The University of British Columbia is a global centre for teaching, learning and research, consistently ranked among the top public universities in the world. UBC embraces innovation and transforms ideas into action. Since 1915, UBC has been opening doors of opportunity for people with the curiosity, drive and vision to shape a better world.

Established in 1919, the UBC School of Nursing has more than 100 years of experience educating nursing leaders and developing research that changes policies and procedures across Canada and around the world. We have an international reputation for research and scholarship, guided by a vision of excellence in nursing education, research and practice. This reputation along with our strong commitment to health equity, social justice, anti-racism and Indigenous cultural safety attracts stellar researchers and educators. Therefore, our undergraduate and graduate programs are taught by experienced and award-winning faculty members who work to build a strong nursing community, develop a confident healthcare workforce and mentor the leaders of today and tomorrow.

Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)

Serving those in need in their most vulnerable state is a privilege the UBC School of Nursing does not take lightly. Our students are exposed to the latest technology, encouraged by leading academic scholars and teachers and provided with a broad range of resources. Our School has an international reputation for research and scholarship and a vision characterized by social relevance and excellence. You will learn from faculty members who are continually recognized for ground-breaking and dedicated work to the field of nursing. As a professional nurse, and a graduate of our program, you will be well-equipped to offer excellent service and garner high satisfaction from your new role. 

School of Nursing Commitment to Truth and Reconciliation

Indigenous Cultural Safety Committee

The UBC–Vancouver School of Nursing established the Indigenous Cultural Safety Committee (ICSC) in 2018. The mandate of the ICSC is to promote Indigenous Peoples’ human rights, health equity and social justice by overseeing the UBC Indigenous Strategic Plan (2020) implementation and ending anti-Indigenous racism and discrimination within the context of nursing undergraduate and graduate education, research, and service.  

The goals and purpose of the ICSC are also derived from the Truth and Reconciliation Calls for Action, United Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, the Murdered & Missing Indigenous Women, Girls and 2SLGBTQQIA (MMIWG) Calls for Justice, and the BC In Plain Sight report recommendations. The committee further seeks to align its work with practice standards for culturally safe and anti-racist care required by British Columbia College of Nurses & Midwives for all BCCNM registrants.

Our Goal

Our goal is to help guide decolonization efforts in teaching, learning, research and service within the School of Nursing. By engaging with faculty, staff and students, our focus includes, but is not limited to: 

• Advocate for truth and reconciliation as outlined in the UBC Indigenous Strategic Plan. 
• Be equity-oriented, culturally safe and decolonizing across all structures, programs, policies and practices. 
• Implement and uphold Indigenous Peoples’ human rights. 
• Reduce barriers to entry-level and graduate education in nursing and equip the SON with resources and support for Indigenous students’ success. 
• End Indigenous-specific racism and discrimination in nursing and health care. 

• Create a psychologically safe environment to learn, work, and practice for Indigenous students, staff and faculty members in SON.
• Prioritize harm prevention, and healing harms that may arise in our context

Strategic Alignments

• UBC Indigenization Strategic Plan: Goal 4, Actions 15, 116, 17 and 18
• British Columbia College of Nurses and Midwives: Core Concepts and Principles 1-6
• UNDRIP: Articles 21, 24 and 29
• MMIWG: Calls for Justice 7.7
• In Plain Sight: Recommendations 14, 18, and 21
• Truth and Reconciliation Commission: Calls to Action # 23 and 24

University of British Columbia

UBC Indigenous Strategic Plan

We are the first university in North America to commit to implementing the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, and to take a human rights-based approach to our Indigenous strategic framework. The Indigenous Strategic Plan sets out a series of eight goals and 43 actions the university will collectively take in order to advance our vision of becoming a leading university globally in the implementation of Indigenous peoples’ human rights.

The plan is the university’s response to the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls’ Calls for Justice. It is also UBC Vancouver’s response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action.

The renewal of the Indigenous Strategic Plan began in 2017, which resulted in a draft Indigenous Strategic Plan in 2018. This document continued the work of the 2009 Aboriginal Strategic Plan. From this point, the Indigenous Strategic Planning Team led a planning process to produce a final action plan, which ultimately was created with input from more than 2,500 students, faculty and staff across both campuses, including Indigenous students, faculty and staff, and Indigenous community partners.

The ISP is a living document and will be reviewed every three years in consultation with the UBC community and our Indigenous partners.

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

NURS 353 Promoting the Health of Indigenous People

Foundations to contribute to supporting and providing high quality, ethical, respectful and culturally safe health care in partnership with Indigenous people in Canada and around the globe.

Course description: Course degree requirements are found here and course descriptions here

School of Nursing Commitment to Call to Action # 24: 5 out of 5 = 100%

1. Aboriginal health issues
Yes. See mandatory course description
2. The history and legacy of residential schools
Yes. Discussed in course as per School of Nursing. See Indigenous Cultural Safety Committee above.
3. The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
Yes. Discussed in course as per School of Nursing. See Indigenous Cultural Safety Committee above.
4. Treaties and Aboriginal rights
Yes. Discussed in course as per School of Nursing. See Indigenous Cultural Safety Committee above.
5. Indigenous teachings and practice
Yes. Discussed in course as per School of Nursing. See Indigenous Cultural Safety Committee above.

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 School of Nursing under Indigenous Cultural Safety Committee

We acknowledge that UBC’s two main campuses are situated within the ancestral and unceded territory of the Musqueam people, and in the traditional, ancestral, unceded territory of the Syilx Okanagan Nation and their peoples.

and the  University of British Columbia Home Page

The land on which we work is the unceded, occupied, traditional and ancestral territory of the Coast Salish Peoples, including the territories of xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and Səl̓ílwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh).

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