Our Way of Being

These teachings from Paul Willie, described as the cornerstones of Kwakwaka'wakw Ba'sa (potlatch); guide our relationships and the work we do together.

• Ju'kwala (Uplift)

• Mya'lath'la (Respect)

• Ga'whala (Support)

• Mu-la (Gratitude)

Project Goal

To promote and sustain Indigenous-led, land-based learning for health providers, fostering new relationships, understandings, and perspectives. By recognizing that systemic transformation begins with personal transformation, we aim to cultivate culturally safe practices and meaningful change within individuals and health systems.

Principles

• Guided by Indigenous Knowledge Holders

• Learning together from the land,

• Sharing stories, being in relationship with each other and community members

• Being in a ceremony together

• Centered on strengths, wellness and community self-determination.

Project Objectives

• Strengthen partnerships: Sustain and expand partnerships between host Indigenous communities, academic and health organizations to offer ongoing Indigenous-led, land-based learning opportunities for health and social service providers.

• Resource development: Create and share resources to support new and existing partnerships between Indigenous communities, academic institutions, and health organizations offering land-based learning experiences.

• Community support: Provide resources and guidance for Indigenous communities interested in hosting land-based learning opportunities.
  

• Institutional engagement: Support health organizations and educational institutions in facilitating partnerships with Indigenous communities to implement Indigenous-led land-based learning.
  

• Participant connection: Develop systems to connect health and social service providers with Indigenous-led land-based learning opportunities and related resources.
  

• Learning Our Way Society: Establish a non-profit society for long-term sustainability, including ongoing partnerships and securing financial resources to achieve project goals.

Our History

In 2007 we offered the first field school with Wuikinuxv Nation for Nursing students as part of an elective in NIC BsN curriculum. NIC continues to offer this opportunity to BSN Students. Alternating between the Dzawada’enuxw and Wuikinuxv FN Communities.

In 2019 we expanded the field schools through a research grant from the College Community Social Innovation Fund, in a project called Raising student nurses. We expanded our partnerships to include the Ka:'yu:'k't'h'/Che:k:tles7et'h’, FN and the Huu-ay-aht FN and we took first year students into the community. For more information see here (Link to CARTI Raising Student Nurses Page)

2022-2025 Also funded by CCSIF The Learning Our Way project built on both our previous projects and (at the request of partner communities) offered the field schools specifically to health practitioners and others providing social services to First Nations people. We expanded our partnerships to include the Kwakiutl First Nations.

Related Research Projects Supported by North Island College’s Center for Applied Research and Collaboration

This research project provides the foundation and support for this webpage and the information we have gathered to share about what we do

This research project shares what we learned from first-year nursing students participating in an immersive learning collaboration with remote First Nations communities and North Island College.