Assiniboine and Tribal Tripartite Health Group partner on new Emergency Medical Responder training

Assiniboine Community College and Tribal Tripartite Health Group have partnered to deliver a nine-week Emergency Medical Responder program. This program has been created to address the shortage of skilled emergency first responders within First Nation Communities.

Tribal Tripartite Health Group includes Four Arrows Regional Health Authority (FARHA), Keewatin Tribal Council (KTC) and South East Resource Development Council Corporation (SERDC) Health. This program is funded through SERDC and the Health Canada Project.

Tribal Tripartite Group leaders, Alex McDougall Director of FARHA, John Spence KTC Director of Health, and Pam Grenier SERDC Director of Health shared this joint statement:

“The Tribal Tripartite Group is incredibly pleased to be offering a Customized EMT Training Program in partnership with the Assiniboine Community College and Criticare to twenty-three First Nation communities and forty-six students. The successful graduates will work in their communities as licensed EMTs. The Tribal Partnership is unique and offers the opportunity for health authorities to collaborate with each other on our Health Care needs.”

“The current pandemic has demonstrated the need for emergency management training for First Nations to properly respond to health emergencies. This program is the beginning of First Nations creating the capacity and infrastructure, at the community level, for the transfer of control of health services which are culturally safe and appropriate,” they added.

The program includes essential skills, emergency medical response training and prepares students to write the Emergency Medical Responder Entry to Practice Exam. Upon successful completion of the exam, individuals will receive their Emergency Medical Responder Provincial License.

The program begins in April 2021 and will be delivered in both Thompson and Winnipeg with capacity for 48 participants, split across the two cohorts. Students are nominated from their communities to participate in this program.

“This valuable partnership between our college at these health groups was formed to respond to the priority need to have more individuals trained with necessary emergency medical response skills for their home communities,” said Mark Frison, President at Assiniboine.

“Our college has a proud history working with First nations communities and organizations to provide customized education that meets their needs.”

Assiniboine offered a similar program in 2019 in Waywayseecappo First Nation.