The peer mentor initiative was established in 2020 to allow for students enrolled in the Faculty of Nursing to have Indigenous mentorship from their peers. The program acts on the value of students helping students.
The peer mentors actively advocate, teach, and provide experiences for other students, all while being a student themselves. The mentors reflect on their student experiences and opportunities to ensure that the students following them will receive a well balanced and positive education during their time in the Bachelor of Nursing Undergraduate program and Graduate program.
"To ignite a sense of community and belonging that is at the heart of how we relate. To allow students to be the creators of change in their own lives. Through encouragement and support by the Nutsihpiluwewicik Team, students will identify the tools they need to continue and accomplish their [Nursing] Degree."
- Peer Mentor Team, 2020-21
Email NutsihpiluwewicikMentors@unb.ca to get in touch with your mentors if you have questions or concerns, want to get involved in student life, or just want someone to touch base with!
“Hullo friends! My name is Rachel Blowers. I am a Mi’kmaq woman from Metepenagiag First Nation (AKA Red Bank Reserve) located in Miramichi, NB, where I grew up within my community. I am so happy to see so many indigenous people wanting to learn more about their indigenous heritage and advancing their education goals in health care! It is so inspiring and I’m so hyped to get to know everyone as your indigenous peer mentor within the nursing program!
To give a little bit of background about me, I am going into my fourth year of the program. I have worked within my community in many areas including the summer student program, a coach in the Indian Summer Games of New Brunswick, and most recently, a student nurse at our community health centre. I also am currently collaborating with the IWK as an indigenous youth representative for New Brunswick on the Advisory Committee for research projects focused on Indigenous health care delivery. Once the opportunity came where we could establish more supports for indigenous nursing students, I jumped at the chance!
I could go on and on, but I will hold it in until we get to meet everyone in-person. Thank you so much for being so passionate about Indigenous health care. I hope to get to know everyone as we plan to have many activities and supports for our future indigenous nurses!”
-Rachel Blowers, 2021
"My name is Jade Konwataroni. I am from the Bear Clan from kahnawake. I am currently in my second year of nursing, after doing four years at Concordia University in The First Peoples Study Program. I was a Knowledge Gather and Peer Mentor last year and am a Peer Mentor this year."
Jade is a second year Bachelor of Nursing student at UNB. Jade can be reached by email.
Rayleh is a third year student in the Bachelor of Nursing program. You can contact her by email.
“Qey (Hello), my name is Jasmine Murchison-Perley, a two-spirit, Wolastoqey woman from Neqotkuk at Tobique First Nation. I am a first-generation academic, receiving a bachelor’s in nursing from the University of New Brunswick (UNB) in 2018. I am a Registered Nurse (RN) and a Graduate Student in the Master of Nursing, full-time, thesis stream at UNB, supervised by Dr. Jason Hickey. I am a recipient of the Indigenous Health Research Masters Studentship in Nursing as well as a grant recipient of the Native Woman’s Association of Canada (NWAC). My current research is concerned with the Indigenous new graduate nurse transition to practice experience.
My background is in: Indigenous health and wellness, harm reduction, health policy and advocacy, and systemic racism.
I look forward to having the opportunity to meet you all.
Woliwon (Thank-you).”
Jasmine can be reached by email.
Kwey! My name is Tanisha and I am a Wolastoqey woman and Mother from Kingsclear First Nation (Pilick). My maternal roots are Penobscot from Indian Island, Maine, and Wolastoqey from Kingsclear First Nation. My paternal roots are Inuvialuit from Tuktoyaktuk, Northwest Territories. I have a Bachelor of Arts degree from St. Thomas University, and I will be entering my third year of Nursing in the Fall of 2021. I feel that I am in this realm to honour the seven generations before me, and the seven generations to come.
Woliwon, Tanisha.
The Knowledge-Gatherers Initiative was born in 2021 and was developed to increase reconcile-action at the University of New Brunswick. The focus was to learn from Elders, Community, Knowledge Keepers, and Healthcare Professionals about how Indigenous healing practices and western medicine can be used in practice together.
Three students were hired for the Winter 2021 term and spent time exploring Indigenous-led cultural revitalization, including the reclamation of Indigenous knowledge, languages, and practice. They presented their work to Nursing Faculty and Staff during Curriculum Days in June 2021.
Kwey! My name is Tanisha and I am a Wolastoqey woman and Mother from Kingsclear First Nation (Pilick). My maternal roots are Penobscot from Indian Island, Maine, and Wolastoqey from Kingsclear First Nation. My paternal roots are Inuvialuit from Tuktoyaktuk, Northwest Territories. I have a Bachelor of Arts degree from St. Thomas University, and I will be entering my third year of Nursing in the Fall of 2021. I feel that I am in this realm to honour the seven generations before me, and the seven generations to come.
Woliwon, Tanisha.
“My name is Erika Powell, and I am a Master of Nursing Student at UNB. My thesis research focuses on the experiences of Indigenous women accessing prenatal care in New Brunswick and supporting the re-introduction of traditional perinatal practices.
I completed my Bachelor of Nursing degree at UNB in 2020 and am currently working as a Registered Nurse at Under One Sky Friendship Centre under the Sakələməlsowakən Family Success Program.
I am NunatuKavut, born and raised in the traditional homelands of the Peskotomuhkati.
I feel that it is important for Indigenous nursing students to have opportunities to learn from knowledge keepers. Being a knowledge gatherer allowed me to connect with peers, Elders, mothers, doulas, and other knowledge keepers across Canada and I am hopeful that the initiative will grow and encourage further incorporation of Indigenous knowledge into nursing education.”
-Erika Powell, 2021
Along with Tanisha and Erika, Jade McComber (Bachelor of Nursing student) was also part of the Knowledge Gatherers program in 2020-21.
