Over the past year, nursing students at Kwantlen Polytechnic University had the unique chance to learn first-hand from the the Kwantlen First Nation (KFN) community. KPU’s Faculty of Health collaborated with Indigenous communities so students could come into the community and learn about Indigenous experiences. Students were asked to explore their preexisting values and biases toward Indigenous people before listening to elders and community members share their experiences through drumming, songs, and storytelling; learning a traditional game called Slahal; and sharing a meal with KFN community members. “In my future nursing career, I am going to hold this experience with me so that I can continue to learn, to listen, to respect, and to be open-minded to all walks of life,” said KPU student Amanda Willis. Students also learned alongside children at the KFN Aboriginal Head Start program, where they learned more about the relationship between Indigenous people, the land, and the environment.
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