Making a World of Difference
Les Jerome, of Anishinabe/Michif descent, is from the Duck Mountain region of Manitoba. He worked in various Native agencies in Manitoba and Ontario in the 1970’s and 1980’s before attending university and practicing Play/Family therapy at the Community Resource Clinic, Winnipeg Manitoba from 1987 to 1993, where he specialized in sexual abuse. He began his teaching career at the University of Manitoba in 1991, moved to Calgary in 1993, and worked in Child Welfare (Native Services) from 1993 to 1997. He resumed his work in Play/Family Therapy for Aboriginal families at Metis Family Services (Ke-Mama-Nnanik program) from 1997 to 2000, where he also served as Clinical Supervisor. He worked as a sessional instructor variously for the Faculty of Social Work (University of Calgary), Mount Royal College (Aboriginal Program), and Oldsun Community College (Siksika Nation) from 1996 until 2000, when he began full time teaching at the University of Calgary. His interests include a wide range of Aboriginal Issues including history, spirituality, philosophy, diversity, and Aboriginal cultural change. He has been tenured since 2005.
Les does much work in the Aboriginal communities of Calgary and surrounding area; as well as a number of Aboriginal communities (on reservation and off) in British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Ontario. As a full time instructor with many Aboriginal community connections and contacts, Les is not currently engaged in any research activity for the university at this time.
Les is not engaged in any research activity for the university at this time, but is very busy engaging and expanding his cultural connections and apprenticeships with various Anishinabe teachers in Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Ontario. He engages in much community work with various Aboriginal communities across the Prairie Provinces in conjunction with various Aboriginal elders, ceremonialists, and community members.
Post Masters Diploma, University of Calgary, 2009
Master of Social Work, University of Manitoba, 1997
Bachelor of Social Work, University of Manitoba, 1989
Currently Les is involved as a committee member with the Native Information Exchange Committee, the Calgary Urban Aboriginal Initiative Human Rights Committee, the Aboriginal Social Work Committee, the Ii Paa Taa Pii Committee, the Aboriginal Teachings Committee (Hull Homes), and the International Aboriginal and Indigenous Social Work Educators group. He sits as a Board Member of Ghost River Rediscovery and the Calgary Indian and Metis Friendship Centre.
Certificate of Appreciation from First Peoples Child and Family Review, 2012
Teaching Excellence Award 2011-2012
Certificate of Appreciation, First Peoples Child and Family Review, 2011
Teaching Excellence Award (nominations only) for two courses in 2008
Teaching Excellence Award: “Honorable Mention” 2007
Teaching Excellent Award (nomination only) 2006
Four Directions Foster Parent Association Award 2005
“Celebrating Excellence” Award 2004
Certificate of Appreciation, Helping Circle Employment Services, 2001
Award of Appreciation: Canadian Society for the Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse, 2000
Reverend Doctor Chief John Snow Sr. Award for Teaching Excellence and Support to Aboriginal Students, 2000
“Team Teaching in Social Work: Sharing Power with Bachelor of Social Work Students”, Michael Kim Zapf, Les Jerome, and Margaret Williams, Journal of Teaching in Social Work: Innovations in Education, Training and Educational Practice, (2011) January, 38, 52
Les has four other papers in various stages of process, but none published at this time.
