This past May, three Indigenous nurses made history at the UBC School of Nursing — Crystal Point, Loa Page, and Shannon Fitton became the first graduates of the Indigenous Graduate Education in Nursing (IGEN) pathway within the Master of Science in Nursing program. Brandon Commodore also graduated in this cohort with a view to continuing his education in the fall.
June 19, 2026
The celebration was a landmark moment: the realization of a long-held vision for Indigenous-led graduate nursing education in British Columbia. In a particularly meaningful gesture, Crystal Point presented the graduating class gift to the university on behalf of the cohort.
Bringing together students, faculty, families, and staff, the celebration served as a powerful reminder of the relationships and collective commitment that made this program possible.
The IGEN pathway is an Indigenous-led, province-wide collaboration that brings together Indigenous communities and knowledge holders, academic institutions, nurses, and allies from across BC to co-develop, implement, and evaluate an Indigenous-centred graduate nursing education pathway. It supports Indigenous nursing learners in strengthening their leadership, research, clinical, and advocacy capacities while remaining connected to their identities and voice — fostering a culturally safe environment that recognizes the vital role Indigenous nurses play in transforming health systems for future generations.
As the first graduates of the pathway, Crystal, Loa, and Shannon join a growing network of master-prepared Indigenous nurses who are redefining nursing education, research, and practice. The celebration also recognized Brandon Commodore as he begins his next chapter in the Nurse Practitioner program at the School.
When asked about their experiences in IGEN, Crystal, Loa, Shannon, and Brandon shared the following:
For more about IGEN and a student presentation in Halifax in 2025, see pages 10-11 in Touchpoints: 2025-spring-summer-touchpoints-sm.pdf (1.81 MB)
