Manager recognized for innovative approach to health care.

Tyler White's recent accolades are reason to celebrate but the Siksika First Nation health manager won't be letting up on his hard work until health care and health services are equitable.

White's "phenomenal leadership," as noted by Assembly of First Nations National Chief Phil Fontaine, was recognized Jan. 28 by the AFN in a ceremony at the Sheraton Wall Centre in Vancouver. White was presented with the First Nations Health Manager's Award of Excellence.

In a press release, Fontaine lauded White for "moderniz(ing) health care at the Siksika First Nation by improving access, expanding programming and securing a modern, innovative, state of the art facility, which is a source of pride to his community and a model for other First Nations."

White was the mastermind behind the Siksika Health and Wellness Centre, which offers a wide array of services including public health and home care, crisis response services, and mental health services. White was also recognized for building a new solvent treatment centre to serve aboriginal youth across Canada.

White is humble in taking credit for his success. "I was fortunate enough to tour the country and a lot of the stuff we're doing right now was really inspired by communities right across the country, my colleagues sharing their practices and their models with me. Our efforts were sort of a collection from all of those experiences."

The award, says White, "validates and reaffirms the work that we've been doing" and shows that his team is on the right track.

Agrees AFN Regional Chief Angus Toulouse. "(White) has done so much that the community and certainly the whole region of Alberta, his colleagues, and nationally they wanted to recognize his tireless efforts in wanting to ensure that the service that is provided is none other than top-notch."

But White is clear that the award was earned through team effort. "I always tell people I'm the benefactor of such gifted and talented staff, and really supportive leadership with a vision, (and) support from the community that they have belief in what we're doing."

Toulouse notes that the award to White goes beyond recognizing him as a tireless health manager. "Tyler's been an example of the kind of perseverance our people need to take on. We need to recognize the talents and achievements of our people and we need to promote those talents and achievements as much as we can."

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White applauds the AFN for recognizing what he believes is the most challenging and complex position on First Nations reserves.

"It certainly brings positive attention and some, I think, integrity to what we're doing across the country because we have a lot of success stories. Despite what the media prints and despite some of the horror stories, we have some very innovative and very advanced practices going on around the country," says White.

Agrees Toulouse, "A lot of the time it's only the sad stories and I think we need to show some of the good stories collectively and what our people can achieve if they set their mind to it."

THOMAS J BRUNER

Sweetgrass Staff Writer