CNSA/CNF Indigenous Health Award

My name is Paige Coutlee and I am a First Nations woman commencing into my final year of the BScN Program. My aspiration for acquiring a career in healthcare stems from my passion in helping others. This, in combination with my extensive background caring for vulnerable populations – prioritizing physical, emotional, spiritual, and cultural safety – I believe my dedication to promoting overall health and wellness within the healthcare profession is the perfect way to give back to my community. My career goal is to become a community mental health nurse working specifically with Indigenous populations. Mental health affects every population group regardless of race, gender, ethnicity, or age; having said that, I am aware that mental health is a crucial component to Indigenous healthcare, and I feel privileged to have the experience and competence to support my own community in this capacity. My end goal is to work intimately within communities rather than working in the larger hospital settings. By working in an intimate environment with community members I will be able to facilitate a stronger holistic and therapeutic relationships with my clients. I believe that mental health is an area of health that is too often overlooked, and I would like to be a part of the change in the process of eliminating that stigma. I would be honored to have the opportunity to help make a difference in this area of health, and on a larger scale to be included in the movement of ending stigmas regarding mental health.