Indian and Nurses of Canada

BY JEAN CUTHAND GOODWILL

e, the Indian people of Canada, are approaching a To research cross-cultural medicine and develop and as- turning point in our history We are actively seek- semble material on Indian and Inuit health. ing ways to govern ourselves, to set our own stan- To actively develop a means of recruiting more people of dards and, ultimately, to be responsible for and to Indian and Inuit ancestry into the medical field and health learn from both our achievements and mistakes. professions. The association of Indian and Inuit Nurses of Canada is part of To generally develop and maintain on an on-going basis, a this trend. This group, conceivedin 1974amid the preparation for registry of Registered Nurses of Canadian Indian and Inuit International Women's Year, was originally called the Regis- ancestry. tered Nurses of Canadian Indian Ancestry, and was the first Native professional organization in Canada. From thebeginning, BACKGROUND TO NATIVE HEALTH ISSUES we had a deep concern for the health status of Native people in Canada. As well, we were concerned with developing and Since the implementation of the Medical Health Insmce maintaining a registry of Registered Nurses of Native ancestry, Plan in 1967-68, the average Canadian has enjoyed and appreci- with attracting more Native students into nursing and other health ated benefits envied by most developed and developing coun- professions, and with establishing a mechanism to work for and tries. Most Canadian citizens believe they have the right to the lobby on behalf of better health care in Indian and Inuit commu- best available health care. To the Indian people of Canada, health nities. Although these objectives have been refinedandexpanded care has always been a highly political issue, which stems fiom (see below), these are still our main goals. treaties signed with the federal government in most areas of the country during the 1800s. In particular, the Indian people have OBJECTIVES relied on a "Medicine Chest Clause" (Assembly of , 1979, p. 3) plus other promises concerning medical care. These To act as an agent in promoting and striving for better health were understood to mean, as part of the treaty agreements, that for the Indian and Inuit people (that is, a state of complete medical services would be provided to Indian people whenever physical, mental, social and spiritual well-being). they might need them. These services were to be provided to all To conduct studies and maintain reporting, compiling infor- Indians, and to be appropriate for the type of medical care mation and publishing of material on Indian andInuit health, available at the time. Canada's Native groups believe that this medicine and culture. medicine chest clause should mean that a comprehensive health To offer assistance to government and private agencies in care plan, incorporating all aspects of present day health care developing programs designed to improve health in Indian should be available - curative, mental health care and preven- and Inuit communities. tive services, essential medications, hospital care, ambulance To maintain aconsultativemechanism theassociation,bands, services, diagnostic services, optometric and dental care, and government, and other agencies concerned with Indian and medical appliances - at least as widely as they are to other Inuit health may utilize. Canadians (Assembly of First Nations, p. 7). To develop and encouragecourses in the educational system Although this treaty clause has been interpreted differently by of nursing and health professions on Indian and Inuit health legal experts, federal bureaucrats, and Indian and non-Indian and cross-cultural nursing. politicians, the Indian people maintain our right to health care is To develop general awareness of Native and non-Native based on an historic belief that the government has an inherent communities of the special health needs of Indian and Inuit legal responsibility to provide health services in lieu of the land peoples. and resources surrendered throughout this country. Interpreta- To generally encourage and facilitate Native control of tion of this clause remains a point of serious political dispute that Indian and Inuit health involvement and decision making in affects the administration of health care. Indian and Inuit health care. What is not open to dispute is the fact that, by the beginning of

