Mentorship

Rose identifies as St’uxwtéwsemc and of Ukrainian and Sicilian settler heritage and currently resides in the occupied, unceded, ancestral and traditional territory of the T’kemlups te Secwépemc peoples. She has worked in the health care system for 15 years and is currently a Program Manager, Indigenous Health with the Provincial Health Services Authority (PHSA). Rose currently provides Indigenous Health thought leadership and subject matter expertise to PHSA program and services in support of the development, implementation, and evaluation of strategic anti-Indigenous racism action plans, initiative, programs, and policies. Rose is passionate about health equity, eradicating Indigenous specific racism and the role of Indigenous nurses in leading systems change. This is evidenced in her recent Masters of Nursing scholarly project that contributed to further understanding of Indigenous healthcare employees experiences of wellness in the health care system and how Indigenous health care employees are able to contribute to meaningful service, systems, and structural changes within the healthcare system. Her Indigenous Knowledge Translation (IKT) scholarly project employed Secwépemc methodologies of K̓wseltktnéws and Knucwetnwews  and 20 calls for change were articulated and confirmed by Indigenous healthcare providers. This process honoured the wise practices of IKT, which included Indigenous participants as full partners in the co-creation of the calls for change and respecting Indigenous Peoples inherent right to self-determination.

Taanishi, Michelle Padley dishinihkaashoon (Hello, my name is Michelle Padley). I am a Métis Citizen of Métis Nation British Columbia living with gratitude within Secwépemc'ulucw, the traditional and unceded territory of the Secwépemc Peoples. I join this work as the Provincial Programs Manager for the Ministry of Mental Health and Harm Reduction at Métis Nation BC. My background is in nursing where I have over 13 years of experience supporting youth, families, and adults in their mental health journey. I also work closely with the BC Indigenous Health Nursing Research Chair to advocate for and move forward Indigenous Knowledges. I have recently completed a Masters in Nursing at Thompson Rivers University where my research focused on understanding youth mental wellness from Métis Elders’ perspectives.

Nikki Rose Hunter-Porter is Sťuxtéwsemc (Secwépemc), the daughter of Debbie Alendal (Porter) and Gordon Hunter, and Grandaugter of Bill Porter and Cathy Ignace. Nikki Rose is a Registered Nurse and has completed her Master of Nursing degree from Thompson Rivers University in Summer 2023 with a research thesis focus on elevating the voices and experiences of St'uxwstéws Peoples accessing mental health and wellness services. Nikki Rose currently resides in unceded Secwépemc'ulucw, Tk'emlups te Secwépemc, and is currently in the position of Clinical Nurse Specialist, Indigenous Cultural Safety with BC Cancer.

My name is V. Lynn Dick (T’at’usayalthim).  I am from the c̓išaaʔatḥ (Tseshaht First Nation) from the Nuu-chah-nulth Nations on Vancouver Island.  I am a mother to two children, and we live in our traditional territory. I graduated with my Bachelors of Science in Nursing from N.I.C./V.I.U. in 2020.  I began working in Indigenous health research in 2019 and have continued to work in this area ever since.  I worked in the Nuu-chah-nulth Nations as a Community Health Nurse throughout the covid-19 pandemic and focused a lot of my direct practice on communicable disease.  I believe Indigenous Health Nursing Research is vital to supporting healthier communities and expanding nursing into a holistic practice.

Tansi! I am a cis-gender Métis woman with Scottish, British, Dene and Cree-Métis ancestry. I grew up in the rural-remote Northern community of Fort Smith, NT on Dene, Cree, and Métis homelands in Treaty 8 Territory. I hold strong connections to family, community, and the land that have shaped my sense of identity as a Métis nurse, educator, and doctoral scholar. At present, I am teaching, learning, and co-stewarding the Indigenous Initiatives Committee in the School of Nursing at the University of Victoria on unceded Coast Salish Homelands. As a research assistant with the BC INHR Chair program, I am committed to advancing Indigenist nursing research and Indigenous-led intergenerational mentorship and wellness with and in community. Mahsi.