The ‘Na̱mg̱is First Nation leadership, (NFN) together with the Whe-La-La-U Area Council Society, (WACS) have partnered with Island Health’s Indigenous Recruitment & Retention Team to host the inaugural Kwakwa̱ka̱’wakw Health Career Gathering (KHCG) to be held in Alert Bay on Wednesday, April 10.
This unique event signals the first time that the Kwakwa̱ka̱’wakw peoples and Island Health have collaborated on such a recruitment event.
The KHCG will provide a sampling of health careers, facilitate conversations with Kwakwa̱ka̱’wakw health professionals with the intention of inspiring students considering their next steps after high school graduation.
Part of the health career gathering is a poster recruitment campaign featuring profiles of health workers from a diversity of Kwakwa̱ka̱’wakw nations working in a diversity of health professions.
This event will include a fireside chat (in the ceremonial big house) between high school students and Kwakwa̱ka̱’wakw members who are already health professionals in their fields. Examples include, Direct Care Aides, Practical Nurses, Registered Nurses, paramedics, mental health counsellors, and therapists. The fireside chat will feature professionals who have infused their life’s work with purpose, passion and dedication.
The KHCG will also provide opportunities for high school students to have one-to-one conversations with recruiters from organizations and institutions such as the BC Emergency Services, North Island College, and Vancouver Island University. Significantly, the students will learn about the processes of post-secondary applications, as well as how to navigate Indigenous-specific barriers and opportunities to accessing post-secondary programs. Ultimately, the goal of this event is to provide pathways for high school students who may be inspired by their participation in this event—to expand their career choices after graduation. For more information about this event, please email ryan.vanhaastert@islandhealth.ca