Saulteaux nurse recognized for excellence in community health
- EFN Staff | June 26, 2018
A northern Indigenous nurse was recognized with the Award for Excellence in Nursing during National Nursing Week at the beginning of May.
Bodeine Dussion was happy and shocked when she heard that she was recognized for her services as a community health nurse.
“It was quite surprising! It like I was young to receive such a prestigious award,” she said. “I was very overwhelmed that I won it.”
Every year, Indigenous Services Canada celebrates the contributions of nurses during May 7-13 – which is known as Nursing Week. Three recipients were chosen through nominations across Canada: Lyrithe Villeneuve, a long-time nurse at the Ungava Tulattavik Health Centre; Cheryl Yost, a First Nations and Inuit Health Branch employed nurse at Sandy Lake Nursing Station in remote northern Ontario; and Dussion, a nurse for 10 years, who works alongside the provincial health system to improve services in the community.
“Being First Nations, I’ve always wanted to work for First Nations communities. I always liked taking care of,” she said. “I want to help people and nursing just comes naturally. To win an award shows I’m doing a great job, it just makes me want to continue doing better.”
Dussion is originally from the Cumberland House First Nation but is a community health nurse in the Saulteaux First Nation for the past three years. She’s been in her career for 10 years and acquired her nursing education from the University of Manitoba. In her spare time, Dussion studies at home doing an online course so she can nurse in northern isolated communities.
“That’s my plan, is to go even further in the northern communities to help my people,” said Dussion. “I feel there needs to be more people up in the northern communities helping our people.”
On May 7th, Don Rusnak, Parliamentary Secretary, on behalf of the Honourable Jane Philpott, Minister of Indigenous Services, recognized Dussion and the other two recipients with the Award of Excellence in Nursing at an annual award ceremony held in Ottawa.
“This year’s recipients of the Award of Excellence in Nursing have shown tremendous dedication to the nursing profession and to delivering quality healthcare to First Nations and Inuit communities,” said Minister Philpott in a media release. “Congratulations and thank you to Lyrithe Villeneuve, Bodiene Dussion, and Cheryl Yost for your exceptional commitment and contributions to improving Indigenous healthcare in Canada.”