As the Seek, Experience, Explore, Discover (SEED) program begins this week, Northern Health (NH) was proud to bring together teams from Indigenous Recruitment and Retention, Indigenous Health, and Student Practice Education (SPE) to support the first Indigenous cohort. This NH led collaboration is grounded in shared responsibility, collective leadership, and a commitment to creating culturally grounded, meaningful learning experiences for Indigenous youth.
The cohort was welcomed in a good way by Lheidli T’enneh Elder Lenora White, with the Khast’an Drummers drumming the students in to mark the beginning of their journey. This work is further strengthened through collaboration with School District No. 57 and NH Volunteer Services.
What makes this cohort unique is the intentional weaving of culturally grounded practices, guided by local Elders and supported by the NH Research and Evaluation team and First Nations Health Authority. Together, these contributors help shape a learning experience that honours Indigenous ways of knowing and community‑led guidance.
This opportunity includes Indigenous students from local high schools who are exploring where they may see themselves within health care. Creating a welcoming, respectful, and culturally safe space is part of NH’s broader commitment to decolonizing health care and advancing the Calls to Action from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
On their first day, students took part in hands‑on learning through simulation activities, including practicing CPR, learning how to start an intravenous line, and exploring birth‑related care such as baby swaddling. Throughout the program, students will also be introduced to traditional medicines, drumming, and smudging, alongside continued exposure to clinical environments at the University Hospital of Northern British Columbia. This dual learning approach reflects the
SEED intention to honour Indigenous knowledge alongside health care career exploration.
Stay tuned as we share highlights from this group’s journey—learning, reflecting, and finding inspiration within NH sites, alongside mentors who walk with them in a good way.
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