Today, during National Nurses Week, Grandmother’s Voice honours Dr. Madeleine Kētēskwew Dion Stout.
Dr. Dion Stout was a Cree Nurse, scholar, educator, advocate, policy leader, and speaker from Kehewin First Nation. The Governor General of Canada notes that she played a major role in the development of Aboriginal health care and education, became one of the first Aboriginal university-educated Nurses, and helped support initiatives connected to the devolution of health powers to Indigenous communities in the late 1980s.
Her story begins, in part, with a child, a mother, and the absence of nearby medical care.
When Madeleine Kētēskwew Dion Stout was seven years old, her appendix nearly burst. She was living in Kehewin Cree Nation in 1953. There were no doctors or nurses nearby, no clinic, no hospital, and not even a telephone to call for help. But there was her mother, Sarah Youngchief Dion, who was a careful observer of wellness in her family and community, and who drew from experience, nature, and Elders. She recognized the danger and helped get her daughter to care.
That story holds so much.
It holds the reality of unequal access, the truth that Indigenous families have too often had to travel too far, wait too long, and fight too hard for care that should have been available close to home.
It also holds the reality of Indigenous care that was already present. A mother watching carefully. A mother knowing when something was wrong. A mother drawing on land-based knowledge, family memory, lived experience, and urgency. A mother acting.
This is one of the places where Indigenous nursing begins, not only in classrooms or hospitals, but in the careful attention of those who love us.
Dr. Dion Stout carried that lesson into her life’s work.
She became a registered nurse, then continued into education, policy, research, and leadership. She became a national voice on Indigenous health, cultural safety, equity, reconciliation, and healing. UBC describes her as a Nurse who served on major national and Indigenous health boards, including the National Forum on Health, the Mental Health Commission of Canada, the Aboriginal Nurses Association of Canada, and the First Nations Health Authority, while also using her Cree language in her research, writing, and lectures.
That detail matters.
For Dr. Dion Stout, Cree was not something separate from her professional life. It was part of the lens through which she understood health, wellness, responsibility, and justice. Indigenous language carries worldview. It carries relationships. It carries ways of understanding the body, the spirit, the land, and the obligations people hold to one another.
To bring Cree into health research and teaching is to challenge the idea that Western knowledge is the only valid knowledge in health care.
Dr. Dion Stout helped move the conversation beyond access alone. Access matters, of course. Indigenous people need hospitals, clinics, doctors, Nurses, specialists, mental health support, birth care, emergency care, and safe services close to home. But Indigenous health is not solved by access to systems that remain unsafe, racist, dismissive, or disconnected from culture.
That is why cultural safety matters.
Dr. Dion Stout co-authored work on nursing, Indigenous Peoples, and cultural safety, asking not only what cultural safety means, but what nursing must do with that knowledge. Her work helped press health care beyond symbolic gestures and toward deeper accountability.
Her legacy reminds us that Indigenous Nurses do not only provide bedside care, though that work is sacred and essential. Indigenous Nurses also change curriculum. They shape policy. They mentor students. They sit on boards. They challenge governments. They write. They teach. They remember. They carry family stories into institutional rooms where decisions are made.
Dr. Dion Stout also reminds us that healing cannot be separated from justice. A health system that ignores racism cannot heal Indigenous people. A health system that excludes Indigenous knowledge cannot fully care for Indigenous people. A health system that treats ceremony, language, kinship, grief, and community as outside of care has not yet understood care.
Today, Grandmother’s Voice honours Dr. Madeleine Kētēskwew Dion Stout for the care she gave, the systems she challenged, the knowledge she carried, and the generations she continues to influence.
We honour the child whose mother knew.
We honour the Nurse who became a leader.
We honour the Cree woman who helped teach this country that Indigenous health must be rooted in rights, culture, self-determination, and justice.