VOLUME 10. NUMBERS 2 & 3 117 the 20th century, Indian people had been cially during the last two decades, have enced the rigors of life on reserves, have reduced to almost complete destitution taken an increasingly active role in trying faced discrimination and lack of support and dependence. to improve the status of their peoples. For in the Canadian education and health care The Medical ServicesBranch of Health example, most Indian reserves in Canada system, and can recognizepr~blernsasso- and Welfare Canada has been responsible have their own government structure with ciated with the need to meet increasingly for administering to the medical needs of a chief, a council, and an administrator high standards in health care and in educa- Native peoples. In terms of conventional who conducts the business of a commu- tion. Some of the difficulties arise from diagnosis and treatments, the Medical nity. Apart from the Band councils, there within the nursing profession itself, such Services Branch has achieved a notable are tribal and district councils to advance as the emphasis on the baccalaureate for measure of success. Many diseases that common interests, provincial and territo- entry when many young Native men and ravaged Native communities in the past rial councils, and an Ottawa-based na- women are having difficulty in achieving have been brought under control - al- tional body, the Assembly of First Na- and financing higher education. though not completely; for example, tu- tions. At the band level, health is only one Members of the association have been berculosis is by no means eradicated. aspect of a whole range of issues and is aware of and active in all these and many often not a priority. However, because other political areas since its inception - REASONS FOR CONCERN ABOUT health issues can lead to crises, such as listening, watching, and working in what- NATIVE HEALTH CARE epidemics, violence related to alcohol or ever capacity required within our profes- drug abuse, or medical emergencies, it sion, yet ever mindful of what is happen- The loss of whole generations, the en- can quickly become a hot political issue. ing to families, friends, and nursing col- feeblement of those who remained, the These political realities, coupled with leagues. A vital role has been the support fear of demographic destruction, the the health care problems outlined previ- for young Native men and women to gain loss of faith in their own institutions ously, have put those who work in Native entry to the health professions. and values has resulted in a de- health care in uniquely sensitive political The Registered Nurses of Canadian moralization and sense of powerless- positions not ordinarily experienced by Indian Ancestry (RNCIA) was launched ness in Indian communities throughout those who work in the general health care with the help of several nursing colleagues. this country (Berger, 1980, pp. 2-3). system. If nurses working in Native Our first and most difficult task was to Neonatal mortality on Indian reserves communities go about their duties with identify other nurses of Indian ancestry to is one-third higher than that experi- sideblinders and do not know how to look find potential members for asupport group. enced by a comparable non-reserve beyond their daily routine of clinical care The name was chosen deliberately so that population; post-neonatal mortality is or community health, they will never to the group would include both status and almost four times higher, with the causes able to appreciate why the job so quickly attributed to infective and parasitic dis- non-status Indians, a matter that, at the becomes frustrating, is filled with misun- eases,pneumonia, Sudden Infant Death time, involved considerable political dis- derstandings, and leads to quick "burn- Syndrome, and fires (Morrison et al., sension (Indian and Inuit Nurses of Can- out." 1986, p. 269). ada, 1984). Despite a lack of support and even ac- Mortality rates on Indian reserves for THE ROLE OF THE IINC violent deaths are three to four times tive discouragement from some gov- higher than Canadian rates in general. These realities have also put increasing ernment officials, we eventually identi- Violent deaths account for half of all pressure on Native nurses to take a more fied 80 potential members with the help of deaths to residents of Indian reserves active role. Most members of the Indian some non-Native colleagues. In August (Mao et al.. D. 267). and Inuit Nurses of Canada have experi- of 1975, a group of 40 met in Montreal to

