c a r i b o u h... t h e Changing Faces

the
caribou heard
2012, MARCH
In this Issue
Your link to and from the North
VOLUME 10, NO. 1
Changing Faces
Announcements ....................2
Call for Papers.....................3
Photo Ops............................ 4
Norway House Hospital Reopens ................................... 6
Open Access Circumpolar
Research Documents ........... 6
Renal Health Unit News...... 7
Northern & Remote Family
Medicine Program ...............7
15th International Congress
on Circumpolar Health ....... 8
Social Media Gets Thumbs
Up.......................................10
Nunavut Students Get Reel
about Tobacco Use .............11
Things I've Learned Up
North ................................. 12
A copy of this and
past Newsletters
are on our website
at the following
URL:
http://tiny.cc/nmu_
news/
Google: facebook nmu_careers
I
(L to R) Melanie MacKinnon, Dr. Yvette Emerson, Dr. Marcia Anderson DeCouteau
n September 2011 the Section of
First Nations, Métis, and Inuit Health
and the NMU welcomed three new
administrators: Dr. Marcia Anderson
DeCouteau, Melanie MacKinnon,
and Dr. Yvette Emerson.
Taking over from Dr. Catherine Cook,
Dr. Marcia Anderson DeCouteau
is the Section Head, Section of
First Nations, Métis, and Inuit
Health. Marcia, a graduate of the
U of M Faculty of Medicine (2002),
obtained her Masters of Public
Health in 2007 from Johns Hopkins
Bloomberg School of Public Health.
She is President of the Indigenous
Physicians Association of Canada,
holds an Assistant Professorship
in CHS, and is a Medical Officer
Faculty of Medicine, University of Manitoba
J.A. Hildes Northern Medical Unit Publication
of Health at Manitoba Health. In
2011 she received an Aboriginal
Achievement Award for Health. Marcia
has roots in Peguis First Nation and
Norway House First Nation.
Also welcomed to the Section was
Melanie MacKinnon as Director of
Programs and Administration.
Melanie, who obtained her Bachelor
of Nursing from the U of M, worked in
First Nations Communities from 1996
to 2003. She was also the Regional
Nursing Officer, FNIH, Winnipeg from
2000 to 2003. She has worked as
a Policy Analyst, Intergovernmental
Committee on Manitoba First Nations
Health, Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs,
...continued next page
the caribou heard
Faces
continued from page 1
as Health Director for Norway House Cree Nation,
and since 2006 has been a Consultant for Medicine
Creek Solutions. She is a member of Misipawistik
Cree Nation (Grand Rapids).
Joining the NMU as Associate Medical Director is
Dr. Yvette Emerson. Yvette is a graduate of the
U of M Faculty of Medicine who has worked as a
Announcements
S
2012, MARCH
VOLUME 10, NO. 1
physician with the NMU in Hodgson, Churchill, and
Rankin Inlet. She has provided physician services
to Haida Gwaii, Prince Rupert, and Sioux Lookout
Zone. She has been the Unit Director of Kildonan
Medical Centre, a University of Manitoba Family
Medicine Residency Training Site which was the
precursor to the Northern/Remote Family Medicine
Stream. From 2004-2008 she was the Aboriginal
Health Program Lead, Dept. of Family Medicine.
Yvette splits her time between the NMU and as an
Emergency Physician at the Selkirk and District
Hospital. 
Koop, Manager of the Renal Health Program who
returned from parental leave in January 2012.
adly, Jenni Morris, Financial Administrator of the
NMU passed away last September 2011 and we,
her co-workers and friends
at the NMU are the poorer
for it. Jenni enjoyed her
work over the last 26 years
with the NMU. She was
always on top of everything,
brooked no-nonsense, and
amused us with her wry
sense of humour. She is
Jenni Morris
very much missed.
Just as Dwayne returned from parental leave, his
sister, Diabetic Retinal Screening Nurse, Eileen
Koop went on maternity leave. Elieen and her
husband, Jonathan were thrilled with the birth of
their daughter, Lucy on 14 January 2012.
