Photo ( Front Row , L-R ): Wendy Gervais ( Teacher and Grad Student ), Alicia Gervais ( Mentor ), Tishemia Tootoosis ( Mentor ), Cassie Fisher ( Program Assistant ) ( Second Row , L-R ): Derrick Sasakamoose ( Ahtahkakoop First Nation ), JoLee Sasakamoose ( Assistant Professor , Faculty of Education ), Joan Stumborg ( HART Trainer ), Tyler Gervais ( Mentor ), Dale Flett ( Mentor ), and Nicole Akan ( Mentor ).
Health Advocacy and Research Training program
With high hopes , five mentors are embarking together on a professional journey as they are mentored as mentors for leadership and wellness in Aboriginal youth through the Health Advocacy and Research Training ( HART ) apprenticeship .
Dr . JoLee Sasaskamoose , Assistant Professor , Faculty of Education , presented the following five Health Advocacy and Research Training ( HART ) Mentors during a media announcement on April 9 , 2014 : Nicole Akan ( Journalism student , U of R ), Tyler Gervais , ( SUNTEP student ), Alicia Gervais ( SUNTEP student ), Dale Flett ( FNUC student from Opaskwayak Cree Nation in The Pas , MB ), and Tishemia Tootoosis ( Community-based mentor from Pound Maker First Nation outside of Lloydminster , SK ), along with Program Assistant , Cassie Fisher ( SUNTEP student ). The Health Advocacy and Research Training ( HART ) Program , is funded by the Saskatchewan Community Initiatives Fund , and the Saskatchewan Health Research Foundation , which is a group grant administered by the Indigenous Peoples ’ Health Research Centre ( IPHRC ). The IPHRC is a joint initiative of the First Nations University of Canada , University of Regina , and University of Saskatchewan .
These post-secondary and community-based mentors were selected through high recommendations by programs and communities . HART mentors serve as positive role models for Aboriginal youth and implement Health Advocacy training modules with various youth throughout the province .
The following five main objectives of the HART program are to :
• sustain , improve , and expand strengths-based , Indigenous and expressive arts-based health interventions targeting Aboriginal people in Saskatchewan communities , including rural and geographically isolated ;
• analyze , refine , and advance research methodologies dealing with Aboriginal youth health and formulate best practices for future research ;
• empower Aboriginal youth to understand , explain , and address the complexities of health in their lives , communities , and schools ;
• increase Aboriginal health capacity by providing health advocacy and research training to , and support for , multi-year cohorts of Aboriginal health advocates and research apprentices who will have a positive impact on the overall health of
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