Enhance your learning journey with a valuable resource designed to deepen your understanding, challenge your perspectives, and guide you toward reconciliation and justice. Enroll in our free MOOC to gain foundational insights, and take the next step by joining our comprehensive paid course for an even richer, in-depth exploration. Start your journey today—enroll in the free MOOC here!
Overview
**The certificate is scheduled to open for registration in 2025. Add your name to the wait list above and we will notify you as soon as the course opens.
This certificate offers a comprehensive exploration of Indigenous health and wellness, advocacy, and allyship, providing you with the knowledge and skills needed to effect meaningful change in healthcare settings. You will engage in deep introspection to develop ethical and effective approaches to allyship. By confronting personal biases and understanding historical traumas, you will prepare to engage with humility and integrity, to equip yourself to promote Indigenous health and well-being. You will delve into the multifaceted landscape of Indigenous Peoples in Canada, emphasizing the imperative of decolonization and the dismantling of discriminatory structures. Through an analysis of anti-Indigenous racism and a comparison of Indigenous and Western worldviews, you will gain insight into the root causes of health disparities and acquire tools to foster genuine allyship within healthcare provision. The teachings in this certificate will help empower you to advocate for Indigenous health equity and embark on a journey towards transformative change.
Certificate Requirements
This course invites you to explore narratives, ways of knowing and doing, as told and understood by Indigenous Peoples of Canada. We will ask you to explore your own positionality(opens in a new tab), a concept that refers to your "personal values, views, and location in time and space that influence how one engages with and understands the world".
In this course, you will learn that becoming an ally is not as simple as self-declaring one's allyship to an equity-deserving group. It requires conscientious listening, learning, reflection, and action to show that you truly do support and advocate for others.
Credential Earned
After successful completion of both courses, you will earn a Certificate of Completion.
How It Works
Certificate Access
180 days
Effort
10 hours per course
Delivery
Online, On-Demand
Instruction
Self-paced
Cost
$650
By the end of the two courses, you will:
Understand indigenous health perspectives; Gain a comprehensive understanding of Indigenous perspectives on health, including traditional healing practices, historical trauma, and contemporary health challenges.
Recognize and address anti-indigenous racism; Identify and critically analyze manifestations of anti-Indigenous racism in healthcare systems and society, and develop strategies to combat racism in health care settings.
Develop cultural competency; Develop cultural competency skills necessary for working effectively with Indigenous communities, including communication, respect for diversity, and understanding of cultural protocols.
Develop advocacy skills; Acquire knowledge and skills to advocate for Indigenous health rights and social justice, including understanding policy frameworks, community organizing, and working collaboratively with Indigenous communities
KD (Keith) King
KD (Keith) (He/They) is a proud Michif Ayahkwew (Ah-yah-kway-oh or Two Spirit) Registered Nurse from Notikewin, Alberta, in Treaty 8 territory. They are of mixed English & Russian settler and Métis descent and live in Amiskwaciwâskahikan (Edmonton, Alberta), where they are a PhD candidate and researcher with the Faculty of Nursing at the University of Alberta. Their research is working with the Métis Nation of Alberta to explore HPV-related cancer prevention. They are also a sessional instructor at MacEwan University and practicing Public Health Nurse in the sexual health field. Keith works closely with the Health Department at the Métis Nation of Alberta. Keith also volunteers with several communities. They are the co-chair of the board of the Edmonton 2Spirit Society and a co-founder of the Alberta Pain Strategy.
