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Dr. Holly Graham, assistant professor at the USask College of Nursing and a member of Thunderchild First Nation. (submitted photo/Dr. Holly Graham)
USASK RESEARCH CHAIR

USask College of Nursing bridging the gap to improve Indigenous health with new $1.05M research chair

Apr 7, 2020 | 3:53 PM

USask College of Nursing is supporting and mentoring Indigenous and non-Indigenous undergraduate and graduate student nurses to conduct research to advance reconciliation in nursing practice, research, education, and administration.

In a press release, Vice-President of Research Karen Chad said the new program will prepare a new generation of Indigenous youth to help reduce the health disparity between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people.

“Under Dr. Graham’s highly regarded leadership, this program provides an opportunity to strengthen reconciliation in nursing education so that Indigenous people are better served within the health care system,” Chad said.

Funding for the new USask chair will total almost $1.05 million, with contributions of $666,500 from Canadian Institutes of Health Research, $308,500 from the Saskatchewan Health Research Foundation, $10,000 from the Canadian Nurses Foundation, and $60,000 from USask.

Scholarships will be provided to 11 graduate and undergraduate students, with a focus on building relationships with community partners.

With the guidance of an Indigenous Advisory Committee, the program will bring together both Indigenous and Western research paradigms, incorporating First Nation and Métis ways of knowing into the curriculum.

“Our goal is for all graduates from our program to have an understanding both of the traditional Western perspective of health and wellness, and of Indigenous worldviews,” Graham said. “Having this understanding will enhance all aspects of nursing practice.”

Graham has extensive experience as a registered nurse and as a registered doctoral psychologist. She aims to harmonize Indigenous cultural approaches to nursing care with evidence-informed health practices.

The program is called Wahkohtowin (we are all related), and will create an opportunity for personal, community, and collective wellness for Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples, with the ultimate goal of transforming relationships.

“The Medicine Wheel provides the framework for the holistic approach that considers the physical, emotional, mental and spiritual aspects of the individual,” Graham said. “The Seven Sacred Teachings will provide the foundation for human conduct towards others by instilling the values and virtues of humility, honesty, respect, courage, wisdom, truth, and love.”

USask’s College is recognized as having both the highest number and proportion of self-declared Indigenous nursing students in the country, the release said.

nicole.reis@jpbg.ca

Twitter: @nicolereis7722

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