Marty Landrie

Tribal Affiliation/Ethnic/Racial Background:
Metis(Cree, French, Scottish)
Current Position:
Executive Director, Poundmaker's Lodge Treatment Centre (addictions treatment)
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
Degree(s):
Diploma Psychiatric Nursing
BA Native Studies
MsC (C) Public Health (Population Health)
Schools Attended:
Alberta Hospital School of Psychiatric Nursing
University of Alberta
Area of Focus:
Mental Health, Addictions, Aboriginal Diabetes, Aboriginal Health
What motivated you to obtain your educational/career goals?
I needed to gain more education to better understand why Aboriginal people were in the poor state of health that they are in (in Canada)
What steps did you take to achieve those goals?
I began taking night courses at University of Alberta then applied to the Native Studies program. I then took Masters of Public Health to better advocate for Aboriginal health issues.
Describe any obstacles or barriers to success that you encountered along your path:
Many health professionals had preconceived ideas of native health and didn't understand the need for changing the health system to address native health issues from a cultural and spiritual perspective. Also, many health professionals didn't take me seriously in terms of being an "expert" until I took my masters. Only then could I speak their language.
What advice do you have for college students?
Stay the course - it takes awhile and acceptance from the western health world of academia comes with more education you have. It's a drag that it is this way, but in reality native people are entering their world and learning their language. Once we learn it they let us in! Then we can blow them away with our "expertise"! 

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