Red River College Polytech (RRC Polytech), located in Winnipeg, Manitoba, is Manitoba’s largest institute of applied learning and research, with more than 150 full-and part-time degree, diploma and certificate options. Through hands-on and online learning opportunities and state-of-the-art instruction, we prepare our students to become leaders in their fields — while also ensuring they can meet changing industry demands, and contribute to the province’s economic growth.

Nursing BScN program

The program is offered both within Winnipeg and outside the city through in-person locations at the Notre Dame campus, the Portage campus and the Winkler campus. A degree in Nursing prepares you for a career in multiple clinical settings and areas of the health-care system. You will participate in classroom lectures, build experiential skills in simulated labs and practice your new skills in a variety of clinical settings. Through this program, you will earn a Bachelor of Nursing (BN) degree from RRC Polytech. 

In this program, you will develop the practical skills and in-depth knowledge needed to provide effective health care to individuals, families and communities. Your education will include theory-based classroom learning and practical learning in labs and health care facilities.

Pathway to Health Program.

This pathway program is designed to provide admission to Indigenous Manitobans who have not had the opportunity to participate or succeed in post-secondary education due to social, economic or cultural factors; a lack of formal education; or limitations due to remote geographic location (inaccessibility to post-secondary institutions).

RRC Polytech School of Health Science Commitment to Truth and Reconciliation

The School of Nursing makes no explicit commitment to Truth and Reconciliation

RRC Polytech

Truth and Reconciliation

RRC Polytech’s second commitment in our 2022-25 Strategic Plan is: “Commit to Truth and Reconciliation. Pursue equity, diversity and inclusion in everything we do.” Through this, we consider the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s Calls to Action in relation to our position as a post-secondary institution and actively embed the Calls to Action into initiatives and projects around the College. As a signatory to the Manitoba Collaborative Indigenous Education Blueprint, RRC Polytech publicly pledged to advance Indigenous education in the province by enhancing culturally-inclusive supports to strengthen partnerships with Indigenous communities. 

The need to create strong relationships built on trust, respect and inclusion is at the heart of reconciliation. Reflective of these values, the Director of Truth and Reconciliation and Community Engagement has focused on building strong relationships between non-Indigenous and Indigenous students, staff, faculty communities. Indigenous Strategy, Research and Business Development leads the strategic framework we have in creating and pursuing initiatives: for example, we have Indigenous Student Success Goals, which is defined by an increase of 5000 students, 50 new Indigenous hires and 5% EDI and Indigenous contracts through a new procurement policy over five years.

As Truth and Reconciliation continues to evolve at RRC Polytech, we focus on delivering training and education, developing curriculum, and engaging the College community in initiatives informed by the true history of Canada. Enhancing education through the context of Canada’s true history and the purpose of equity, diversity and inclusion practices better prepares students, Indigenous and non-Indigenous, for the workplace.

4 Seasons of Reconciliation, a training program developed though collaboration between the First Nations University of Canada, its Indigenous Advisory Circle, and Indigenous contributors, is mandatory training for all staff at RRC Polytech and is available for instructors to deliver to students as part of their program curriculum. Completion of the program is included in RRC Polytech’s Key Performance Indicators to measure the success of our initiatives to educate the community on the importance of Truth and Reconciliation. 4 Seasons of Reconciliation is delivered to all Nursing students as part of their training to help prepare them for the intercultural environment of the workplace.

The Manitoba Collaborative Indigenous Education Blueprint (MCIEB) is a partnership involving Manitoba’s six universities, three colleges, Indigenous organizations, government partners, and the Manitoba School Boards Association. Our goal is to prioritize excellence in Indigenous education in Manitoba. We are dedicated to increasing access to education for all Indigenous learners – from recruitment to retention and incorporating Indigenous knowledge and content into early education and beyond. Through collaborative evaluation, policy development and implementation, we aim to advance Indigenous education and promote reconciliation.”

See also the MCIEB’s Ten Commitments document.

Call to Action # 24

We call upon medical and nursing schools in Canada to require all students to take a course dealing with Aboriginal health issues, including the history and legacy of residential schools, the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, Treaties and Aboriginal rights, and Indigenous teachings and practices. This will require skills-based training in intercultural competency, conflict resolution, human rights, and anti-racism.

Mandatory Course: Yes 

ABOR-3003 Health, Wellness and Indigenous Peoples of Canada

This course provides an overview of the history of Canadian Indigenous people pre-contact, post colonialism through to contemporary times. This history and richness of Indigenous culture provides the context for understanding the effects of sociopolitical decisions on the health and well-being of Indigenous people. The course discusses the concepts of cultural sensitivity and cultural safety with respect to their role in client-centered care. Specific health issues prevalent in the Indigenous population and the relationship between biomedicine and the Indigenous world view are explored. The course concludes with an overview of innovative culturally based approaches and success stories of health, healing and wellness. Prerequisites: NRSG-2702“

Course description: Found here.

School of Nursing Commitment to Call to Action # 24: 3 out of 5 = 60% 

1. Aboriginal health issues
Yes. See mandatory course description.
2. The history and legacy of residential schools
Yes. See mandatory course description.
3. The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
No. No explicit reference.
4. Treaties and Aboriginal rights
No. No explicit reference.
5. Indigenous teachings and practice
Yes. See mandatory course description.

Canadian Association of Schools of Nursing’s “Statement” of apology for colonial harms resulting from nursing education

Dec.11, 2023: CASN apologizes to Indigenous Peoples of Canada for Colonial harms resulting from nursing education…CASN is committed to a process of self-reflection, learning, and transformation. We will take the following steps to address the harms:

1. Anti-Racism, Cultural Safety, and Humility: Promote education, resources, and practices that address anti-Indigenous racism, supporting decolonization, cultural humility, and cultural safety for nursing faculty, staff, and students. Promote institutional policies and processes that address systemic racism to foster an inclusive and equitable learning environment.
2. Curriculum Revision: Promote a review of nursing education curricula to ensure a strengths-based focus and trauma-informed approach, the inclusion of content on the continued impact of colonialism and racism on Indigenous health, as well as Indigenous perspectives on health and well-being.
3. Community Engagement: Establish meaningful partnerships with Indigenous organizations and communities to ensure their voices are heard in shaping nursing education policies and practices.
4. Recruitment and Retention: Promote strategies that create culturally safe and supportive learning environments including pre-admission supports, in-program supports, and services that are developed in partnership with Indigenous communities
5. Ongoing Accountability: In collaboration with Indigenous partners, establish mechanisms to monitor progress and address concerns raised by partners, Indigenous nursing students, and faculty.

Land Acknowledgement: 

Located on the Home Page of  School of Health Sciences, the Nursing, and the RRC Polytech

RRC Polytech campuses are located on the lands of Anishinaabe, Ininiwak, Anishininew, Dakota, and Dené, and the National Homeland of the Red River Métis.

We recognize and honour Treaty 3 Territory Shoal Lake 40 First Nation, the source of Winnipeg’s clean drinking water. In addition, we acknowledge Treaty Territories which provide us with access to electricity we use in both our personal and professional lives.

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NOTE: All content has been submitted to the respective faculty for validation to ensure accuracy and currency as of the time of posting. The RRC Polytech School of Health Science reviewed and approved the document. Managing Editor: Douglas Sinclair: Publisher, Indigenous Watchdog Research Assistant:  Timothy Maton