Happy Holidays!

My name is Kayla Douglas and I am an Indigenous nurse.  I am so thrilled to be one of CNF’s 2017-2018 TD Aboriginal Nursing Fund award recipients. I can’t begin to thank you enough!

CNF’s One Million in One Year campaign was launched in May 2016 and will conclude at the end of this month. Thanks to you, CNF is close to achieving our $1 million goal. We are asking for your continued support during the final month of the campaign.

I remember when I was eight years old in the hospital with my family, alongside my very ill grandfather whom I loved so very much.  He was placed into the ICU after a massive heart attack.  During his last days, the angels, whom I later knew to be the ICU nurses, cared for my grandfather, and honoured the space and time my family and I needed to say goodbye to him.  I remember thinking WOW – so this is what nursing is about: compassion, loving, understanding, and making human connection.  Those ICU nurses helped to ease the process of losing and grieving my grandfather.

I am of Denesuline (Chipewyan) First Nations, Irish and Scottish decent.  I have been a visitor on the territory of the Kwakiutl First Nations, on the northern part of Vancouver Island, for all my life. During my youth, I grew up disconnected from my Indigenous roots; it has been through this nursing program that I could reconnect and embrace what is deeply rooted in my ancestry and must be balanced in all areas of my being.  I am in complete gratitude to the generous CNF donors who make it possible for me to continue this journey.

My passion is to show that by Indigenizing health care, we are shedding the light on all people who are culturally diverse.  I can mentor other Indigenous nursing students and participate and volunteer my time in areas that I am passionate about, and can share a deepened understanding and teaching of the changes that need to happen so all people can have access to healthcare and healing.

CNF is the first and only national charity supporting nurses – exclusively. No other charity devotes itself solely to the vision of the finest possible nursing care from our Canadian nurses who are supported through education, research and technology to perform at their very best.

Canada needs more Indigenous nurses, more highly skilled nurses, at all levels, in all Indigenous communities across Canada. Your support of CNF has been tremendous, and I hope you will continue to give generously as we push towards our goal.

Please make your gift today!

Mársi, Thá Huná (Thank you, live long)

Kayla Douglas,

TD Aboriginal Nursing Fund Award Recipient

Baccalaureate, Camosun College, Victoria BC