Building Trauma Capacity With Indigenous and Northern Communities
In much of northern Canada, the person closest to an injured patient is a community member — not a paramedic, and often hours from definitive care. Our goal is not to fly in, teach, and leave. It is to help communities build their own trauma training capacity, so the knowledge stays.
What we are trying to do
We partner with Indigenous and northern communities to train community members and health staff as ITLS providers, and then support interested candidates through the instructor pathway — so that the community can deliver, and eventually own, its own trauma training in-house.
How we work
- Community-led. We begin only at a community's invitation, and the community defines what it needs and how training is delivered.
- Capacity, not dependency. Every engagement is designed toward local instructors and local self-sufficiency.
- Cultural safety and humility. Our instructors are expected to complete recognized Indigenous cultural safety training, and to approach every partnership as learners.
- Data governance. Any information gathered in a partnership is handled according to OCAP principles — ownership, control, access and possession rest with the community.
- Aligned with reconciliation commitments. Our approach is informed by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's health-related Calls to Action 22–24 and by UNDRIP.
What a partnership can include
- ITLS Provider courses delivered in-community
- Instructor development for community candidates
- Trauma skills refreshers for nursing station and health centre staff
- Community responder and bleeding-control training
- Equipment support through our Equipment Bridge
- Assistance identifying funding so cost is not a barrier
Cost
We do not want price to decide whether a community can train its people. Where possible we work with sponsors, grants and subsidized seats. Tell us your situation and we will be direct with you about what we can and cannot fund.
How to reach out
There is no formal application form, by design — we would rather start with a conversation. Email info@itlsnl.ca with the subject line "Community Partnership" and tell us:
- Your community or organization, and who we would be working with
- What you are hoping to build — provider training, local instructors, or both
- Who would be trained, and roughly how many people
- What training and equipment you already have
- Practical realities: travel, seasons, facilities, timing
We will respond within two business days and arrange a conversation at your convenience.