NNPBC Statement on Indigenous Nurses Day
Written by: NNPBC
April 8, 2026
First Nations, Inuit and Métis nurses support the health and wellbeing of individuals and communities across BC, from remote and rural areas to urban centres. On Indigenous Nurses Day (April 10), we will honour the profound impact of these nurses — both those practicing today and those who came before them.
As described by the First Nations Health Authority, Indigenous nursing is grounded in relationship and responsibility to community, and is informed by both Traditional Wisdom and Western nursing knowledge. Many First Nations, Inuit and Metis nurses act not only as clinicians, but also as educators, leaders, researchers and advocates, often acting as the primary connection to health services within their communities.
This work takes place within a health system that is recognized as needing to repair and improve the care it provides to Indigenous communities — including addressing anti-Indigenous racism, strengthening cultural safety and advancing reconciliation. First Nations, Inuit and Métis nurses play a critical role in providing safe and appropriate care in their communities, while also helping shape a more responsive and inclusive health system. Their leadership reminds us of how important it is that these approaches are upheld by the entire nursing profession.
Indigenous Nurses Day also invites reflection on legacy. Edith Monture, Kanyen’kehà:ka (Mohawk), was born April 10, 1890, on the Six Nations Reserve. She became the first Indigenous registered nurse in what is now known as Canada and, through her service during the First World War, became the first Indigenous woman to vote in a Canadian federal election under the Military Voters Act in 1917. Edith also became the first Indigenous woman from Canada to serve in the United States military.
Rose Casper of the St’át’imc Nation was the first Indigenous nurse in Western Canada. She attended Kamloops Indian Residential School and was among the first students to enter high school, graduating in 1952. In 1955, Rose graduated from St. Joseph’s School of Nursing in Victoria. She went on to serve as a nurse in her home community of Tsal’álh (Shalalth) for more than 50 years. In recognition of her profound legacy, the Rose Casper Healing Centre opened in Tsal’álh in 2003.
Nurses and Nurse Practitioners of British Columbia expresses deep respect and appreciation for First Nations, Inuit and Métis nurses. We not only celebrate their contributions, but also reaffirm our commitment to listen, learn and work alongside Indigenous nurses in support of equity, cultural safety and self-determined health and wellness for Indigenous Peoples.
NNPBC serves and supports nurses and nurse practitioners working across the full breadth of what is today known as British Columbia, the homelands of over 200 First Nations, as well as Inuit and Métis communities. As an organization committed to anti-racism, within a profession dedicated to social justice and equity, we stand in these relationships with humility and respect.
Learn more
- 6 First Nations nurses talk about why they got into nursing (First Nations Health Authority)
- Register for a webinar, hosted by the Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions and featuring Terri Monture, granddaughter of Edith Monture, that will honour Indigenous nurse leaders and explore ways to decolonize healthcare
- Participate in the 2026 Indigenous Nursing Research for Health Empowerment Summit, held on the traditional territories of the Lək̓ʷəŋən Songhees and Xʷsepsəm/Esquimalt, and W̱SÁNEĆ Peoples (also known as Victoria, BC) in October