Health Empowerment for You (HEY) is an evidence-based cancer and chronic disease prevention curriculum developed with and for First Nations to promote healthy living and reduce incidences of disease. FSIN worked in partnership with a diverse group of stakeholders from both Manitoba and Saskatchewan to develop an innovative culturally relevant training curriculum that integrates First Nations history and culture with primary and secondary prevention strategies for cancer and chronic disease.

1. Speaker Submission
Health Care Quality Summit
Annual Conference 2014
May 6, 2014
2:30 pm – 3:15 pm
Proposal Submitted by:
FSIN- Health and Social Development Secretariat

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Contents
Contact Information............................................................................................................ 2
Biographical Information.................................................................................................... 2
Conference Presentation Experience .................................................................................. 3
Objectives for Your Session ............................................................................................... 3
Relation to Conference Theme ........................................................................................... 4
Benefit to Aboriginal Nurses .............................................................................................. 5
Resource Sources Utilized.................................................................................................. 5
Closing Comments.............................................................................................................. 6
Contact Information
Bev Whitehawk, Director of Primary Care / Mental Health
email: bev.whitehawk@fsin.com (Cellular: 1 306 370 8202)
Sheryl Whitehawk Project Health Empowerment for You (HEY) Facilitator –
email: swhitehawk@sasktel.net(Cellular: 1 306 641 4340)
Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations
Indian Governments of Saskatchewan
Suite 100 – 103 A Packham Avenue
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 4K4
Telephone: 1 306 665 1215
Facsimile: 1 306 477 4554
Biographical Information
Bev Whitehawk is a Saulteaux woman. She is currently employed as the Director of
Primary Care / Mental Health by the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations. Bev
completed a Diploma in Psychiatric Nursing from the Saskatchewan Institute of Applied
Science and Technology.
Bev Whitehawk has been working for thirty (30) years to benefit First Nations, at the
community, tribal council and provincial levels. Her work experiences have included
administration, primary health care and health administration positions.
Bev has spoken about the need to respect and include Elder services as part of a culturally
appropriate First Nations content to the health care system.

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Sheryl Whitehawk is an independent contractor and is only certified Health
Empowerment for You (HEY) facilitator in Saskatchewan
Sheryl has been working with First Nations at the community and provincial levels. Her
work experience has been in mental health, suicide, traditional parenting, addictions,
wellness and community development.
Sheryl has been working to promote wholistic health, cultural identity, history and self
esteem to First Nation members. The HEY curriculum is a wholistic chronic education
and prevention curriculum certified through Red River College in Winnipeg, Manitoba
Conference Presentation Experience
Bev Whitehawk has vast experience in presentations at local, regional, provincial and
national levels. Bev has been an expert panel member on primary health care and mental
health numerous times. In addition to panel discussions, she regularly speaks at events
on the importance of First Nations culture. Bev has experience in representing the
Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations, and speaking on their behalf.
Sheryl Whitehawk has experience in presentations at local, regional, and provincial
levels. Sheryl has been preparing and doing workshop presentations for many years.
Objectives for Your Session
The objective of the presentation will be to share the details of a former national project,
HEY! (Health Empowerment for You!). This will include a briefing on the project,
partnership development, content development and next steps. It is expected that this can
be in the 20 minute time allocated.
Presenters will provide brief introductions about themselves, Federation of Saskatchewan
Indian Nations and the HEY! project.
The first major topic will be the Request for Proposal that led to the gathering of
stakeholders and the process to formalize the partnership. How the stakeholders were
identified and brought to a common meeting place will be shared. The participating
stakeholders are from First Nations, federal and provincial health ministries, service
delivery agencies and non-profit cancer and chronic disease corporate bodies.
Following this will be a discussion of First Nations protocols and the process to engage
First Nations in Manitoba. This will be accompanied by an explanation that First Nations
peoples are not homogenous, and that there are challenges to creating partnership across
vast geographical areas. Presenters will share how First Nations ceremonies were an
important part of the early development process.

