Indigenous Student Nurse Education Bursary 2026
2026 Recipient: Madison Thomas
Madison Thomas is going into her second year as a student in the RN program at Vancouver Island University. Her choice of nursing as a career is deeply rooted in her values and life experiences: “Nursing brings together my desire to help others, my interest in health and the human body and my need for a meaningful and stable future. My Aboriginal background has shaped how I view health, community and care. In many Indigenous cultures, health is understood holistically – it is not just about physical well-being, but also emotional, spiritual and social balance.”
Thomas grew up in Prince Rupert and became independent at the age of 14, an experience she says has shaped her work ethic, sense of accountability and ability to adapt to challenges. She has a passion for driving system-level change in her career: “I want to be part of a health-care system that is culturally safe and inclusive, where patients feel seen, respected and understood. I also recognize the health disparities that Indigenous communities continue to face, and I feel a strong responsibility to contribute to positive change and advocacy within the health-care system.”
The Indigenous Student Nurse Education Bursary (ISNEB) is an initiative of BCNU's Indigenous Leadership Circle (ILC). The bursary 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. The annual bursary is open to Indigenous BCNU student members who are studying to become an LPN, RN or RPN, including those currently working as an employed student nurse.
2026 ISNEB Indigenous Nurse Leader
The ISNEB is inspired by Indigenous nurse leaders. Each year, the ILC dedicates the ISNEB to an individual in whose name the bursary is awarded. For 2026, the ILC is pleased to honour Tania Dick.
Tania Dick, RN, MSN, is a proud Indigenous woman from the Dzawada’enuxw First Nation in Kingcome Inlet, BC, and a registered nurse with over 23 years of experience, including in emergency care and rural and remote Indigenous communities.
Through decades of advocacy in partnership with unions, government and the education system, she has contributed to addressing anti-Indigenous racism in nursing and the broader health-care system. In recognition of this work, she received the Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions Bread and Roses Award in 2025.
Tania holds a master of science in nursing from the University of British Columbia and has held nursing leadership roles at the provincial and national levels, advancing the profession and moving toward more equitable health systems. She is currently the Clinical Director, Indigenous Quality and Care Transformation, at Island Health, where she leads work focused on improving quality, cultural safety and humility, and advancing Reconciliation across health-care systems.