By Nick Dube

building bonds

Fraser Lake paramedic learns to speak Indigenous language

Oct 1, 2025 | 4:39 PM

PRINCE GEORGE – Ivan Hayward is a Community Paramedic in Fraser Lake. In his role Ivan often visits patients at the Stellat’en First Nation and it was there where Ivan was first introduced to the Yunka Dene language which is one of the most difficult languages to learn. In order to better communicate with the Stellat’en people their Health Director Cynthia Munger suggested Ivan learn some basic phrases and from there it grew to a desire to provide the best care possible for his patients.

“She said to me, if you’re going to visit our elders, then you’re going to need to learn the language. She handed me this little booklet with some phrases, that they had put together in the health center which was comprised of some medical phrases and things like that. I started thinking to myself there’s no reason that I couldn’t learn how to say hello and how are you? I took that and when I was visiting clients, I would use those words. Every visit after they would teach me more words and, speak with me in their language more. So it just kind of grew through that.” said Hayward.

Ivan felt he wanted to take his education further to develop a closer bond and cultural understanding. Last October Ivan applied to UVIT’s language program but quickly learned it was full at 60 students. Determined to attend Ivan agreed with the school to pay his own way and use his own equipment and was admitted as the 61st student in the program taking classes twice a week. Ivan says the reception has been very positive.

Weather Alerts

Freezing rain warning issued for Prince George-area, snowfall warning remains for Williston, Pine Pass

42m ago

Spruce Kings 4 Express 3

Lougheed's buzzer-beater lifts Spruce Kings to fifth consecutive win

57m ago

Cougars 5 Blazers 4 SO

WHL debutant Lewis backstops Cougars to shootout win over Blazers

3h ago

“They’re very respectful that I’m learning the language. Sometimes, I will say something wrong and they’ll laugh, but then they teach me how to say it, right so it’s been very positive. It instantly builds rapport when I meet somebody, that I speak their language with them and, it also creates a reciprocal language with clients when I’m visiting them. So it’s a reciprocal relationship because I’m providing maybe some education on health conditions and checking their vitals but they’re also teaching me the language. It’s a better relationship with them, a more holistic relationship.” said Hayward.

With the conclusion of his first year of the program coming up in October Ivan says he has plans to continue on with the second year.