CIBC Indigenous Nursing Scholarship

 My name is Tracy; I am Ojibwe on my mother’s side and Italian settler on my father’s side. I am the proud mother of a 10-year-old daughter. I have been a registered nurse for over 10 years. I am currently working on completing a master’s degree in nursing-Nurse Practitioner program at the University of British Columbia. I became a nurse to give back to my community and to help provide the kind of care Indigenous people often go without.  

     While working as a support worker in Vancouver’s Downtown East side, I cared for urban Indigenous individuals who faced homelessness, poverty, mental health challenges, and substance use. That experience deepened my understanding of the systemic barriers Indigenous people face—and strengthened my resolve to be part of the change. 

     As an Indigenous woman, I’ve seen how a lack of representation in health care leads to mistrust, miscommunication, and missed opportunities for healing. I wanted to help create a space where Indigenous people feel respected, understood, and safe—where their culture, values, and lived experiences are reflected in their care. 

     I chose nursing because it allows me to combine clinical skills with compassion, cultural awareness, and advocacy. I want to be a familiar face for Indigenous patients who too often feel invisible in the health system.  As a Nurse Practitioner student and future NP, I hope to inspire other Indigenous youth to pursue health careers as well. Because representation matters—and healing begins with being seen.