Eunice Roulette was
welcomed to the NMU
in September 2011 as
Administrative Assistant
Finance. Eunice's prior roles
were as Executive Director at
the Manitoba Association of
Native Languages, Finance
Officer for the Fort Frances
Tribal Area Health Authority,
Eunice Roulette Senior Accountant at St.
Amant Centre, Programming
Accountant and Internal Control Accountant at the
Aboriginal People's Television Network, and most
recently as the Finance Officer with the Long Plain
First Nation Trust. She is a member of Sandy Bay
First Nations.
Just before starting with
us Amy spent 6 weeks in
Africa where she climbed Mt.
Kilimanjaro and Mt. Sinai.
She now has her sights set
on climbing Mt. Everest base
camp.
At Christmas time 2011, June Gray's term as
Manager of the Renal Health Program was up. She
was a wonderful addiiton to our team and it was
wonderful to have her around. We wish her all the
best.
We are pleased though to welcome back Dwayne
Amy Dytnerski will be filling in for Eileen while she
is on maternity leave. Amy is from Calgary where
she graduated from the University of Calgary's
Faculty of Nursing in 2009. She did a portion of her
nursing degree in Sydney, Australia working in adult
emergency at The Prince of Wales Hospital.
Bonnie Tinker (Inuit Med
Rehab) and husband, Matt
welcomed the birth of their
third child, Graham Brian
Amy Dytnerski
McKinley Tinker on the 9th of
February 2012. Congratulations Bonnie, Matt, and
family.
Everything comes in Threes!!!!!! On the 8th of March
2012, Monica Achtemichuk (Inuit Med Rehab) and
husband, Buck ushered in the arrival of their second
daughter, Molly.
In January 2012, Dr. Ibrahim Ismail, who had
been Chief of Staff at Percy E. Moore Hospital in
Hodgson, began working the Fly-In Program Area
going to the Nursing Stations at Chemewawin and
Grand Rapids.
Send us your announcements: [email protected]
Page 2
Faculty of Medicine, University of Manitoba
J.A. Hildes Northern Medical Unit Publication
2012, MARCH
the caribou heard
VOLUME 10, NO. 1
Call for Papers
Inuit Health Research and Community
Innovations
The National Aboriginal Health Organization is calling for papers to
be considered for publication in the fall 2012 issue of the ʻJournal of
Aboriginal Healthʼ. This issue will be devoted to Inuit health and wellness
in its broadest sense. Authors may explore this theme in relation to one
or more of the following topics.
Research Articles (standard journal article format, maximum 5,000
words):
•
•
•
•
Health research concerning Inuit, including studies on determinants
of health.
Community-based research.
Articles by Inuit post-secondary students.
Promising practices and models in addressing Inuit research ethics,
academic-community collaborations and effective knowledge
translation.
Community Stories (narrative and/or photo descriptions, 500 – 2,000
words):
•
•
•
Experiences in collaboration with research projects.
Best practices in community-researcher relationships.
Initiatives and programs that have applied research evidence to
solving a community problem.
Book Reviews (of a recent publication that contributes important
knowledge, maximum 500 words):
•
•
•
Research methodology, ethics and techniques.
Guides to community-based research.
Indigenous and/or Inuit knowledge.
Complete manuscripts suitable for peer review are due by April 30,
2012. Please refer to the Journalʼs submission guidelines. Authors will
be notified of their acceptance on or before June 30, 2012 via e-mail to
the person designated as the corresponding author or contact for the
submission.
For more information, please visit the Journalʼs website (www.naho.ca/inuit) or contact:
Cathleen Knotsch, Senior Research Officer, [email protected] or Mary Ashoona Bergin, Community
Liaison Officer, [email protected]
Inuit Tuttarvingat of the National Aboriginal Health Organization
220 Laurier Avenue West, Suite 1200
Ottawa, ON K1P 5Z9
Toll Free: 1-877-602-4445
Faculty of Medicine, University of Manitoba
J.A. Hildes Northern Medical Unit Publication
Page 3
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2012, MARCH
VOLUME 10, NO. 1
Photo Ops
Dr. Afshin Mobarakeh at St. Theresa Point Airport.
Eileen Koop, Retinal Screening Nurse with daughter Lucy.
