Group photo of the first-year nursing students in the Indigenous Health Studies class. - HANDOUT PHOTO
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First-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing students at Medicine Hat College are participating in the Story Robe project, which draws on Indigenous storytelling traditions, to help students find reflection and enhance their studies.
Story Robes were a record of history Indigenous people would paint on their tipi covers and lines and bison robes and would occasionally record important events for each year or used to tell stories about their past and their lives thousands of years ago.
The project is part of an Indigenous Health Studies course which examines the impacts of colonialism and its ongoing influence within the public health sector by allowing students to choose symbols that represent their personal growth and future careers and share why those symbols connect to course material.
Students then used their symbols in a variety of beadwork and animations while reflecting on accountability and advocacy for systemic change with a goal to provide students tools they can use to support clients in their future work.
“There’s so much more to a person’s health than their symptoms,” said Jasmin Hoffman-Gates, student. “There’s underlying trauma and usually more things going on. It’s okay to look deeper because there’s always something going on that could lead you to a better answer.”
“I had to learn how to speak up for Indigenous people,” said Courtney Cheney, student. “There’s a lot of people that have cultural stereotypes. That’s something I struggle with a lot of the time, but when it’s for the right reason, it’s a lot easier to speak up.”
Nursing Instructor Leana Forsyth says the goal is for students to become more aware of their personal values and even possible biases and teaching students to approach each client interaction with an open mind and willingness to learn.
“This course is not about technical nursing skills. It is about learning who you are and how you think, so you can transform your nursing practice,” said Forsyth who hopes future nurses will continue learning about Indigenous perspectives and the impacts of colonialism.
