The Aboriginal Health Program of Children's & Women's Health Centre of BC (Children's and Women's) was recently awarded funding from Involve BC, a program of the Ministry of Community Development, Cooperatives and Volunteers, to launch a pilot project, "Aunties in Action", that will train Aboriginal women as hospital volunteers.

"Aunties in Action" will be implemented at three hospitals in BC in coordination with local Aboriginal organisations. Tillicum Haus Friendship Centre and Nanaimo Hospital, Carrier Sekani Family Services and Prince George Regional Hospital, and the Pacific Association of First Nation's Women and Children's and Women's, will partner to offer the program. The three sites, each of which sees several thousand Aboriginal patients a year, are recruiting Aboriginal volunteers to participate in this program as trainers or as "Aunties in Action".

The goal of "Aunties in Action"is to improve the quality of hospital interaction experienced by Aboriginal women and their families. Each hospital will identify and recruit two Aboriginal women as trainers who will take part in a culturally appropriate training program in Vancouver. The training program has been designed to give the volunteer trainers the skills and confidence to train women locally and run the six-month pilot project.

The local trainers will then recruit and train Aboriginal women in their home communities to be "Aunties in Action". These volunteers will visit and support Aboriginal women and their families as they interact with local hospital systems, making the system more welcoming and friendly for Aboriginal people.

"Aunties in Action" was selected as the name of this program in honour of Aboriginal women and the role that they play in nurturing and caring for extended families and for the community. As well, many First Nations are matriarchal and have extended families as the foundation of their social fabric and this name is intended to strengthen those links.

First Nations patient Advocates have lobbied for some time for a uniquely Aboriginal volunteer service. Their work has shown that many First Nations people feel lost in a hospital setting. Some patients and families have described the hospital experience as confusing, stating that they feel "dismissed or not listened to". Some Aboriginal women have encountered negative stereotypes and they feel they are not perceived as credible. In addition, they must deal with social workers, non-Aboriginal health care professionals and the exclusive jargon of nurses and physicians. These stresses interfere with the healing and recovery process.

If you are interested in becoming a volunteer, or for more information about the program, please call one of the contacts listed below.

Prince George Hospital, Patient Liaison - Rose George 250.562.3591.

Nanaimo Regional Hospital, Patient Liaison - Donna McKenzie 250.753.6578.

Children's & Women's Health Centre, Patient Advocate - Deborah Auroux 604.875.3440. -30-