Chair in Healthy L’nu Communities Announced

To the University Community,

I am pleased to share with you that, yesterday, the Government of Nova Scotia announced it will provide $150,000 annually, for five years, to support a new Chair in Healthy L’nu Communities at Cape Breton University.

Through a community-led approach to health promotion and research, the Chair will contribute to improved health outcomes of Nova Scotia Mi’kmaw achieved through culturally safe health programs and community-based and community-led research and practice initiatives.  The Chair will work to strengthen relationships with Mi’kmaw health leaders to further incorporate Mi’kmaw ways of knowing into curriculum development for health professionals, to identify shared research priorities and the inclusion of Mi’kmaw ways of knowing in research processes and in supporting student connection between the academic and community practice setting.

The Chair is a result of the good work put forth by many partners, including Nova Scotia’s Mi’kmaw communities, Tajikeimɨk (Mi’kmaw Health & Wellness), the Department of Health and Wellness, the Nova Scotia Health Authority, IWK Health Centre and Cape Breton University.

I am delighted to see this initiative announced and want to thank Stephen Augustine and Dr. Jane Lewis for the leadership on this project. The Chair in Healthy L’nu Communities helps us strengthen our relationship with Mi’kmaw communities in a meaningful way that fulfils several of our strategic commitments. A search for the Chair will begin in the coming months.

Please join me in congratulating our colleagues on this wonderful news.

Your very truly,

David C. Dingwall

President & Vice-Chancellor