Nancy Merry, Retired Nurse Liason, Dr. Bruce Martin, and
Derry Martens, CEO Churchill Regional Health Authority
at Community Health Sciences Going Away Reception for
Bruce.
Dr. Lawrence Spring, Dr. Catherine Cook, and Dr. Fondi
Boyang at Community Health Sciences Going Away
Reception for Bruce.
Listening to Bruce's speech at Community Health Sciences
Going Away Reception for Bruce.
NMU Staff saying goodbye at a party for Bruce in
September 2011.
Page 4
Faculty of Medicine, University of Manitoba
J.A. Hildes Northern Medical Unit Publication
2012, MARCH
VOLUME 10, NO. 1
the caribou heard
The above are photos of the new Residence in St. Theresa Point
Maria Fraser (centre) sent us this photo of the staff in
Repulse Bay. Also in the photo are Dr. Keith Hildahl and
resident, Dr. Naresa Ali.
Faculty of Medicine, University of Manitoba
J.A. Hildes Northern Medical Unit Publication
Dr. Nichole Riese and Dr. Greg Pukay, Northern Stream
Resident at Beren's River, Summer 2011. During their stay
Greg went net fishing for the first time.
Page 5
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2012, MARCH
VOLUME 10, NO. 1
Norway House Hospital Re-opens
O
n Monday, the 30th of January a ceremony
announcing the re-opening of six in-patient beds
at the Norway House Hospital was held in Norway
House.
The re-opening of the beds will aid in providing
continuity of care and will be less stressful on
patients as they will remain in their home community
rather than being relocated to receive medical
treatment. The NMU is now providing 3 full time and
3 half time physicians to Norway House, as well as
increasing consultant visits due to the renovation of
the clinic.
The clinic underwent renovations beginning in September 2011. These included 12 examination
rooms, treatment and triage rooms, upgrading of washrooms, and new flooring, cabinets, and paint.
Also announced was the position of an on-site pharmacist, expansion of the clinic's role to provide a
midwifery program, telehealth, and expanded minor treatments originally done at the hospital. 
Open Access Circumpolar Research Documents
contributed by Janice Linton, Neil John Maclean Health Sciences Library, U of M
T
he High North Research Documents Database
provides easy searching to identify and
use open access research documents about
the circumpolar north. It is a service funded by
Norway's University of Tromsø and run by the
University Library.
There are all kinds of gems to be found in this
growing database. Everything from articles to
dissertations.
As of January 2012, there are about 128,000 links
to online publications and photos. The database
covers anything about circumpolar research, so is
broader than just human health.
Try typing in Arviat, to find a digital archive of
photos taken in the community.
You can do a search on a multiple word topic, such
as “gestational diabetes” by using double quotation
marks.
You can do a search on diabetes AND pregnancy
You can try a search on youth* mental
There are fairly simple ways to search and this
Page 6
can help you to identify older research; research
from circumpolar countries that you may not
find indexed in databases, such as PubMed
or SCOPUS; and dissertations, that are often
overlooked.
T
ype in: Health Problems in the Arctic
The article returned is of a speech Dr. Hildes
read at the annual meeting of the Canadian Medical
Association in Banff, June 16, 1960. (The full
reference is as follows: Hildes, J. A. (1960).
Health problems in the Arctic. Canadian Medical
Association Journal, 83(24), 1255-1257)
Using the High North Research Documents
Database provides great access for people who
want access to complete documents at no cost and
is a great tool to find literature that is not indexed in
PubMed. It works a lot better than Google to find
circumpolar research efficiently and fast.
Leif Longva is the librarian who is the contact for
the database, if you have questions or feedback
e-mail: [email protected]
Faculty of Medicine, University of Manitoba
J.A. Hildes Northern Medical Unit Publication
2012, MARCH
the caribou heard
VOLUME 10, NO. 1
Island Lake Regional Renal Health Unit News
T
he Island Lake Regional Renal Health Program has
seen a number of changes in our staff in the last few
months.
We are happy to welcome as new members to our staff,
Arun Raveendran, Praisy Joseph, Vineeth Nair, and Tim
Mentuck, and at the same time say good bye to June Grey
our interim Program Manager. June brought a wealth of
experience and made a wonderful contribution to the quality
improvement of our program. We wish her the best as she
returns back to her retirement.
