Chloe Crosschild - Iitapii’tsaanskiaki (BN '14, MN '20), RN, is a talented Blackfoot nursing scholar committed to research and nursing practice supporting Indigenous health and well-being. Her outstanding Master of Nursing (MN) thesis, titled Urban Indigenous Mothers’ Experiences with Postnatal Nursing Care in Southern Alberta: A Blackfoot Methodology provides a roadmap for health research with Blackfoot Peoples. Chloe created unique Indigenous research methods based on Blackfoot Ways of Knowing as the foundation of her thesis. Chloe earned the 2019 School of Graduate Studies Silver Medal of Merit in the Master of Nursing.
Since she completed her MN program, Chloe has been applying her expertise as an Indigenous advisor to the Nursing Education in Southwestern Alberta (NESA) Bachelor of Nursing (BN) programs. Her work includes making changes to NESA course material to address Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) reports and calls-to-action. Additionally, Chloe has started the next phase of her educational and research journey in the University of British Columbia's Nursing PhD program.
What is your most memorable ULethbridge experience?
"My most memorable ULethbridge experience was sitting on the Graduate Students' Association (GSA) Council as the Indigenous Rep. This role was very important in making my graduate experience because it allowed me to learn from students in other disciplines, faculty from different departments and staff that make up the uLethbridge community."
Is there someone specific who had an important influence on your uLethbridge experience?
"Yes. My mentor, role model and thesis supervisor Dr. Peter Kellett was an important influence in my uLethbridge experience. I met Peter while completing my undergraduate (Bachelor) degree in nursing and he has been there to support and guide me in my professional journey. He encouraged me to achieve things I never thought I was capable of, and through his mentorship I gained the confidence I needed to push past my own expectations. I am forever grateful for Dr. Kellett."
What is the most important lesson you learned as a student?
"The most important lesson I learned was to be true to myself in everything I do, including my research and academic work. Despite being an Indigenous woman, I was primarily trained and educated in a colonial system. It was in my graduate school journey that I was able to fully embrace the importance of my background and identity and draw on my Blackfoot values to guide me in my school work. I found myself in a unique position to explore how two worlds collide in health care, especially when Western and Indigenous Ways of Being clashed.
What are your hopes and plans for the future?
"My plans are to complete my PhD in nursing from UBC and start my new role with Alberta Health Services as the Indigenous Patient Navigator. My hopes are to find opportunities throughout my career to work alongside Indigenous Peoples and communities toward health equity."
What advice would you give to students about to begin their post-secondary journeys?
"My best piece of advice for students is to be open-minded to different worldviews and perspectives, and try to be comfortable with being uncomfortable. We aren't expected to know everything when we start our academic journeys, so it's okay to be wrong or feel challenged because that's the only way we can grow as students and scholars."
Learn more about the ULethbridge Bachelor of Nursing (BN) program
Learn more about the ULethbridge Master of Nursing (MN) program
Learn more about the ULethbridge Master of Science in Nursing (MSc) program