TD Indigenous Nurse and Youth Diabetes and/or Mental Health Care Research Program Award

I am a registered nurse and a citizen of the Musgamakw Dzawada’enuxw people, from the Unceded territory of BCs central coast. I grew up in Yellowknife and have lived on Coast Salish territory for the past 15 years. My clinical background is in working at the Carlile Centre in North Vancouver with youth with concurrent mental health and substance use challenges. As a graduate student in the MSN program at the University of British Columbia, my area of interest is Indigenous youth mental health and wellness in relation to connection with land and culture. I am also involved in representing Indigenous Nurses for the Nurses and Nurse Practitioners of BC, and for the British Columbia Nursing Union Indigenous Leadership Circle. Along with my sister and some extended family members, I am a co-founder of the Akala Outdoor Education Society which creates programs to support land-based cultural connection for Musgamaukw Dzawada’enuxw youth.