'A place to hear our voices': Symposium brings Indigenous lens to nursing

THUNDER BAY — Excellence in nursing meets Indigenous worldviews at the 2025 BPSO Indigenous-focused Symposium in the city this week.

The Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario, in collaboration with Indigenous leaders and Best Practice Spotlight Organizations, is hosting the three-day event from July 8 to 10 at the Best Western Plus Nor’Wester Hotel & Conference Centre in Thunder Bay.

Centred on the theme “Bridging Indigenous and Western Perspectives in Health Care,” the symposium brings together Indigenous health leaders, Elders, frontline nursing teams, and community representatives from across Northern Ontario to share experiences, build relationships, and advance culturally grounded care.

“This event is an opportunity to listen to Indigenous voices and perspectives to improve health-care outcomes,” says Maxine Lesage, Primary Care Manager at Baawating Family Health Team and a member of the symposium’s planning committee. “This gives us a place to hear our voices and to speak to the programs we’re running and the needs we see in our communities.”

Lesage emphasizes what makes this symposium different from the general stream of Best Practice Spotlight Organizations, organizations that show a commitment to excellence in nursing and implement a multi-year series of best practices.

“It really places a focus on Indigenous content, Indigenous worldviews of how we do things,” she says. “We infuse our culture, our language, and our belief systems into the work that we do, that really reflects patient- and client-centred care, so that we put our communities and our people first.”

She also highlights the deeper meaning of the work being done. “It’s not something that you just put pen to paper from that Western lens,” she explains. “It’s really about implementing from an Indigenous perspective, the language, the ceremonies, the cultures, and really being led spiritually to do the work.”

Now in its second year, the Indigenous-focused symposium is part of a broader initiative within RNAO’s internationally recognized BPSO program. The Indigenous stream was launched in 2024 under the leadership of RNAO CEO Dr. Doris Grinspun to create space specifically for Indigenous organizations. The aim is to support the implementation of the organization's evidence-based Best Practice Guidelines in a way that reflects Indigenous knowledge systems, values, and cultural realities.

This year’s symposium features Indigenous leaders and health-care voices.

Among them are Elder Theresa Redsky Fiddler, Elder Margie Bannon of Fort William First Nation, and Elder Aaron Therriault, a Traditional Drum Keeper and Knowledge Keeper. Chief Michele Solomon of Fort William First Nation and Melissa Deleary, Program Manager of Indigenous Engagement at Ontario Health, are also participating in the gathering.

They are joined by Dr. Doris Grinspun, RNAO CEO and founder of both the BPG and BPSO programs. Nurses and staff from 20 Indigenous BPSO teams, representing a range of health sectors across Northern Ontario, are also in attendance.