Inclusion of the voice of knowledge keepers and Elders of First Nation, Inuit, and Metis people when teaching nurses and providing nursing care

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED the Registered Nurses' Association of Ontario (RNAO) advocate for the Inclusion of the voice of knowledge keepers and Elders of First Nation, Inuit, and Metis and Urban Indigenous people when teaching nurses and providing nursing to improve wholistic health outcomes for Indigenous people and decolonize nursing education

THEREFORE BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED the Registered Nurses' Association of Ontario (RNAO) advocate for the Inclusion of the voice of knowledge keepers and Elders of First Nation, Inuit, and Metis and Urban Indigenous to establish and encourage indigenous-led health service partnerships to improve wholistic health outcomes for Indigenous people.

Action

RNAO continues to press the federal government to implement all of the calls to action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) report, with particular emphasis on calls 18–24 specifically related to health.

RNAO’s Residential Schools Position Statement (2021) and our 2021 federal platform call on the federal government to hold true to its commitment to implement all calls to action, including number 24, which is the subject of this resolution.
RNAO has surveyed nursing program curricula across the province and found that a number of programs do not currently have courses that answer this call to action. And where such courses exist, they vary in quality. RNAO will continue advocating for the inclusion of mandatory Indigenous studies courses in all nursing programs, with an understanding that cultural competency education and courses in nursing schools dealing with Indigenous health issues must be informed by the voices of Knowledge Keepers and Elders of First Nation, Inuit and Métis people.
RNAO’s Indigenous health program also continues to plan educational webinars for Ontario’s nurses, including presentations by Elders and Knowledge Keepers. Information about this program and RNAO’s comprehensive approach to work with Indigenous partners can be found under the In Focus theme dedicated to Indigenous health and RNAO, launched on Nov. 11, 2021. We will continue to update this theme page with new work and developments, where you can find information about partnerships and learn more about Indigenous-focused Best Practice Spotlight Organizations (BPSO) and their work.