118 photogrqh GEORGE JOHNSTON CANADIAN WOMAN STUDIESLES CAHIERS DE LA FEMME common grounds of education, cultural 1983, the name was changed to Indian and The association has an executive di- background, andmutualconcems.Aftera Inuit Nurses of Canada (IINC) and the rector and me other staff person in Ot- rocky start, our group became especially membership was opened to Inuit nurses. tawa to manage day-to-day affairs. Com- vulnerable in 1978, but was saved when As IINC grew and established its rep- munication is canied out through a news- the Manitoba Indian Nurses Association utation as a professional organization, letter published twice a year and through (MINA) formed as a provincial body and support came first of all from other or- distribution of reports on special work- the late Grace Easter of MINA also took ganizations of health professionals, such shaps held throughout the year. This keeps on the presidency of the national group. as the Canadian Nurses Association members abreast of new educational pro- Financial backing was a major prob- (which in 1987 was in the process of grams for Native nurses, of community- lem, with a national Indian political group granting IINC status as a Special Interest based programs looking for Native health blocking one early federal funding initia- Group), the Canadian Association of care workers, and of concerns related to tive. Initial funding was obtained from University Schools'of Nursing, various health care of Canada's indigenous Native Women's Program, Native Citi- provincial nurses' associations, the Cana- peoples. zens Directorate of the Secretary of State dian Public Health Association, the In- Funding comes from membership fees - even though a program officer in a dian and Inuit Health Committee of the and from grants and donations to the as- department objected to the inclusion of a Canadian Pediatric Society. sociation. Baxter Corporation of Toronto male nurse. Tom Dignan went on to at- provides an annual scholarship for two tend medical school and to obtain his THE IINC SINCE 1987 Native nursing students who wish to pur- medical degree, but the association con- sue a career in northern communities. tinued to welcome male nurses rather than The Indian and Inuit Nurses of Canada Members also raise money for the organi- compromise its professional status to is governed by an elected three-member zation through sale of promotional mate- achieve funding. The Secretary of State's executive (president, vice-president, and rial such as sweatshirts, T-shirts, and pins, office continued to provide regular an- secretary-treasurer) and a 13-member and through raffles and other activities nual funding for the first decade, enough board (representativesfrom Northern and throughout the year. for one board meeting and a national Southern and one from each of Only one province -Manitoba -has conference yearly. In the early 1980s, the other nine provinces and two territo- a provincial association, although some financial support was received from the ries). Elections are carried out every two initial meetings have been held in Sas- Medical Services Branch of Health and years at an annual meeting, which also katchewan and Executive and board Welfare Canada for special projects and includes sessions on nursing education members frequently act as advisors or later for administrative and staff costs. and on Indian and Inuit health issues. resource persons to other organizations Despite setbacks and opposition, how- These meetings are held in a different and groups, such as the Assembly of First ever, the association continued to put forth centre each year, preferably at or near a Nations' Health Commission and to Bands its ideas on better health care for Native Native community. on request. As well, they meet regularly peoples and to encourage Native men and Potential membership has now grown with representatives of government de- women to enter the profession. It repeat- to approximately 300 Native nurses. partments and agencies, and with other edly lobbied government departments, Associateinembership, approved in 1986, professional associations. using the knowledge gained from mem- allows participation by nurses who are not In particular, the IINC has been work- bers' nursing experiences, to describe of Canadian Indian or Inuit ancestry but ing closely with university and college health conditions and to recommend new who support the objectives of the associa- nursing programs across Canada to help approaches to health care for Native com- tion; associate members cannot vote, with entry of Native students. As well, the munities. In 1979, the federal government however. association supports programs such as the adopted a new Indian Indigenous" Peo~le's ~4thPolicy by which it Access Program to Nurs- is committed to involve ing at the University of more Native people in the Saskatchewan and the planning, budgeting, and Indian Health Careers delivery of health care Program at SIFC, Uni- programs -recently, in versity of Regina. line with this policy, the Because of their role as federal government is in advocates both for an im- the process of transfer- proved health care sys- ring health services into tem in Native communi- the hands of Indian people ties and for increased to allow more client con- numbers of Native pro- trol. fessionals, IINC members In 1982, theRegistered must be aware of the po- Nurses of Canadian In- litical implications and dian Ancestry moved its also keep abreast of cur- head office to Ottawa; in rent issues.