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The process to formalize the partnerships, and the challenges faced by the stakeholders
along the way will be discussed next. This will include sharing the methods used to
overcome the challenges, which included the use of traditional prayer and ceremony.
Guidance from Elders was an important component to this program development. The
presenters will share the many activities where Elders were approached for guidance
about First Nations traditional healing and historical practices.
The presentation will close with a brief overview of the seven (7) HEY! project modules.
Relation to Conference Theme
The theme of the 2014 conference is “Improvement Story”
HEY! is a project that will promote healthy living to First Nations youth as a way to
reduce the incidences of Cancer and Chronic Diseases. The project is a partnership
across two (2) provinces including: First Nations; government health agencies; and
cancer and chronic disease agencies.
Advocacy, Partnership and Relationships
Success in the project comes from the ability of First Nations to advocate for a change to
the health care system. The project reflects the needs expressed by First Nations and not
the perception of needs as seen by non-First Nations peoples. First Nations organizations
and communities championed their community needs, and advocated for a program to
meet the needs of their communities.
With the awareness of needs created, partners were sought. Those partners that agreed to
participate understood that the final product would be the result of collaborative efforts.
The common messaging in the curriculum is a measure of the success of the partnership.
The project is using the best evidence based information available to promote healthy
living to youth. The project partners have agreed to develop a common message about
how to reduce the incidences of cancer and chronic disease for youth. This information is
delivered within a culturally appropriate context.
Cultural Awareness
While working on the project, partners were aware of the need to promote First Nations
culture. Recognition of the ancestral knowledge of First Nations and the incorporation of
inherent health care was important to this program. Elders regularly provided guidance,
and often participated, during the curriculum development.

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These areas show the greatest success in recognition of First Nations culture:
1. The project is working to blend indigenous and non-indigenous healing traditions
in a respectful manner.
2. The project attempts to help participants to understand the process of
colonization, and the impacts that are still being felt today.
3. The Steering Committee is a cross-cultural team that is working to improve the
health outcomes of First Nations communities.
4. The Medicine Wheel (Physical, Mental, Emotional and Spiritual components) is
used widely in the project. This was an intentional use of an indigenous health
model. Several times the importance of mental health is stressed during the
project.
Benefit to First Nation and non-First Nation health
professionals
The HEY! project promotes active living and healthy lifestyles. Promoting healthy
behaviours to First Nations will reduce future strains on the health care system. The
project does not rely exclusively on medical information. Every module has an activity
where participants look for element of health in themselves and their communities. It is
anticipated that this continual perception and awareness of health will encourage active
living and healthy lifestyles.
There are two modules specifically addressing addictions. One module is Tobacco Free,
and the other is Avoid Misuse of Substances. Tobacco use and substance abuse contribute
to cancer and chronic disease, but are also factors in the social conditions in First Nations
communities. Reducing their use will have immediate social benefits as well as current
and future health benefits.
Beyond these modules, the facilitators will be able to share the development process.
This includes how partners were brought to the table, and what challenges were faced as
the project was developed. Each partner on the project remained an active participant, in
spite of administrative barriers and organizational structural differences. Information
about how the partners continued to work together, in spite of differences, will help
others that are seeking to develop similar partnerships.
Resource Sources Utilized

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Elders from Manitoba and Saskatchewan were used extensively on this project. The
Elders were ceremonial Elders, Elder Healers and Elder Historians. Each provided their
own distinct views, based upon their cultural backgrounds. It was the responsibility of
the presenters to capture these thoughts and incorporate them into the project materials.
Stakeholders brought their vast libraries of information on cancer and chronic disease.
This combination of indigenous and non-indigenous health concepts is an important part
of the HEY! project.
Evaluation:
Each trainee provided an evaluation of course content and trainee after end of each
session and evaluation was completed by contracted evaluator. Overall training program
was rated excellent and useful to community members. Many indicated they felt
empowered to make healthy choices for self, families and communities. Resources were
provided on request of trainer to provide a community HEY workshop based on needs of
community. Again overall community members rated it high and indicated workshop was
met their needs and more. All requested further workshops and information.
Funding was Provided by:
Canadian Partnership Against Cancer (CPAC) 2010-2013 through proposal submission
Saskatchewan Cancer Agency 2013-14 through proposal submission
Closing Comments
For any questions, please contact Bev Whitehawk at (306) 665-1215.