Presented by Samantha Doxtater
Presented by GRANDMA RENEE
In a world seeking direction, Indigenous teachings offer clear and enduring policies for how to live in harmony with one another and the Earth. This workshop invites participants to explore the profound lessons of the Two Row Wampum Belt and other wampum belts as frameworks for mutual respect, environmental care, and collective well-being. These belts, created long before colonization, embody ancestral agreements that guide humanity on how to coexist with honor, dignity, and reciprocity.
Led by Grandmother Renee, this session emphasizes the importance of relearning and honoring the policies established by our ancestors, rather than creating new paths disconnected from this wisdom. Through the teachings of the belts, participants will uncover the principles of self-care, stewardship of the land, and respect for all beings. This is not about inventing something new—it is about rediscovering the instructions that were always there and committing to uphold them.
Key Takeaways:
Through this workshop, participants will be reminded that the wisdom of the belts is not only a guide for Indigenous communities but a path for all of humanity to walk together in respect and care for one another and the Earth.
Presented by Grandma Gail and Angela DeMontigny
Ceremony is more than tradition—it is a deliberate practice rooted in wisdom, responsibility, and foresight. This workshop explores the “science of ceremony” as a guide to living with intention and accountability for the next seven generations. Our ancestors used ceremony to prepare for the future, ensuring that their actions would benefit not only their own time but also those yet to come. Now, it is our responsibility to carry that practice forward.
Led by Grandmother Gail, this session will examine what has been lost and the actions we must take to restore, respect, and reclaim the ceremonial practices that ensure the well-being of future generations. Participants will be encouraged to reconnect with ceremony as a means of healing, reflection, and renewal, building a foundation of responsibility to guide us in restoring balance and harmony.
Key Takeaways:
Through this workshop, participants will rediscover the transformative power of ceremony as a pathway to healing, accountability, and preparation for a sustainable and harmonious future. Together, we will reaffirm our responsibility to the generations to come.
Presented by Asha Frost
Join Asha Frost, an Indigenous healer, teacher, and bestselling author, for a transformative workshop rooted in traditional teachings and the power of self-discovery. Asha’s work often centers on reconnecting with ancestral wisdom, embracing one’s authentic self, and creating pathways for healing and empowerment. Drawing from her Anishinaabe roots, she weaves stories, teachings, and practical tools to inspire participants to reclaim their power and align with their purpose.
Through her signature blend of traditional healing practices and modern insights, Asha guides participants in understanding how to honor their own journey, navigate challenges with resilience, and embrace the interconnectedness of all beings. This workshop is an invitation to explore the sacred within and around us, fostering personal growth and collective transformation.
Key Takeaways:
Whether you are seeking personal healing, professional inspiration, or a deeper connection to traditional wisdom, this session with Asha Frost promises to be a profound and enriching experience.
Presented by Allen Sutherland
The Seven Fires prophecy, as shared by seven prophets across different time periods, offers profound guidance for humanity’s path forward. According to Anishinaabe oral tradition, these teachings speak to the choices we face when the world has been polluted, and the waters turned bitter by disrespect. The prophecy teaches that humanity must choose between materialism and spirituality—one path leading to survival and the other to destruction.
In this workshop, Mishoomis Allen will guide participants through the teachings of the Seven Fires prophecy, exploring its relevance in today’s world and its call for spiritual renewal. Additionally, he will share his Canadian Indigenous Historical Timeline, providing a broader context for understanding the cultural, social, and spiritual significance of these teachings.
Key Takeaways:
This workshop offers an opportunity to reflect deeply on humanity’s collective responsibility and the transformative power of choosing a spiritual path for the survival of future generations.
Presented by Thohahoken Michael Doxtater
In this session, Thohahoken Michael Doxtater explores the ongoing impact of Canada’s colonial policies on Indigenous communities and the historical journey toward Truth and Reconciliation. He examines the systemic attempts to erase Indigenous identity, from residential schools to the suppression of cultural practices, and highlights Indigenous resilience and legal resistance. The presentation also delves into the concept of the “Canada Rafter,” a historical agreement acknowledging Canada’s adoption into the Indigenous Longhouse, raising the question: Has Canada truly upheld its responsibilities in this relationship?
