Nursing Students Head to Sioux Lookout for Indigenous Learning

Submitted by Heather McMiller, Faculty BScN program 

A group of 20 year three BScN students are participating in a unique elective that connects classroom learning with lived experience in Sioux Lookout, Ontario. As part of the course, students complete academic work on Indigenous history, culture, and health, followed by an immersive placement from April 19 to May 3 in partnership with Sioux Lookout Meno Ya Win Health Centre and the Sioux Lookout First Nations Health Authority.  

During the placement, students learn directly from nurses, paramedics, Indigenous Elders, and community members, with a focus on culture and health. They rotate through a wide range of settingsincluding the ER, OR, obstetrics, mental health and addictions, dialysis and chemo clinics, and specialty clinics, and gain insight into discharge planning for patients returning to remote, fly‑in communities. These experiences offer critical context that nurses rarely encounter in southern health‑care settings. 

Students also visit ORNGE to learn about air transport from remote communities and Pelican Falls First Nations High School, a boarding school serving youth from communities without local high schools. These experiences deepen understanding of the ongoing impacts of colonialism and intergenerational trauma, while also highlighting the strength, resilience, and knowledge within Indigenous communities. 

This elective was developed in response to real gaps in nursing preparation. Many nurses enter remote practice eager to help but leave quickly due to lack of resources, cultural context, and support. By centring Indigenous voices, storytelling, community, and reciprocity with the land, this course challenges students to reflect on their own assumptions and implicit biases—and to become more compassionate, informed health‑care providers. 

Indigenous and non‑Indigenous students are enrolled, and our goal is to make this transformative learning experience accessible to all students without financial barriers. Donations help offset travel and placement costs, ensuring equity and access. 

Please consider supporting this important initiative by donating here. Tax receipts will be provided. Your generosity helps prepare future nurses to deliver culturally safe, informed, and respectful care across Canada.