Canadian Indigenous Nurses Association

The Canadian Indigenous Nurses Association (CINA)was formed in 1975 by nurses who shared a common vision and saw a different perspective as Indigenous caregivers, caring for Indigenous patients. The initial association was started by two nurses, Jocelyn Bruyere and Jean Goodwill. Their task was to locate other Indigenous nurses which posed a task as in this time, a lack of ancestry on registry's was present, but through the grapevine, a list of Indigenous nurses was formed. A year later, 41 of these nurses met to discuss the wide variety of health problems affecting Indigenous people. Through common visions and goals, the CINA was formed. Although many barriers were placed in their path towards their association such as politics, bureaucracy and persuasion of a new organization, these would all be overcome. In 2010, the CINA's objectives were modified to fit with modernized health and medical field that is ever changing. These include:

-To work with communities, health professionals and the government on Indigenous Health and Nursing issues and practices

-To encourage educational courses be taught on Canadian Indigenous Health, cultural safety in the health care system and Indigenous knowledge

-To promote awareness in communities, both Indigenous and Non-Indigenous, about the health concerns and needs of Indigenous people

-To increase the involvement of Indigenous people in the decision making of the health care field

-To develop the recruitment into nursing and health care with more people of Indigenous ancestry

In Canada, as of 2016, there is 9695 Indigenous nurses out of 327780 nurses. In British Columbia alone, there is only 1305 nurses with Indigenous ancestry. The 2015 Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada Call to Action #23 calls for an increase in the number of Aboriginal professionals working in the health care field. Although there has been an improvement in this number, Canada still has a ways to go to achieve representation. The Canadian Indigenous Nurses Association is taking steps towards reconciliation and working towards their goals of bringing Indigenous perspectives into the Health and Medical field.