Article contentSUPPORTING EACH OTHERArticle contentWhile going through school together and with family and work responsibilities, the women supported each other.Article content“There were times I was done, I couldn’t keep going,” says Shareeve. “And Jada would recharge me emotionally and spiritually.Article contentAnd Jada says Shareeve did the same for her.Article contentAs Mi’kmaw women, they bring their culture and lived experience into every aspect of their work.Article content“I carry my Mi’kmaw identity everywhere I go – into clinical settings, classrooms and community,” says Shareeve. “There’s a certain level of care you can notice in Indigenous nursing. It’s community-driven, trauma-informed and holistic.”Article contentJada says she can see the impact her presence has on patients in her work at the Theresa Cremo Memorial Health Centre.Article content“When patients realize I’m Indigenous, you can see their shoulders drop,” she says. “That comfort, that safety. They start asking who my parents are, where I’m from. It builds trust immediately, and that’s what we strive for as nurses – trust, client-centered care and relationships.”Article contentArticle contentAccording to a press release from CBU, both sisters aim to serve their people. Their journey through nursing school wasn’t only supported by each other but also fueled by a steadfast dedication to improve care conditions in their home community.Article content“Most Indigenous people’s goal is to return to community,” says Shareeve. “If it’s not working in the community, it’s working for the community.”Article contentCONTINUING EDUCATIONArticle contentThis year, Shareeve continues her education at Dalhousie University, where much of her attention focuses on Indigenous women’s health and health-related research.Article content“Even in Medical School now, I’m instantly drawn to topics surrounding Indigenous Health Research.Article content“For me, medicine isn’t just a career path. It’s a responsibility to the people and community I come from.”Article contentJada has plans to also apply to medical school in her future. She notices a lack of pediatric care in her hometown and believes she can make a difference for local youth.Article contentArticle content“I want to get to the root of the problem, and the root is at home,” Jada says. “Our youth are very underserved, and that’s where I want to do my work. The roots of these issues occur in their childhood, at home, in community and that’s where I want to be able to do my work.”Article contentNearly 400 students from 22 different programs and many countries will graduate on Wednesday and will receive their degrees, diplomas and certificates in a variety of languages, including French, Gaelic and Mi’kmaw.Article contentThe public is invited to the Kehoe Forum on Wednesday at 11 a.m. to celebrate the graduating class during the fall convocation ceremony. Seating is on a first-come, first-served basis. The ceremony will also be livestreamed at cbu.ca/convocation.Article contentRosemary Godin is the Local Journalism Initiative reporter for the Cape Breton Post, a position funded by the federal government.Article content
Sisters graduate together, contribute to Mikmaq health care
