2020 Experiential Internship

Nicolas Gibson is a 2^nd year medical student at the University of Alberta. He is currently doing research in radiology and Indigenous health promotion. As a Métis person, Nicolas serves his Indigenous medical community as Senior Local Officer of Indigenous Health which aims at creating Indigenous events and electives for students. Nicolas is the Albertan representative for Stand Up for Indigenous Health – a roleplaying app and is co-founder and Vice-president of the Indigenous Medical and Dental Student Association – a first of its kind in Canada. He owes it to his community, who have been tremendously supportive throughout his journey, to help improve Indigenous health in Canada and create cultural competency among his peers.

Nicolas is from Winnipeg, Manitoba and graduated from the University of Winnipeg with a Biopsychology degree in 2018. His Métis ancestry is from St. Laurent, Manitoba where some of his family lives. Outside of university, Nicolas has a passion for lifestyle and medical photography and is aiming at launching a @healthlens Instagram account. He enjoys hiking/camping in the Kananaskis region with his partner, Maddy and dog Luna. Nicolas hopes to move to Yellowknife after a residency in diagnostic radiology.

Emma Hillier is a member of the Qalipu First Nations band in Newfoundland. Since completing a dual Psychology and International Development degree at McGill University, Emma is pursuing a medical degree from the University of Alberta. She is fortunate to have access to strong Indigenous role models in the University setting including an Elder in residence and an Indigenous Associate Dean. These two leaders inspire Emma to better the quality and access of medical care to Indigenous peoples.  She is passionate about working with inner city populations which are often populated disproportionately with Indigenous peoples who faced intersectional barriers that restrict their access to the basic necessities of life, including culturally appropriate healthcare.

My name is Nevada Lynn Ouellette I am Cree/Metis from Calgary, Alberta. I am
completing an MEd in Counselling Psychology at the University of Lethbridge and begin the
PhD Program (Counselling Psychology) in fall of 2020 at the University of Calgary. I recently
graduated from the Indigenous Focusing Oriented Therapy for complex trauma (IFOT) at the
justice Institute of British Columbia and begin working as a coach with the team this fall. As a
therapist, I am passionate about working with other Indigenous peoples with a therapeutic
foundation that is experiential, land based and honors Indigenous ways of knowing, being and
doing.

Of mixed Cree Métis and Danish/English ancestry, I was born and raised in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories and I am a registered member of the Yellowknives Dene First Nation. I have lived in Calgary for 13 years with my husband and three children. I am a registered nurse with over 10 years of nursing experience working in acute care in Alberta, the Northwest Territories, and Ontario, with a predominant focus in nephrology. I am currently in my second year of the Master’s in Nursing program at the University of Calgary with a focus on exploring culturally tailored peer mentorship for Indigenous people self-managing type 2 diabetes.

Through the graduate summer internship opportunity, I am looking forward to working under the supervision of Dr. Dana Olstad and Dr. David Campbell this summer in the Cumming School of Medicine. Their research is focused on empowering food insecure Albertans in their management of diabetes through subsidized healthy food prescriptions. 12 different primary care clinics will be invited to participate in this study including two urban Indigenous primary clinics. This research compliments my research interest in supporting Indigenous people living with diabetes from a social lens. Specifically, in considering the social determinants when working with people and their health and in following the principles of reconciliation outlined in the Truth and Reconciliation of Canada, namely creating equitable, inclusive, and constructive action in healthcare.  

Melissa Shouting is a member of the Blackfoot Confederacy from Kainai (Blood) Nation and is of Blackfoot, Plains Cree and Gros Ventre descent. She is currently pursuing a Master of Science in Health Sciences at the University of Lethbridge. She recently received her undergrad degree in Health Sciences majoring in Public Health, with a minor in Aboriginal Health, from the University of Lethbridge. She is also the recipient of an inaugural fellowship from the Sovereign Bodies Institute, which is an affiliate of the Seventh Generation Fund in the United States. She has a deep understanding of how historical and societal factors continue to influence current health outcomes within Indigenous populations. Areas of interest include: Addictions, Harm Reduction, Women’s Health, Gender and Sexual Violence, and HIV/AIDS, all within the Indigenous population. Her current research includes examining current health trends and outcomes within Indigenous populations utilizing Indigenous research methods that are grounded in Siksikaitsitapi Ways of Knowing and Being.