VOLUME 10, MhIBERs 2 & 3 Yuplk Eslrimo glrls at FesUval of Native Am, Fairbanb. Aladca, 1988 photogprlph BERNICE MORRlSON 119 The equal opportunity provision in the ernment moves toward the transfer of civil service hiringregulations, introduced Indian health services and programs into in the late 1970s. increased the number of the administration of the Bands. Regard- Native workers hired by the Medical ing this transfer, we have worked closely Services Branch for positions in head- with officials in the Medial Services quarters and in the field. Before this pro- Branch. It will not be sufficient to leave vision, a training program for community Bands with amessy and ambiguous health- Health representatives had provided a care situation and then declare that "it's number of Native paraprofessional work- out of the department's hands." ers for Native communities. A recent Community education is also needed. evaluation found that, although many of Indian people often find it difficult to these community health representatives differentiate between a nurse and a com- provided a necessary and useful service, munity health representative -to distin- some were relegated to positions of trans- guish their respective duties, re- lators or "gophers" for non-Native nurses sponsibilities,andreportingrelationships. and had little hope of advancement or This has become even more difficult with recognition for their services. the emergence of alcohol and drug abuse Efforts by the IINC were at least par- workers and mental health paraprofes- tially responsible for the Indian and Inuit sionals on reserves. Health Careers Program that was launched These developments suggest that it is by the Medical Services Branch in 1984, time for a new generation of Indian train- and there has been an effort to refocus the ees to enter the health professions, bring- programs from paraprofessional to pro- ing with them a commitment to gaining fessionaltraining. Somecommunity health acceptance in Native communities,rather representatives now are taking advantage assembly in Victoria, B.C. for example, than being perceived as a professionally of health careers programs, particularly we sponsored a day-long seminar based trained elitist group. However, these stu- nursing programs. on the work of Madeline Leininger. Lein- dents must maintain a presence in their However, this may create a new rift inger argued that the health status of In- communities, so that they do not emerge among front-line health-care workers. In dian communities will never approach as strangers after years of study in an some communities, Chiefs are asking that of the non-Native population unless institution. We all know that Indian stu- whether Indian students in Health Careers transcultural concepts are incorporated in dents need support which includes peers, Programs are developing into an elite the delivery of health services, so that a parents, and members of the communities group who may not wish to return to their community's cultural beliefs and values who, in turn, must be made to understand communities - and who may not be remain intact. why it takes so long to become commu- accepted back. Although it was never With our workon transculturalnursing, nity health nurses. presumed nor anticipated that all students and our continuing support for these new Increased recognition and appreciation in Health Careers Programs would return developmentsacross the country, we have for tradition and culture in the curricula of to their home reserves, there has always continued to demonstrate our commit- a number of newly established Health been a hope that many would do so in ment to an improved health system deliv- Career Programs for Native students is time. ered by and for the Indian communities. most gratifying. Native nurses also need a As members have become more visible What we have not been willing to do is to grasp of the differences in values and and have come to be recognized for their take apolitical stand on such issues as the customs among the many tribes and re- abilities, the demand for our services and transfer of Indian health services to Band gions in North America. Traditional prac- expertise has increased dramatically. We Administration. We are always aware of tices in the United States are not appli- do not have the numbers to meet all the the need to support Indian governments cable in Canada, and beliefs and practices requests from chiefs for their communi- and the decisions of Chiefs and Councils, of the Iroquois and other eastern tribes in ties, from academic institutions, and from but we must also uphold our professional Canada may not correspond to those on urban and rural health-care agencies for standing and maintain a healthy working the Prairies and West Coast. well-prepared Native nurses. In particu- relationship with the colleaguesand clients Our most fervent hope is that a growing lar, managers of health service delivery whom we serve. number of graduate Indian health profes- programs are looking for qualified per- Today's nurses in Indian health ser- sionals will be in a position to fill the sonnel with the ability to cross the cultural vices are confronted with a range of very cultural gap that tends to be one of the barriers that have always posed a major serious issues. In recent years, Indian main causes of the misunderstandings and challenge to effective health care in Na- people have become increasingly aware of the difficulties we have had with West- tive communities. of their right to effective, culturally ap- em medical practices. With this in mind, IINC has made a propriate health care, in line with a grow- Then Native students can have the best conscious effort to focus on transcultural ing demand for meaningful politicalrights. of all possible worlds by combining the nursing in recent, on-going educational There is an air of uncertainty prevailing in strengths of traditional and Western efforts for members. At the 1986 annual Indian communities as the federal gov- medicine.

120 Journo Nuon, Arctic Red River, NWT, 1684 photograph DOROTHY CHOCOLATE CANADIAN WOMAN STUDIES/LES CAHlERS DE LA FEMME Jean Cuthand Goodwill was a founding member of the Indian and Inuit Nurses of C& (IINC)in 1974 and has served as president since 1983. A Plains Cree born on the Little Pine Reserve in Saskatche- wan and a registered nurse, she first worked as a nurse with Indian andNorth- ern HealthServicesinnorthern Saskatche- wan and a hospital in Bermuda. On her return to Canada, she continued to nurse but became increasingly involved in the development of organizations to improve Indian health care. She has been employed in various capaci- ties in government departments. In 1980, she was appointed Special Advisor to the Minister of National Health and Welfare. In 1986, she received an honourary doc- torate of law from Queen's University, and later that fall was re-elected for another term as President of IINC. She recently accepted a position as Head of the Indian Health Studies Department, SaskatchewanIndian Federated College, University of Regina.

