THUNDER BAY — New provincial funding has been announced for six Indigenous institutes across Ontario to increase enrolment in nursing and personal support worker (PSW) programs.
Two of the facilities are based in Northwestern Ontario – Oshki-Pimache-O-Win: The Wenjack Education Institute in Thunder Bay, and the Seven Generations Education Institute based on Couchiching First Nation near Fort Frances.
A third recipient, the Anishinabek Educational Institute, is headquartered near North Bay but has a satellite campus on Fort William First Nation.
The Ministry of Colleges and Universities said Wednesday that it will invest $34 million over four years in the six institutes to help them provide culturally responsive education for aspiring registered nurses, practical nurses and PSWs.
The funding will support:
- development of new programs or expansion of existing programs to facilitate increased enrolment
- student subsidies for tuition, textbook,childcare and costs related to clinical education, including a one-time subsidy for students who previously enroled and were still in the program as of Jan. 1, 2022
- enhancement of Indigenous knowledge and language in student learning
"Providing additional pathways to health care education close to home will also result in more nurses and PSWs who are training, working and staying in their communities," said Colleges and Universities Minister Jill Dunlop.
Rebecca Jamieson, chair of the Indigenous Institutes Consortium and CEO of Six Nations Polytechnic, said there's an urgent need for more health care workers who are training and staying in their home areas.
"Indigenous institutes have unique capacities to provide pathways to health care education that link our learners to community health care employers," Jamieson added.
