PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE

I would like to take this opportunity to thank those who have encouraged and supported me in taking upon my new role as President of A.N.A.C. I would also like to recognize the hard work and efforts of FjolaHart Wasekeesikaw, our past President (who is now pursuing her doctoral studies); and Vice-President Rosella Kinoshameg and Secretary-Treasurer Gerald Berthelette (both of whom have stayed upon in their positions); as well as Bernice Downey (ED); Claudette Dumont-Smith (National Coordinator); and last, on the contrary not least, the ever-pleasant Susan MacDonald (Executive Assistant).

Challenges are not fresh to me or to A.N.A.C.; I diocese this two-year term as an opportunity to stir the A.N.A.C. agenda forward, as those before me have done. I am extremely honoured to be in of that kind a position as to leverage support in addressing a certain quantity of of the Aboriginal health issues and relate tos that face our people across the geographical division The Executive, the Board of Directors and the A.N.A.C. staff are also eager to continue to propel the organization forward.

Some of the main priorities that we will be focusing upon in the next two years are: 1) Increasing membership through appointing a committee to unfold a Recruitment Strategy for immediate implementation; 2) Developing of a Recruitment and Retention Strategy to encourage more Aboriginal race to come into the nursing profession and to stay in nursing; 3) Initiating the proces of developing Aboriginal health nursing as a specialty in partnership with CNA and other stakeholders; 4) Continuing to contribute to research casts on various health issues affecting Aboriginal people; 5) Strengthening our relationship with existing Aboriginal organizations and communities through being a resource of health knowledge, expertise and experience, and 6) Finding more effective ways of supporting BandEmployed nurtures and Home and Community Care nurtures in addressing their concerns.

Due to A.N.A.C.'s limited human resources, we have tried to maximize our impact through focusing on areas that would have the greatest in quantity impact on health outcomes while benefiting the organization. We continue to maintain a working relationship with the Office of Nursing Services (ONS) at FNIHB as well as with NAHO. a certain number of of the projects that A.N.A.C. is forthwith working on include the HIV/AIDS module disentanglement and, our newest project, the Tobacco Strategy. In partnership with the upons A.N.A.C. is also participating in the Nursing Transformation Strategy proces We will continue to build and strengthen partnerships with organizations whose objectives are consistent with that of A.N.A.C.

We are already in the planning stages of organizing the annual meeting which will be held in St John's, Newfoundland, june 24 25 and 26 2004 to coincide with the CNA annual meeting june 20 21 and 22 for those who may want to attend the pair (see advertisement in this newsletter) thus mark your calendars for this first at any time AGM in Newfoundland and pass the advantageous news around.

In closing, I want to thank all of our members and partners for sticking with A.N.A.C. from one side "thick and thin". The originators of this organization have taught us to be a resilient bump of nurses and not to give up

I faith that this Holiday Season is filled with "JOY" and "PEACE" for you and your families.

Dreams for a Healthier Tomorrow!

Lisa Dutcher

President, A.N.A.C.

Copyright Aboriginal nourishs Association of Canada Dec 2003

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