The River of Life is an animated film that shows how First Nations community health nurses paddle alongside individuals, families and communities from birth to Elderhood, promoting wholistic wellness and blending First Nations knowledge with public health practice.
April 10 marks Indigenous Nurses Day. Every day at FNHA, but especially on this day, we raise our hands to Indigenous nurses and all Community Health Nurses (CHNs) who walk alongside First Nations communities every day.
Long before Western health systems described concepts such as public health, prevention or upstream care, Indigenous (First Nations, Inuit and Métis) Peoples were already practicing wholistic, relational and land‑based approaches to wellness.
That legacy continues through the work of CHNs, who play a central role in supporting First Nations individuals, families and communities. CHNs are the beating heart of community health, walking alongside community members from birth to Elderhood, supporting wellness at every stage of life.
Nursing done differently
Unlike a clinic or a hospital that may treat illnesses as they arise, CHNs focus on wholistic wellness, everything from prevention and relationship‑building to long‑term wellbeing. For nurses who are new to community health, or who may be transitioning from clinical or hospital-based practice, this community‑centred work is sometimes misunderstood or underexplained.
To help better understand the important work of CHNs, FNHA has released an animated video to show what community health nursing looks like in a First Nations context. Using a river as its central metaphor, The River of Life, follows a journey from birth through Elderhood, with CHNs paddling alongside individuals, families and communities at every bend. Their role is to help keep people in the calm waters of wellness and prevent them from being swept into crisis downstream.
“My nursing experience has taught me that care is not a moment, but a journey — much like a river that flows through generations," shares Gary Housty, Vice President of Quality and Chief Nursing and Allied Health Officer at FNHA. “Indigenous Community Health Nurses walk with individuals, families, and communities along that journey, offering care grounded in relationship, culture, and respect."
The story highlights how CHNs bring together traditional teachings with public health principles to support health and safety in ways that align with First Nations values.
Sharing The River of Life on Indigenous Nurses Day is a way of honouring the strength and resilience of community health nursing from a Two-Eyed Seeing approach. It acknowledges that Indigenous nurses have always carried this work and affirms that today's public health programs are meant to walk alongside them.
“On Indigenous Nurses Day, I extend my heartfelt thanks to Indigenous nurses for their strength, wisdom, and unwavering commitment to community wellness," says Gary.
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