Clarisse Paron
Clarisse (she/they) is a PhD Candidate in the Department of Philosophy at Dalhousie University, located in K’jipuktuk (Halifax, Nova Scotia) on Mi’kma’ki, the ancestral and unceded territory of the Mi’kmaq. Originally from Amiskwaciwâskahikan (Edmonton, Alberta) in Treaty 6 territory. She completed a BSc and an MA in Philosophy at the University of Alberta. Her research considers how science, medical practice, and social policy intersect to perpetuate unjust treatment of equity-deserving populations in the healthcare system. As a third and fifth generation settler from Italy and Ukraine respectively, Clarisse strives to enact decolonization in her teaching and research practices, fulfilling her responsibility in decolonization. She has taught in many capacities and her interest in pedagogy led her to undertake a certificate in university teaching and learning. She has co-authored an open educational resource on applied ethics, developed courses for the Departments of Biology and Philosophy at Dalhousie University and the Faculty of Health Sciences at Athabasca University. She created an online tool for healthcare professionals to develop their ethical consultation skills to aid Dalhousie’s Bioethics Department.
Clarisse Paron
Dr. Lynn Corcoran (she/her) is a Registered Nurse and an Associate Professor in the Faculty of Health Disciplines at Athabasca University. She has clinical experience in public health and women’s health. Her research and scholarly interests include a variety of topics such as innovations in teaching and learning, nursing education, and prevention of violence.
- Healthcare Professionals: This group includes doctors, nurses, and allied health professionals seeking to deepen their understanding of Indigenous health issues. They may work in a variety of settings, including hospitals, clinics, and community health centers.
- Community Workers: Individuals working in Indigenous communities or organizations focused on health and wellness. They may include social workers, community health representatives, and cultural support workers.
- Educators: Teachers, professors, and educators interested in incorporating Indigenous perspectives into their health-related curricula. They may work in schools, colleges, or universities.
- Policy Makers: Government officials, policymakers, and advocates interested in developing policies and programs that address Indigenous health disparities. Researchers: Academics and researchers studying Indigenous health issues and looking to enhance their understanding of Indigenous health research methodologies and ethics.
- Students: Undergraduate and graduate students pursuing degrees in health-related fields who want to learn about Indigenous health as part of their studies.
Certificate FAQs
Is this an instructor-led certificate?
This certificate is designed to be self-paced with all materials you need for successful completion contained within the learning platform. The certificate is an immersive experience that includes a mix of content including video introductions and video content, audio files, impactful readings, learning checks, and interactive elements – all which can be completed at your own pace.
How much time will I need to spend?
The certificate is structured to be completed at your own pace within approximately 20 hours, but you set your own schedule! The learning environment will be available for 180 days to complete both courses.
Do I have to be online at a certain time of day?
No, you do not have to be online at a specific time. You complete the coursework at the times and places that fits your schedule. Each course is designed for working professionals who are balancing their work, family and community commitments.
When do I start?
You can start the course as soon as you register! You will automatically be directed to the interactive learning environment.
How long will I have access to the certificate?
You will have 180 days from the time of registration to complete the certificate. Total learning time is approximately 20 hours.
What is the refund policy?
No refunds will be issued for courses. Refunds may be considered under exceptional circumstances on a case-by-case basis. Please contact powered@athabascau.ca for more information.
Are there tests or quizzes involved?
There will be an assessment after each unit. All assessments are designed to be accessible and easy to complete by engaging in the course content. Within each module, you will have the answers to each assessment.
What are the computer requirements for this certificate?
You should have access to a Mac, PC, or tablet with an Internet connection, with Safari, Chrome, Microsoft Edge or Firefox as a browser. Here is a link that outlines browser support:
https://documentation.brightspace.com/EN/brightspace/requirements/all/browser_support.htm
For virtual sessions:
- Speakers/headphones
- Web camera and microphone
Learners that want to use their smart phone to access the courses can also download the D2L Pulse App for free to access the course available on Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.d2l.brightspace.student.android&hl=en_CA
Or the Apple App Store: https://apps.apple.com/ca/app/brightspace-pulse/id1001688546
Does this certificate have prerequisites?
This certificate does not have a required prerequisite.
Who do I contact if I need help?
You can contact powered@athabascau.ca for assistance with any questions you may have. We are here to help!