Her interest in nursing was instilled ment with the World Council of Indige- during a hospitalization in her teen years, nous People has enabled Jean to travel Profiles and her interest grew after a brief stint as extensively to places in Europe, U.S.A., Jean Cuthand Goodwill a Nurses' Aide in Saskatoon. She gradu- North and South America, Australia and ated from the Holy Family Hospital in New Zealand Prince Albert and was -subs&ently In 1978 she assumed the position of employed at the Indian Hospital in Fort Nurse Consultant at Medical Services Qu'Appelle. As Nurse-in-Charge of the Branch, and became advisor on Native La Ronge Nursing Station, (Indian and Affairs to the Assistant Deputy Minister. NorthernHealth Services), she copedwith Dr. Lyall Black. From there she moved working conditions where many emer- into the rarified atmosphere of a Minis- gency situations arose and resources and ter's office as the Special Advisor on professional assistance were either mini- Indian Health to the former Minister of mal or unavailable. After two years in this National Health and Welfare, the Hon- challenging job, she travelled to Bermuda ourable Monique Begin. and worked at the King Edward Memorial Other activities had her involved in Hospital. She returned to Canada and editing a book, Speaking Together,which continued to nurse, but she became in- is a collection of profiles of outstanding creasingly involved in the development Canadian Indian and Inuit women. She of Indian organizations. As a result, she assisted in the production of an NFB The President of I.I.N.C., Jean Good- accepted the position of Executive Direc- film, Mother ofMany children. She also will is a Plains Cree born on Little Pine tor of the Winnipeg Indian and Metis CO-authoreda biography of John Tootoo- Reserve in Saskatchewan. Possessed with Friendship Centre. sis, with Norma Sluman. the dynamic energy inherited from her 85 In 1966 Jean and her husband, Ken In 1981 the Manitoba Indian Nurses year-old father, John Tootoosis, and Goodwill, moved to Ottawa and they Association initiated the Jean Goodwill buoyed with continuous support from the maintained their ties with Indian organi- Award which is meant to honour mem- Cuthands, her adoptive family, she has zations by working for them when they bers of I.I.N.C. for outstanding contri- accumulated a wealth of experience and were not employed in various capacities butions to the health care and advance- knowledge from a variety of careers. in government departments. Her involve- ment of Native people. Jean was the first

VOLUME 10, NUMBERS 2 & 3 (top) Annie G Roberts, MePherson, NWT, IS82 phatcgraph DOROTHY CHOCOLATE 121 recipient of the award and since then she Madeleine is Cree speaking and was journs, sewing sprees andIndian and Inuit has had occasions to award deserving born and raised on the Kehewin Indian Art. colleagues with the medal which was Reserve in as a member in a originally struck in recognition of her family of twelve. She graduated from the Teresa Fox dedication to her people. General Hospital in 1968 and worked as a staff nurse for the next nine A Blackfoot, born on the Blood Indian Kathy Bird years. Most of this time was spent work- Reserve in southern Alberta, Teresa be- ing for Medical Services Branch in Ed- gan school at the age of seven and had to Kathy is of Cree-Dakota heritage and monton at the Charles Camsell Hospital. learn English at the same time. She de- originally from Norway House Indian In 1977, a family move to Southern Al- cided to become a nurse because it was Reserve, Manitoba, although she is now a berta launched her into community health one way she could get an education, while Peguis Band member. She became in- nursing on the Peigan in remaining close to her home and family. terested in nursing while working as a Brocket, Alberta. She graduated from St. Michael's School dental assistant at Percy E. Moore Hos- This latter employment experience of Nursing in nearby Lethbridge, then pital in Hodgson, Manitoba. Although provided the impetus Madeleine required qualified as a Community Health Nurse she applied for admittance into an L.P.N. to pursue and obtain a Bachelor's Degree serving at Standoff Health Centre. She course, she decided instead to try for the in Nursing from the university of Leth- was on the Blood Band Council in 1978- R.N. Diploma. She had been taking her bridge in 1982. After a short return to 80, during which time she helped to de- children for immunizations to the Health community health nursing, an opportu- velop a report on the need for a Health Centre, and felt strongly that her own nity to work on the Community Health Clinic on the reserve. A modem well- people should be holding those positions Demonstration Project within Medical equipped clinic was opened