Vineeth Nair
Praisy Joseph
In March of 2012 we were able to transport approximately
120,000 lbs of dialysis supplies delivered to the Unit using
the Winter Road. This is a notable accomplishment of team
work as quick action and detailed planning were required to
get all our medical supplies to Garden Hill during one of the
warmest winters on record.
Special thanks go out to the staff at Triple C Enterprises,
HSC Shipping and Receiving, and our maintenance staff,
Vernon and Tim for all their hard work. An extra special
Tim Mentuck
Arun Raveendran
commendation goes to Mary Moss the Renal Health
Program Assistant who has spent months ordering,
planning, and overseeing all aspects of this undertaking. Thank you for this excellent work and we hope along
with you that all of the hair lost in this process will grow back quickly.
Candidate Matches to
the Northern & Remote
Family Medicine
Program
C
Congratulations:
Matthew Alkana - University of Manitoba - Elective (Med
IV) in NMU Fly-in
Calvin Bergen - University of Manitoba - Elective (Med IV)
in NMU Fly-in
Rebecca Coish - University of Manitoba - FM Clerkship
rotation (Med III) with NMU
ongratulations to candidates on their successful
match to the U of M's Northern and Remote
Family Medicine Program. The Program was
successful in matching all its' positions in the 1st
round of the match.
Lisa Craig - University of Manitoba - Elective (Med IV) in
Fly-in with NMU
Residents in this Program complete 2 years of
Family Medicine training, consisting of approximately
16 months of training in Winnipeg and 8 months
of training in northern or remote communities in
Manitoba, Nunavut, and the Northwest Territories.
Upon graduation these physicians fulfill a two year
Return-of-Service agreement with Manitoba Health in
a remote or northern Manitoba community.
Nadin Gilroy - McMaster University - Elective (Med II of 3
Year Program, McMaster Univ.) with NMU
Out of these 11 Residents 6 did their Electives or
Clerkship Rotations with the NMU.
Faculty of Medicine, University of Manitoba
J.A. Hildes Northern Medical Unit Publication
Satpal Dhillonl International Medical Grad
Shafik Diwan International Medical Gradl
Carla Gemeinhardt International Medical Grad
Savita Sharma International Medical Grad
Gurveen Sidhu International Medical Grad
Reesa Simmonds - University of Manitoba - FM Clerkship
rotation (Med III); also participated in our Summer
Student Program as a Med I student with NMU
Page 7
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2012, MARCH
VOLUME 10, NO. 1
15th International
Congress on Circumpolar Health
Fairbanks Alaska
August 5-10 2012
The International Congress on Circumpolar Health is held
every three years. The first was held in Fairbanks, Alaska
in 1967.
S
even hundred and fifty health professionals,
researchers, and indigenous representatives
from Canada, Greenland, Denmark, USA,
Russia, Norway, Sweden, Iceland, Finland,
and other countries interested in circumpolar
health, are expected to gather in Fairbanks,
Alaska, USA, on August 5-10, 2012 to share
health related research findings and program
successes that will improve the quality of life for
those living in circumpolar regions.
The International Union for Circumpolar Health
(IUCH) is a multilateral scientific union which
promotes scientific medical and public health
research in order to reduce death, disease,
and disability and to improve the quality of life
for those living in the polar regions. It has five
adhering bodies: the Canadian Society for
Circumpolar Health, the Nordic Society of Arctic
Medicine, the Siberian Branch of the Russian
Academy of Medical Sciences, the Danish/
Greenlandic Society for Circumpolar Health, and
the American Society for Circumpolar Health;
as well the World Health Organisation is also
represented on the IUCH Council.
For further
information, exhibitor
info, and to register
go to:
www.icch15.com
A
n informal network on circumpolar health,
of which Dr. Hildes was involved, existed
from the early days of the circumpolar health
movement in the 1960’s and 70’s. In 1981 at the
5th International Congress on Circumpolar Health
the IUCH was formerly established as a unique
entity.
D
r. Hildes was a Co-founder and Chairperson
of the Canadian Society for Circumpolar
Health (CSCH) established in 1984. The CSCH
became a charter member of the IUCH in 1986..
