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.