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!
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.
“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!
"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."
Rayleh is a third year student in the Bachelor of Nursing program. You can contact her by 
“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.
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.
“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.