In a milestone for Indigenous-led education, John Abbott College has successfully completed the first year of a new Springboard to Nursing program for Cree students, delivered directly to Eeyou Istchee.
The initiative, a collaboration between the college and the Cree School Board, was designed in response to community needs and aims to strengthen local healthcare systems by training Indigenous students to become tomorrow’s healthcare professionals.
The two-semester program combines academic courses with culturally relevant content to support both personal growth and community well-being, said Kim Tekakwitha Martin, Dean of Indigenous Education at John Abbott College.
“In our first pilot project group, we had 16 students who entered the program and 15 completed,” Martin said. “That’s a very good success rate.”
Students study math, chemistry, environmental science and languages, and participate in land-based physical education that incorporates Cree traditions.
Despite the emphasis on online learning, Martin said students visit the John Abbott campus several times. “For an orientation, to see the school, to understand what kind of program they’re going into,” she explained.
Martin said the World Health Organization’s recent recognition of Indigeneity as a social determinant of health is profound. “That because of our realities,” she said. “Because of our lack of support in communities, lack of funding, intergenerational trauma, and the continued harms that Indigenous people live.”
Martin believes it’s important to take this into consideration in any healthcare assessment and to create courses for students that are embedded in Cree history, knowledge and realities.
At their recent graduation ceremony, students arrived in traditional clothing, shared stories of resilience, and celebrated with community leaders, faculty and families. For many, it was not just a personal milestone but a communal moment of pride.
“They were very happy,” Martin said. “Any nursing program is not easy. There were times when the students struggled, there were extra tutoring sessions. It was overwhelming sometimes.”
John Abbott and the CSB are preparing for a second cohort with 35 applicants already lined up. The program aims to expand into a broader Health Sciences pathway, which opens the door not only to nursing, but also to careers in dental hygiene, radiology and pharmacy.
For Martin, this is not just a college program, “it’s a step toward reclaiming health, knowledge, and self-determination for Indigenous communities.”
Myah Trapper Stewart, a student from Mistissini, says the hybrid model of online and in-person learning suited her situation as a young mother who was not ready to relocate for college.
“It was challenging to do some assignments and work because the teachers are just online and not there to help you, especially after school hours,” Trapper Stewart acknowledged. Nonetheless, she appreciated the flexibility and the commitment of her instructors.
Stewart believes programs like this are crucial for Cree students who want to pursue education close to home. Currently working as a patient care representative, she plans to return to school in August to continue nursing studies.
Jaylene Moses, a student from Eastmain, said online learning is not easy. “It could be difficult because you’re not seeing your teachers and classmates in person,” she explained. “But it’s also good since you’re working from home.”
Moses applied to the program after seeing it advertised during her final year of high school.
“Ever since I was a little kid, I was always interested in working in healthcare,” she said. “We need more healthcare workers such as nurses in communities because there’s a lack of Cree or Native people working in the hospitals.”
Moses highlighted the importance of including Cree history and cultural traditions in the curriculum.
“It reminds you where you come from and who you’re trying to help,” she said.