Today is B.C. Indigenous Nurses Day. It's a time to celebrate and appreciate the impact of Indigenous nurses.
Taanishi (Hello in Michif).
My name is Selena Moore and I am a proud Métis woman born in Comox, B.C. and raised in East Vancouver.
I come from a diverse background. My mother’s heritage includes Métis, Chinese and French ancestry, while my father’s side has roots in Western Europe. My Indigenous lineage traces back to Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan.
I have a very loving and supportive partner and am the mother of four beautiful children.
Since 2012, I’ve been a registered nurse, starting my career in acute care at Vancouver General Hospital. Later, I worked as a corrections nurse at Surrey Cells before transitioning into Indigenous Health with Fraser Health, where I’ve spent the past five years.
During my time with Indigenous Health, I’ve earned full certification in sexually transmitted infections and contraception management. I thoroughly enjoyed my role as an Indigenous community health nurse in the clinic. I recently stepped into a leadership position as a clinical coordinator, a role I’ve held for the past year.
Caregiving has always felt like second nature to me. My strong desire to support and help people has always been a part of who I am, but nursing has given me a deeper purpose. Seeing the impact that compassionate care can have on individuals, especially those facing systemic barriers, reinforced my commitment to this work. Whether in corrections or Indigenous Health and Wellness, my goal has always been to make a meaningful difference in people’s lives.
The turning point in my nursing career came when I realized I wanted to focus on holistic, community-centered care. While working in corrections, I saw first-hand the gaps in health care access and the systemic issues affecting Indigenous Peoples. It inspired me to transition into Indigenous Health and Wellness, where I could contribute to culturally informed care, health advocacy and long-term wellness initiatives.
Stereotypes and preconceived notions about Indigenous Peoples often impact the quality of care they receive or prevent them from receiving care at all.
I hope to foster a health care system where positive, trusting relationships can grow between providers and Indigenous Peoples. I wish all health care professionals would take the time to educate themselves on trauma-informed care.
B.C. Indigenous Nurses Day was established in 2022, making it a relatively new day of recognition. Because of this, I’m still finding the right words to express my thoughts. However, I deeply appreciate the acknowledgment and believe it serves as a meaningful way to honour truth and reconciliation.
Today is a proud moment for me and my fellow Indigenous nurse colleagues as we are recognized for our achievements as Indigenous health care professionals. Providing care for our own communities is essential in bridging gaps and rebuilding trust between Indigenous Peoples and the health care system.
I am profoundly grateful and honoured to play a role in enhancing the health and well-being of Indigenous Peoples in our community. It is a privilege to help build trust by providing culturally safe health care to one of our most vulnerable populations.
As we honour B.C. Indigenous Nurses Day, I carry a deep pride in walking this path alongside so many inspiring Indigenous nurses across the province. Our presence in health care is a powerful act of resilience, resurgence and love for our communities.
Every day, we bring not only our clinical expertise but also our cultural knowledge, lived experiences and hearts into the work we do. I raise my hands to all Indigenous nurses, past, present and future, who continue to break barriers, uplift our people and bring healing where it’s needed most.
Maarsi (thank you).
Thursday, April 10, is B.C. Indigenous Nurses Day, which celebrates the contributions of Indigenous nurses to health and wellness. April 10 was chosen to celebrate Charlotte Edith Anderson Monture, who was born on that day in 1890 and was the first Indigenous woman in Canada to become a registered nurse.
At the time, most Canadian nursing programs excluded Indigenous women and the Indian Act was a significant barrier faced by Indigenous Peoples who wanted higher education. Edith graduated first in her nursing class at New York’s New Rochelle Nursing School and was one of only a few Indigenous women to serve overseas during World War I with the United States Army Nurse Corps. She was also the first Indigenous woman to gain the right to vote in a Canadian federal election.
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