there in July as Public Health Nurses. She was ac- Services Branch was offered to her. She 1985. She believes that Indian and Inuit cepted into the Brandon General Hospital accepted it and the proviso that she relo- people should administer andoperate their School of Nursing in 1978. Originally she cate to Edmonton own health services, and she also be- wanted to work in an isolated Cree com- Five months later, she moved again. lieves, as a matter of principle, that the munity ,but she went back for one year for This time to Ottawa to replace Jean present bilingual bonus should be avail- Medical Services Branch at the Hodgson Cuthand Goodwill as Special Advisor to able not only to Native nurses who can Hospital, then transferred to the Peguis the Honourable Monique Begin, then Min- speak English andfor French, but their Reserve Health Centre. She has worked ister of National Health and Welfare. In own Native language as well. Teresa is there for the past five years, is presently September 1984 Madeleine returned to convinced that reliance on the federal bu- Nurse-In-Charge, and derives a great deal Medical Services Branch to assist in the reaucracy leads to too much "red-tape" of satisfaction from her work on the re- administration of the newly established and by the time funds are filtered down to serve. "When working with your own Indian and Inuit Professional Health Ca- the reserve level they are practically non- people," Kathy says, "you have that knowl- reers Program, where she remains. It is no existent. She is a member of the Canadian edge that you are where you belong and accident that Madeleine's employment Nurses Association and one of the origi- that you are doing something for your history reflects a gravitation to and an nal I.I.N.C. members. She has six chil- people and yourself. I wouldn't want it alliance with those institutions which dren and two grandchildren. any other way." concern themselves with Native peoples' health, for she has long adopted this as her Carol Prince Madeleine Dion-Stout cause. Madeleine's further career plans include gaining a Master's degree in a Carol was welcomed into the world by Madeleine proudly claims that she be- health-related field in order that she can the midwife on the Nelson House Re- gan her nursing training as a small child. teach and do research. Her ultimate dream serve, Manitoba and is of Cree ancestry. During her formative years she learned is to garner the skills and knowledge that Her Indian name means "Woman with some ingredients of success for her cho- would be useful to Native communities to Energy," and the giver of this name must sen career. Her grandfather was an early which, she states, she shall return. have had a very accurate premonition of role model and mentor, and as a young Madeleine believes in the objectives of her future. child, she followed him around while he I.I.N.C. and recognizes that as an or- She was impressed by nurses at a very went about his daily work. It was the ganization it provides solidarity and a early age. The two nurses on her reserve eloquence of his example which culti- sense of collective purpose for its mem- used to come around regularly with their vated a work ethic, perseverance, a sm~- bers, and it underscores their profes- little black bags and, as soon as Carol and ing of excellence and knowledge and sionalism; the other children saw them coming, they discipline in her character. Although she Madeleine's personal life revolves all ran and hid! Carol's mother was a is quick to say that she does not personify around her husband Bob, an information Community Health Representative, and the epitome of these attributes, she does systems scientist, and her two daughters, may have influenced her to choose a health credit her family and the environment in Tamara and Roberta. Although her ener- career. which she was nurturedas very real sources gies are directed to her family, Madeleine She graduated in 1965 in Psychiamc of inspiration and support for her personal values and appreciates social time with Nursing from the Selkirk Hospital for development. friends, antiquing and flea market so- Mental Diseases and was marri9d that

