The Indigenous Nurse Mentorship program aims to ensure that every participant has a voice in shaping the future of Indigenous nursing, strengthening cultural connections, and empowering the next generation of Indigenous nurses.
On February 27, 2025, Indigenous nurses and nursing students came together for the inaugural Indigenous Nurse Mentorship Gathering at the Kateri Memorial Hospital Centre in Kahnawake. Indigenous nurses remain underrepresented both in the nursing profession and in nursing education, making initiatives like the Indigenous Nurse Mentorship program crucial. Founded by Josée Lavallée, Director of the Office of Social Accountability in Nursing at the Ingram School of Nursing (ISoN), the goal is to provide ongoing support to Indigenous nursing students by connecting them with culture and community.
The event offered a space for participants to share their personal journeys into the nursing profession, discuss the challenges they have faced, and reflect on the significance of community and cultural connections in their education and practice. The gathering included alumni from the ISoN’s BScN, BNI, and Direct Entry master’s programs.
Lavallée described how mentorship has positively impacted her own journey as an Indigenous nurse and leader. “Launching the program is a full-circle moment—an opportunity to give back in ways that have supported me,” she said. Her vision for the Indigenous Nurse Mentorship program is to co-create a space where Indigenous nursing students and professionals can collaborate, learn from each other, and build a strong, intergenerational supportive network. She believes in a collective and relational approach, where mentorship is not just about guidance, but about sharing knowledge, experiences, and cultural strengths. “By fostering this co-creation, the program aims to ensure that every participant has a voice in shaping the future of Indigenous nursing, strengthening cultural connections, and empowering the next generation of Indigenous nurses,” she says.