I
n 1987 the Canadian Society for Circumpolar
Health, with a grant from the Donner Canadian
Foundation, struck a medal in honour of Dr.
Hildes. At every International Congress five
recipients chosen by the adhering bodies of the
IUCH are awarded the medal.
The award is one of prestige and honour, given
to those working with the dedication exemplified
by that of Dr. Hildes. It is an international prize,
awarded to individuals demonstrating excellence
in northern medicine and health in consideration
of their contributions through service, research,
and humanitarianism. Dr. Brian Postl was
awarded the medal in 1993, Dr. Kue Young in
2000, and Dr. Bruce Martin in 2009.
Jack Hildes Medal
Page 8
Faculty of Medicine, University of Manitoba
J.A. Hildes Northern Medical Unit Publication
2012, MARCH
the caribou heard
VOLUME 10, NO. 1
Advanced Trauma
Life Support®
Course for Doctors
This Course fills up
Fast - Register Early
The Advanced Trauma Life
Support® Course is publshed
by the American College of
Surgeons and provides a
framework for the management of the injured patient. It
is intended to allow the single doctor in a rural hospital
to effectively assess and manage multiple trauma.
Garfield makes his home at Perimeter Aviation. A few
years ago a Perimeter employee found him with frostbitten
ears and a tail. He is now an airport cat, very sociable,
and wanders around as though he is the "king" of the
place. Garfield shares his kingdom with another cat,
Baron, who is orange & white.
World's Worst Referral Letters
found on the internet
Dear Doctor,
I am apparently referring this man to you!
Unfortunately I can't find any records in the notes as
to why, but I'm sure you will find out.
GP letter to a Consultant Radiologist :
Re: John Smith. This 57-year-old builder is
requesting a CAT scan on his lumbar spine to be
performed on a private fee-paying basis. Mr Smith
is a malcontent of the first order and holds a very
warped view of life in general.
I see no harm in acceding to his request although he
expresses his contempt for orthopaedic surgeons,
chiropractors, osteopaths, acupuncturists and, not
least, GPs, so you might as well join the list.
Dear colleague, Pain chest since long time. I think
there might be something wrong with him. Hoping
your kind attention.
Dear Sir, Big heart. Second opinion please.
Faculty of Medicine, University of Manitoba
J.A. Hildes Northern Medical Unit Publication
The Course teaches a systematic approach for the
effective assessment and resuscitation of the severely
traumatised patient. The 2 day course consists of:
• pre-course test
• didactic and interactive core content
lectures
• practical skill stations
• surgical skill station
• triage scenarios
• initial assessment and management skill
station
• post-course test
Upon completion of the course physicians should feel
confident in the concepts and principles of primary
and secondary assessment, establishing management
priorities, initiating resuscitative measures and
demonstrating the practical skills used in the initial
assessment and management of patients with multiple
injuries.
A verification card is provided upon successful
completion of the course and is valid for 4 years from
the date of issue. a student refresher course must then
be taken to maintain ATLS® provider status.
The next advanced Trauma Life Support® Provider/
Refresher Courses will be held:
2012
- March 16-17
- June 1-2
- August 24-25
- October 12-13
- November 16-17
Please contact ATLS Department of Surgery:
AE402 - 840 Sherbrook Street
Winnipeg MB R3A 1S1
Phone: 787-2394
Fax: 787-4618
Email: [email protected]
Page 9
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2012, MARCH
VOLUME 10, NO. 1
Social Media Gets Thumbs Up
reprinted with permission from Doctors Manitoba
Newsletter, Rounds
OK to "friend" social media?
The CMA Board of Directors recently approved
Canada's first-ever national social media
guidelines to help doctors safely, effectively, and
responsibly use tools such as Facebook, Twitter,
and other forms of social media as they care for
patients.
The CMA's document Social media and
Canadian physicians - Issues and rules of
engagement provides practical considerations
and outlines the potential benefits and
drawbacks of social media for physicians.
"People everywhere are using social media,"
CMA President Dr. John Haggie said. "We
know our patients are searching for healthrelated information and discussing health issues
in blogs and other online forums. We also
know physicians are using social media in their
personal lives and exploring how they can use
these communications tools to inform the public
or connect with their peers."
