Prince George social worker celebrated for decades of work

“Just think about those cold winter days when everybody’s home and they’re all snuggled up. Melanie is on her vehicle on an active logging road, clearing logging trucks to get to remote and semi remote communities to help with the self-determination,” Fraser continued.

“We get limited professionals willing to come out and and do the work, so I wanted to go out and provide the good work that I can. Because our communities deserve it just as much as anywhere else,” Lansall said.

Lansall, who is part of the Tsay Keh Dene Nation, explains she’s done many different kinds of social work over the last 20 years, ranging from working with individuals to working with the larger community to build more self-determination and a stronger community.

“Mainly my work has been with Indigenous communities and mental health and crisis response, as well as getting to develop and build different programs with the Nations. Some of the initiatives we’re starting to move forward with are the land based healing initiatives that are becoming more popular. Taking people out on the land, learning about medicines, going on the lake, having a mental health session on paddle boards, being surrounded by where the natural medicines are,” she explained.

Through this work, Lansall explained she’s been honoured to be a part of significant and positive community change, as social work for one person in a community can have incredible positive effects on those surrounding them, leading to better community health.

“You see these different changes which also lead into opportunities for them to move into a better place for themselves, which then inspires the youth behind them, right? So community developing community,” she said.

“When communities come together and support their youth, support their adults and their elders, and build that community capacity, it’s magic,” she continued.

Travelling to communities that may have difficulties accessing the type of social work Lansall provides is one of the biggest reasons Fraser nominated her for the award, as Fraser explained he’s seen how impactful Lansall’s work can be for areas that need it.

“Melanie is one of those type of people that can connect with First Nations people to help access western knowledge blended with traditional knowledges,” he said.

Fraser added Lansall’s benefits also extend into her role at UNBC, as she brings vast lived experience into the classroom to help the next generation of social workers.

“The fact that Melanie brings all this lived experience up to these remote communities and brings it into a classroom setting, it’s very important for the new students, because they’re always asking ‘is there a place for me? How do I connect with First Nations people? How do we do this kind of work?’ Well, Melanie’s been there and done it and she can bring that to the classroom and help others be prepared to go out to the community,” Fraser said.

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by Tommy Osborne

Prince George social worker celebrated for decades of work

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