CANADIAN WOMAN STUDIES/LES CAHIERS DE LA FEMME same year to Fred Prince from Peguis other Yukon member. She has served on Fran Williams Reserve. She worked as apsychiatricnurse the board of the association for three years in various Manitoba Hospitals. She then and reports that she enjoys the I.I.N.C. earned her R.N. diploma at the Misericor- newsletter very much. dia Hospital, Winnipeg, in 1972 then she Claudette Smith went to work for Medical Services Branch as a general duty nurse at the Fisher River Indian Hospital. That was followed by a stint of Outpost Northern Nursing at the Nelson House Nursing Station. From there she travelledtoRuttan LeafRapids,where she worked as the Occupational Health Nurse for the Sherritt Gordon Mines. She left her native province then to work as a Community Health Nurse at Battleford's Indian Health Centre in Saskatchewan. It was while she was there that she received Fran is an Inuit born in Hopedale, an unexpected phone call, asking if she Labrador where she attained her primary would be interested in the position of grades. She attended high school at North- Special Advisor on Native Affairs to the west River, Labrador. She worked as a Assistant Deputy Minister in Medical Nursing Assistant at the Hopedale Nurs- ServicesBranch. Carol acceptedand went Claudette comes from Maniwaki, Que- ing Station in 1962-63. From there she to Ottawa, where she remained in that bec. An Algonquin, her involvement in a went into nursing, and received her R.N. position for four years. health career began when a community Diploma from the Grace General Hospi- In spite of the fact that Carol has four Health Nurse asked her if she would like tal, St. John's Newfoundland, in 1967. lively children, three boys and a girl, she to be a Community Health Representa- After graduation, Fran worked as a is now in her second year, working toward tive. Since this was a new position in the Pediatric Nurse at Gander, Newfound- her B.Sc.N. degree. She still spends the areaandpermanent positions were scarce, land for five years (1968-73). General occasionalweekend working at the Royal she readily accepted. Within six weeks, Duty Nursing found her working next at Ottawa Hospital. She has been a very armed with a Home Nursing Certificate different communities: Northwest River, active member of I.I.N.C. for nine years, and St. John7sAmbulanceFirstAidcourse, Labrador and St. Anthony's, Newfound- and somehow she still has time for her she worked in that capacity for six years. land. Like many of her colleagues, she hobbies, quilting, beading and her ad work. She found this work limiting, and in 1980 took on new interests, and became a Carol designed the logo for I.I.N.C. she entered Algonquin College and earned Community Development Worker for the her R.N. Diploma. She worked as an of- company of Young Canadians (1973-75), Donna Rear fice nurse at a Pediatrician's office in and a member of the Status of Women Ottawa, until she received an offer of Council in 1975-76. She was also an Inuit Doma was born andraised in theYukon employment from the Children's Hospi- Specialist for the division of Adult and Temtory and is a Northern Tutchone tal of Eastern Ontario. Then Medical Continuing Education. In 1981 she was Indian. As she was growing up her father Services Branch offered her the position elected as the first Inuit woman to the became very ill with cancer, and she of Community Health Nurse in Maniwaki. Presidency of the Labrador Inuit became interested in nursing because she In order to qualify she attended the Com- Association. wanted to be able to look after him. She munity Health Nurse in-service training Fran was one of the guest speakers at was acertifiedNursing Assistant at White- in Ottawa, where she got her certificate in the I.I.N.C. annual conference held in horse General Hospital for seven years, Public Health Nursing. She became a 1983 in Brantford, Ontario, where she then was sponsored for her Registered member of I.I.N.C. in 1983, attended the gave a good perspective on the life and Nurse course by the Northern Careers Vancouver conference and was elected as struggle of the Inuit in Labrador and her Program of Whitehorse, which is avail- representative for the associa- personal concerns. She applauds I.I.N.C. able to Native government employees in tion. She firmly believes in I.I.N.C.: "We because it provides an opportunity for the northern Yukon. She moved to Ed- Native nurses can share our problems, Inuit nurses to become active members monton and entered nursing studies at support and encourage one another and and become aware of the benefits of health Grant McEwan College, and upon gradu- tty to overcome the many health problems programs and services for Inuit people. ation became the second Indian registered our Native brothers and sisters are experi- nurse in the Yukon. She has been working encing in Canada." Following her recent at the Whitehorse General Hospital for move to Ottawa she is working as a These profiles are reprinted from In- the past three years. She first heard about Program Officer at the I.I.N.C. national dian & Inuit Nurses of Canada, 10th I.I.N.C. from Marilyn Van Bibber, an office. Anniversary Edition, (1984).

VOLUME 10, NUMBERS 2 & 3 123 Tllngit girl from Juneau, Alaska, dancing at Spirit Days, Anchorage, Alaska, June 1987 124 photograph BERNICE MORRlSON CANADIAN WOMAN STUDTESLES CAHfERS DE LA FEMME