The CMA joins other national medical
associations, such as the American Medical
Association, the British Medical Association,
the New Zealand Medical Association, and the
Australian Medical Association, in providing
guidance on this topic for their members. You
can download the CMA social media guidelines
at:
http://www.cma.ca/socialmedia
Closer to home, the University of Manitoba
Faculty of Medicine adopted a policy in
November 2010 entitled Professionalism Online
- guidelines for the appropriate use of the
internet, electronic networking, and other forms
of electronic communication. Applicable to all
learners, faculty, and staff the document may be
accessed at:
http://umanitoba.ca/faculties/medicine/media/
socialnetworkingguidelines.pdf
Please Send us your Photos
Please send us your community, staff, event
photos.
When you submit a photo it is with the
understanding it might be put in the
newsletter and we do not require written
permission. If we would like to use it for
promotional materials (eg: brochures) a
photo release form must be signed. Photos
of patients in a medical context and children
are not used without the subject/guardian(s)
written permission.
Julie Creasey:
[email protected]
Society of Rural Physicians of Canada
20th Annual Rural and Remote Medicine Course
On The Edge
Thursday, April 26th - Saturday, April 28th, 2012
The Fairmont Chateau Whistler, in Whistler, BC
for more information and on-line registration visit:
http://www.srpc.ca
Page 10
Faculty of Medicine, University of Manitoba
J.A. Hildes Northern Medical Unit Publication
2012, MARCH
VOLUME 10, NO. 1
the caribou heard
Nunavut Students Get Reel about Tobacco Use
Republished with permission from Northern News
Services Online. http://www.nnsl.com/
By Casey Lessard
W
ith one-third of her Grade 6 and 7 students
already smoking regularly, Lindsay Copp
is eager for her class to receive an iPod Touch to
start making an anti-smoking ad for a pan-territorial
program called Get Reel.
Students across the North will be using iPods to
create anti-smoking ads that will be shared through
social media.
"I have quite a few in my class who are at that age
of smoking if they haven't already," said Copp,
who teaches a dozen students at Inuksuit School
in Qikiqtarjuaq. "Hopefully we'll learn a lot to
discourage them (from smoking)."
Get Reel is a new program spinning out of the Smoke
Screening project that is now in its eighth year. The
project did not run last year, but ran the previous
seven. Through Smoke Screening, grade 6 to 12
classes receive DVDs containing 13 ads from around
the world, and students vote for their favourite. The
most popular ad airs on TV.
"One of the things we heard from teachers in previous
years is they'd like to see more Northern content in
these ads," said tobacco reduction specialist Alana
Kronstal. "The ads are really slick and cool, but it
would be neat if the kids saw faces from the North."
This year, students from Nunavut, NWT, and the
Yukon will put their own faces in ads to be shared
through social media. Health Canada funding is
being used to provide each of up to 100 Northern
classes with an iPod Touch pre-loaded with video
editing software and instructional videos.
Using the iPod's on-board camera and software,
each class will create a 30-second anti-smoking
advertisement, and the best from each territory - as
judged by filmmakers, health professionals, and social
media voters - will win a prize.
Registration opened Jan. 1 and the video submission
deadline is April 15.
"We haven't gotten into the planning yet, but the most
Faculty of Medicine, University of Manitoba
J.A. Hildes Northern Medical Unit Publication
difficult part will be determining what we want in that
30 seconds," said Copp. "We talked about having the
kids re-enact some ways smoking influences smokers,
so we'll have some kids be 'smokers' and others be
'non-smokers' and be running and show how they
can't breathe."
In Pond Inlet, Jaclyn MacAdam's Grade 7 class at
Nasivvik School is excited about the project, and
have started
writing their
script. Contest
organizers
recommend a
testimonial-style
ad, but, like
Copp's class,
MacAdam's
class is going
for a creative
treatment.
"I let my students come up with the idea they would
like to do, and they chose to create a fictional story
about kids their age that smoke," she said. "So far it's
good. We went ahead to work on our script so that
we're prepared when it does come to start filming."
Students across Nunavut seem to be excited about
the project, as Nunavut classrooms have the most
registrations to date, Kronstal said.
