Indian Time - A Voice from the Eastern Door

By Wabigonike Tenasco

EMS Week 2016 is fast approaching and in anticipation we would like for our community to get to know who our providers are. At Akwesasne Mohawk Ambulance we have an amazing group of providers at varying levels; some are Emergency Medical Responders, Emergency Medical Technicians Basic or Advance, EMT-Critical Care Technicians and even Paramedic. We know that everyone who works here puts in long hours and sleepless nights taking care of the needs of our community and meeting Akwesasne Mohawk Ambulance's mission. We know that you're dedicated, we know that you care and we also know that you don't get the amount of thanks that you deserve most of the time. So for the next few weeks we will feature their profiles here in the Indian Time leading up to EMS Week on May 15-21, 2016. During EMS Week we'd like to invite the community to say "Thank You" to all these great providers who take care of us in our times of need. –EMS Week Planning Committee.

EMT Ed Cook

What provider level are you? EMT-Basic

How long have you been at this level? 10 Years

What were you doing before working as a provider? "I was an International Sales Representative for Swarovski Lighting".

Would you recommend this career to others? "Certainly, to people who care and want to make a difference especially within their community".

What do you like most about being a provider? "Interacting with community members and the camaraderie of working with a team of providers who are committed to taking care of family and friends".

Name one aspect of your job that you think is important. "Encouraging people to take an active role in their own health and easing the fears of our patients of going to the hospital or doctor".

Do you find there is a lot of stress involved in your job? "There is but we also have a great team of people who help and support each other".

What are your interests and hobbies outside of work? "Spending time with family and friends, gardening, cooking and being outdoors. It also provides a balance to the stressors of my job".

What is one of the most rewarding aspects of your job? "Establishing relationships with patients and their families. It can also be one of the hardest times when we are taking care of our own. We become attached and bear witness to both the happiest and most difficult moments in people's lives".

EMT Joe Bonaparte Jr

What provider level are you? "EMT-Critical Care".

How long have you been at this level? 6 Months

And the level previous? "I was an AEMT for 1 year and EMT-Basic for 5 years".

How did you choose this career? "I started as a volunteer at Moira Volunteer Fire Rescue Department and applied at Akwesasne Mohawk Ambulance when I saw the posting".

What were you doing before working as a provider? "Union Boilermaker working in Nuclear Powered, Coal Powered and Natural Gas Power Plants and Oil Refineries".

Would you recommend this career to others? "This career is not for everyone, it's more of a calling. For every good day there's a bad day to match and it take a special kind of person to be able to handle that".

What type of experience, paid or unpaid, would you encourage someone interested in this field on getting? "I suggest joining their local Fire Rescue Department. Volunteers are needed through out the North Country and they will provide you with the proper training to jumpstart your career".

If the job progresses, as you like, what would be the next step in your career? "I would like for our agency to move from a Basic Agency to an Advance Life Support Agency so that I may use all my skills to help my patients to the best of my ability".

What are your interests and hobbies outside of work? "Amateur radio, spending time with my 4 boys and spending quality time with my beautiful wife".

EMR Tekarihwakhen Herne

What provider level are you? "EMR (Emergency Medical Responder)".

How long have you been at this level? "3 Years".

EMR Tekarihwakhen Herne loves the excitement and the challenge of his job.

How did you choose this career? "It runs in the family and I've been at it for about 4 years".

What were you doing before working as a provider? "I worked at the Onondaga Nation Construction Company and volunteered at the Onondaga Nation Volunteer Fire Department".

Why did this type of work interest you? "The work environment, excitement of the job and my family being involved with EMS".

What do you like most about being a provider? "Helping people in an ever changing environment and a new challenge from day to day".

If the job progresses as you like, what would be the next step in your career? "Completing my EMT-Basic and moving up to a Critical Care Technician".

What are your interests and hobbies outside of work? "Outdoor activities, bowling, cooking and spending time with my daughter".