New Bursary Award Available for Indigenous Nursing Students
A new $1,500 bursary award is now available to an Indigenous BCNU student member that is enrolled in a post-secondary nursing program in British Columbia. The bursary is available to those studying to become LPNs, RNs, RPNs, including those currently working as employed student nurses.
The Indigenous Student Nurse Education Bursary (ISNEB) is a provincial initiative of the BCNU's Indigenous Leadership Circle and reflects the union's ongoing support for the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada's 94 Calls to Action in particular, the call to increase the number of Indigenous professionals in health care. BCNU recognizes that colonization, racism and systemic discrimination have profoundly impacted the lives of Indigenous peoples and their ability to access holistic, culturally safe health care.
In November 2020, the provincial government released a report, 'In Plain Sight': Addressing Indigenous-specific Racism and Discrimination in BC Health Care. The report echoes the call to action by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada, making it clear that BC needs more Indigenous nurses to help foster a culture of safety. The report also confirms that colonization, racism and systemic discrimination remain endemic to our care systems, while reminding us of the work that must be done to remedy the many harms done to Indigenous people.
BCNU is committed to fostering Indigenous cultural safety, through cultural humility, and eliminating Indigenous-specific racism throughout our organization. This commitment is framed through an ongoing undertaking to establish a genuine and just process of reconciliation with Indigenous peoples.
The ISNEB is awarded once per year. The 2021 recipient will be announced during National Nursing Week which runs between May 10-16. The recipient will be presented the bursary at BCNU's upcoming 2021 Convention in June.
Learn more about the bursary award and application process.