Christine Krueger – Couchiching First Nation

Christine has been employed as a Dental Hygienist in Fort Frances for over 25 years. After graduating from high school she worked summers as a dental assistant before graduating from Confederation College as a Dental Hygienist. She became interested in Dental Assistance while in Grade 10 while visiting friends whose daughter was training to become a Dental Assistant. She would have a box full of study moulds she had done and books and other items from the program. Christine then went to the Guidance office to see what the requirements were to become a Dental Assistant, where the programs were offered and what credits she needed to take in high school to be able to apply for the course. After taking the Dental Assistant course, Christine was on of 12 girls that were accepted into the Dental Hygienist program. She is now 1 of 6 Dental Hygienists working at the Fort Frances Dental Clinic. Christine says that if she could give one piece of advice is that you need to get a good education, stay in school and do your best. If you are not in school you can go back. Christine feels a great deal of pride in being a First Nations person and doing the job that she does. She hopes that being in the public position that she is in, it will allow the First Nations patients that come into her office see that you can be successful in school and go onto a further education.