reconciliation, and healing. The Medicine Wheel, ceremonies, and traditional and contemporary cultural practices will be analyzed extensively.

This course will introduce the student to counselling techniques required to meet the needs of potential clients. Students will examine helping approaches from both contemporary and cultural perspectives. Focus will be on the stages of life, the significance of each stage and how it relates to counseling the client. Topics will include the helping process, helping skills and interview assessment.

This course is designed to provide students with an opportunity to examine current health issues in Native communities in Canada. The course will examine Federal Indian Health policies and legislation as well as common health issues in Native communities such as: preparing for motherhood/fatherhood midwifery prenatal nutrition diabetes and fetal alcohol syndrome. The course will also study mental health issues on reserves such as: stress depression suicide anger grief sexual assault and incest. The significance of the mind body and spirit and ceremonialism in healing/health of Native peoples will also be discussed.

Field Placement is designed to provide students with an opportunity to gain meaningful work experience in the community. Additionally, students will apply their knowledge gained in the classroom directly to the field.

This course analyzes historic and contemporary perspectives of Native identity in Canada. Topics include self-identity familial and community relationships and stereotypical views of Native identity. Students will demonstrate knowledge of cultural strategies that can be applied to promote and support Native identity among First Nations communities in Canadian contemporary society. self-development workshop settings.

Through this course the student will draw parallels between the Western philosophies and Traditional Native philosophies. For Aboriginal students the course aims to deepen their understanding and pride in their beliefs and traditions. For non-Indigenous students this course provides an in-depth opportunity to develop an appreciation for North American Indian culture values and traditions. This course will focus on the traditions and the contributions of the Iroquois Long house and Ojibwe Midewiwin Societies to the preservation of laws and traditions of Native people. A variety of methods of study will be used including Elders as guest presenters whenever possible.

Skillful evaluation and construction of written communications is essential in the modern work environment. In this course students develop abilities in four categories of information management: access and evaluation of print and electronic information summarizing information creating information for diverse purposes and audiences and publishing information using both print and electronic media. Using an analytical approach to the development of writing style and content this course emphasizes the elements of logic and audience awareness within written messages.

This course is designed as an experiential approach to learning the basic counselling skills of the helping profession. The focus is on inter-relationship of the “helper” and the “helpee” in contributing to learning and growth. Both insight and action are important dynamics in the helping process. Within the use of basic counselling skills, the “helper” must have an appreciation and respect for the dignity of those who seek help. An overview of the generic structure that would facilitate quality helping relationships will be presented: including: a review of various helping models, assessments & developing a plan of care, and case conferences.

Field Placement is designed to provide students with an opportunity to gain meaningful work experience in the community. Additionally, students will apply their knowledge gained in the classroom directly to the field.

This course is designed to develop student awareness of the impact that alcohol and substance abuse have had on the individual and the family in Native communities; the psychological and physical effects of alcohol and substance abuse; prevention and intervention strategies in communities; wholistic healing; and the concepts’ goals and components of the treatment process in alcohol and substance abuse. Rationale: The assimilation process has resulted in the creation of many negatives coping behaviors. It is important to understand the complexities of dependency and how the behaviors have provided the means for individuals to escape reality as a coping skill.

This course equips the student with an understanding of technical legal matters and broader issues that arise in the relationship between Canada’s First Nations Peoples their own legal systems and non-Indigenous law. Students are provided an opportunity to develop their knowledge and understanding of a range of legal issues and topics relating to First Nations.

This course is designed to develop student awareness of the impact that alcohol and substance abuse have had on the individual and the family in Native communities; the psychological and physical effects of alcohol and substance abuse; prevention and intervention strategies in communities; wholistic healing; and the concepts’ goals and components of the treatment process in alcohol and substance abuse. Rationale: The assimilation process has resulted in the creation of many negatives coping behaviors. It is important to understand the complexities of dependency and how the behaviors have provided the means for individuals to escape reality as a coping skill.

This semester of field/work placement is designed to provide students with an opportunity to gain meaningful work experience in the community.

The student will research community agencies, initiate initial contact with agency and negotiate placement and learning outcomes with appropriate agency/college personnel.

This course introduces students to traditional and contemporary forms of cultural expression in Native North America. The course also provides students the opportunity to have a hands-on experience through understanding the historical context the beauty and the function of an object identify characteristics and produce a work of art.

This course is designed to provide an opportunity for students to study Indigenous Ethno-botany. This course explores the field of ethno-botany beginning with a historical overview and usage and human relationship with plants and their impact upon society. The course will examine natural botanical healing practices and methods. Political and ethical issues with respect to the natural vs. conventional and the impacts of ethno-botanical research and pharmaceutical production upon Indigenous people and the environment will also be examined. In Native communities many Aboriginal people use herbal medicines to treat their ailments. Therefore, to be effective in community healing (physical or mental) initiatives one must be able to understand and appreciate the use of herbal medicines in that community.

This course is designed to provide Students with an opportunity to examine community development in Native communities in Canada. The course will focus on community-based initiatives in Native communities compiling a community profile and a short overview of research/survey skills which are important to those engaged in the promotion of healing in Native communities.

This course provides the opportunity to examine various aspects of the Native Family. A primary emphasis is placed on the family in the Native Community today. The influences of both traditional and contemporary issues on family function are explored. Special attention is given to traditional clan and kinship responsibilities the family as a system parent/child relationships changing parental roles and sources of stress on today’s Native Families. The traditional Native family as a unit has been dismantled as a result of acculturation therefore it is necessary to study the restructuring process in terms of role clarification parenting skills value systems.