"Even in a place with very limited bandwidth," she
said, "you can get this iPod and make a short PSA and
edit it on the unit. You can take the footage, edit it
down, add music and all that stuff. It's pretty neat."
Copp agrees, and looks forward to seeing the results.
"I think it will build their confidence and get them
excited about having a finished product they can
show," she said.
For MacAdam, it's important to get a message out to
the potential smokers when they are most vulnerable
to the addiction.
"A large segment of the population here smokes, and
that includes teenagers," MacAdam said. "The earlier
you learn this information, the more chance it has to
have an impact."
Page 11
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Things I've Learned Up North
by Amy Dytnerski
When I first started at the
NMU as a diabetic retinal
screening nurse in November
2011, I knew I was going to
be on a huge learning curve.
Not only was I going to have
to learn how to take retinal
photography, something that I
had never done before, I was
also going to have to learn the
tricks and trades of working up
North. In the 4 months I have
been on staff at the NMU there have been a lot of
kind people and professionals that I have met who
have helped me out teaching me about Northern life;
other moments I’ve had to learn things the hard way
such as:
• properly enunciating my job title is essential. It’s
amazing how much “diabetic retinal screening”
can sound like “diabetic rectal screening”. Clear
pronunciation is essential in order to avoid some
incredibly awkward moments;
• in a job that requires me to carry equipment which
is nearly double my body weight, I have learned
to look just the right amount of adorably little and
pathetic in order to convince someone to help me
carry my retinal screening equipment;
• I often get called “the eye doctor”. I am very good
at correcting people, but every once in a while I
indulge myself;
• being stranded in the middle of a frozen lake in the
middle of winter because the nursing station forgot
you were coming is a rite of passage;
• having cell phone reception and good wireless
internet is so exciting it’s like Christmas;
• the Winter Road means freedom for those up North,
for me it means no patients and utter boredom;
• wild dogs are an occupational hazard;
• sometimes the water up North is brown. I honestly
still don’t know which communities are safe to drink
the water and which aren’t, so I usually end up
boiling all the water I drink. This often results in me
feeling a little ridiculous;
• the smell of Chicken Delight in the morning means
I’m flying Perimeter.
2012, MARCH
VOLUME 10, NO. 1
favourite;
• the drivers for the nursing stations generally have an
excellent sense of humour;
• the nursing residence in Pauingassi is said to be
haunted. No joke;
• you get excited when you see you get to fly on the
Dash 8 because you know you’re going to get your
Dad’s Oatmeal Cookies;
• sometimes you’re the only passenger on the plane
so you get to feel a bit like a rock star.
• Island Lakes and Garden Hill and St. Theresa Point
are synonymous terms. It can be confusing;
• the nursing residence in Little Grand Rapids has the
fattest cat I’ve ever seen;
• everyone up North is friendly and it’s easy to make
friends, especially over cups of coffee. Up North,
Tim Horton’s coffee is a very hot commodity and is
considered to be the nectar of the gods;
• you might feel awkward about having to share
an apartment with strangers at first, but after an
evening of watching a Jets game together you
become the best of friends;
• I have seen some of the most incredible and breathtaking sunrises and sunsets.
There are a lot of humorous things I have learned
about working up North. But mostly, I’ve learned
that I love getting up and going to work every
day. Working in Northern Health is challenging
and rewarding and I am loving getting to know the
communities I work in. I know that I still have a lot to
learn about the interworkings of Northern Life, but I
am excited and humbled every day that I get to be a
part of it. 
the
caribou heard
The Caribou Heard is published by the J. A. Hildes
Northern Medical Unit, Section of First Nations, Métis,
and Inuit Health of the Department of Community Health
Sciences at the University of Manitoba.
Submissions can be made to Julie Creasey at T162770 Bannatyne Avenue, Winnipeg MB, R3E 0W3, julie.
[email protected]
Phone: 204-789-3510
Fax: 204-774-8919
Opinions expressed on these pages may or may not be
the opinions of the Editors.
• the local community radio stations are my absolute
Page 12
Faculty of Medicine, University of Manitoba
J.A. Hildes Northern Medical Unit Publication