Dr. Mona Lisa Bourque Bearskin: Walking in kinship and transforming nursing in British Columbia

Building on the legacy of Indigenous nursing leaders, Dr. Mona Lisa Bourque Bearskin of the Beaver Lake Cree Nation leads as British Columbia's Indigenous Research Chair in Nursing. Her kokum's teaching to "walk with humility, for what we do today shapes the generations to come," guides her to advance research, education, practice, policy, and leadership.

The Chair enabled Dr. Bearskin to develop, in consultation with a Grandmother's Council, the Indigenous Graduate Education in Nursing. This was the first program in Canada to centre local Indigenous ways of being, knowing, and doing in graduate nursing programs.

Dr. Bearskin has established an intergenerational mentorship network to cultivate the next generation of nursing leaders and scholars. St'uxwstews te Secwepemc nursing scholar Nikki Rose Hunter-Porter thinks the Chair's program has offered her a platform for visibility and respect for Indigenous nursing. "My voice mattered, and my identity and responsibilities to my Peoples were respected," she shares.

NWT Métis scholar Christina Chakanyuka, who is part of the mentorship network, adds, "I now walk with others who see nursing not only as a profession, but as a collective responsibility to ensure research is conducted in ethical and generative ways that advance intergenerational mentorship."

Dr. Bearskin worked with members of the Indigenous Research Chairs in Nursing network to inform the new Canadian Association Schools of Nursing accreditation standards. Her team collaborated with local First Nations, the First Nations Health Authority, the Métis Nation British Columbia, provincial nursing organizations, and other partners to revitalize traditional health knowledge systems, including an initiative to advance Métis dementia care.

"These projects help shape mental health and wellness programs that reflect and respond to the unique needs of Métis Peoples," explains Métis scholar Michelle Padley, who has contributed to Métis dementia research and wellness initiatives.

Policy and systems change are central to Dr. Bearskin's work. Her recent publication highlights the experiences of Indigenous health care providers in a local health region. She has also contributed to cultural safety and anti-racism processes developed by the British Columbia College of Nurses and Midwives. Additionally, Dr. Bearskin co-led the Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions (CFNU) report, Beyond Equity: Addressing Indigenous-Specific Racism in Nursing [ PDF (10.3 MB) - external link ], which played a key role in CFNU's historic national apology to Indigenous Peoples.

The Chair also enabled the proclamation of Indigenous Nurses Day in British Columbia, now celebrated on April 10. Beyond her work in Canada, Dr. Bearskin co-leads the Canadian chapter of the Indigenous Global Research Alliance in Nursing (IGRAIN), mobilizing collective research action globally.

Date modified:

2025-12-08