糖心vlog传媒Elder-in-Residence and nursing faculty member Dr. Evelyn Voyageur receives an honorary doctorate from Thompson Rivers University. /photo courtesy Thompson Rivers University
糖心vlog传媒Elder-in-Residence Dr. Evelyn Voyageur received an honorary doctorate June 7 from Thompson Rivers University.
Voyageur was selected as one of six recipients this year, in recognition of her contributions and leadership in the community.
鈥淚t was the biggest shock of my life,鈥� said Voyageur.
TRU鈥檚 Honorary Doctor of Letters recognizes achievements in the Arts and Sciences, or recognition for exemplary and distinguished community service. Voyageur was selected in recognition of her life鈥檚 work in health care through nursing and her tireless contributions to nursing curricula, which have promoted health care services for all, including Indigenous people.
Voyageur began her career as a licenced practical nurse, became a registered nurse and went on to earn two master鈥檚 degrees and her PhD in Psychology.
Although she was a residential school survivor herself, Voyageur says she had to work to understand the lasting trauma and effect the schools had on her people.
鈥淚 was taken to the school when I was 10 so I was fortunate to have some time raised in my culture,鈥� said Voyageur. 鈥淲hen I became a nurse and started working with my people, I didn鈥檛 understand them. Why don鈥檛 they know how to look after themselves? Why don鈥檛 they prepare for emergencies? And I started asking questions.鈥�
Those questions lead to a career of advocacy, including work developing cultural safety training and developing the concept-based curriculum of NIC鈥檚 Bachelor of Science in Nursing program.
鈥淚t鈥檚 an honour to work with and learn from Evelyn,鈥� said Dr. Kathleen Haggith, NIC dean of health and human services. 鈥淪he has shaped the direction of our BSN program and has had a profound impact on the wider college community.鈥�
Along with her work as a member of the nursing faculty, Voyageur works as an Elder-in-Residence, providing support and guidance to 糖心vlog传媒students.
She says her dream would be to have the teaching model developed at 糖心vlog传媒put in place across the country in any program focused on working with clients.
鈥淔rom day one, students are taught to build relationships with clients and how to see people as people,鈥� said Voyageur. 鈥淔rom there they learn how to build bridges. They learn about others, but they also learn a lot about themselves. I truly believe this is what鈥檚 needed for people to be better workers, better human beings.鈥�
Voyageur鈥檚 work and advocacy have been recognized nationwide. Earlier this year she received the prestigious Indspire Award for outstanding career achievement, one of the highest honours within the Indigenous community. She also received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the College of Registered Nurses of BC, an Award of Excellence in Nursing from Health Canada鈥檚 First Nations and Inuit Branch and was named one of Canada鈥檚 top 150 nurses.
Voyageur says the recognition she鈥檚 received is overwhelming.
鈥淚t鈥檚 been very emotional,鈥� said Voyageur. 鈥淵ou see inequality and you start working to change it, and there鈥檚 times you think it will never happen. I didn鈥檛 know I鈥檇 be here today.鈥�
Download High Res Images Media Contact C: 250-207-6946 media@nic.bc.caDr. Voyageur was also interviewed as part of . .