Aboriginal Awareness is a program designed to help Saskatoon Health Region become a more culturally sensitive healthcare system in a province where the First Nations and Métis communities are a significant and growing percentage of our population. The Aboriginal Awareness sessions are an opportunity to build a foundation of knowledge about Aboriginal people and discover how this knowledge can contribute to a culturally competent workplace. The information provided in the sessions aims to bridge cultural understandings that can assist employees towards building mutually positive actions that are required for a true Representative Workforce environment.
In the 2005-2006 fiscal year, more than one hundred sessions were delivered to 2,340 participants within Saskatoon Health Region, which accounts for over 20% of the current employees in the Region. The overall participant response was very positive, and many participants have inquired about attaining additional informational sessions on a variety of cultural topics. Aboriginal Awareness was a highly successful Initiative and continues into the 2006-2007 fiscal year.
 The success of Aboriginal Awareness can be attributed to the inclusion, presence, guidance and support of the Elders, Spiritual Leaders, Medicine Peoples and Cultural Advisors from Saskatoon Health Region. These people also represent the many cultures with in the Aboriginal communities - we acknowledge and respect those differences.
Aboriginal Awareness is a key element that contributes to creating a caring environment where Aboriginal colleagues, patients, and their families can feel respected and valued in a culturally competent workplace.
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The Committee was established to provide advice from an operational and organizational perspective on issues and initiatives related to a Representative Workforce in Saskatoon Health Region. The Committee acts as the eyes, ears and voices from within the diverse areas of the region. The twelve member Committee consists of six representatives from the Management group and a total of six representatives from the three Unions (two members from each, Service Employees International Union (SEIU), Saskatchewan Union of Nurses (SUN), and Health Sciences Association of Saskatchewan (HSAS).