We are IH: Guided by connection in Indigenous patient care

Natalie’s journey to her current role as manager of Indigenous Patient Care wasn’t a straight line—instead, it was “a whole lot of sidesteps.” Those winding paths through different teams and portfolios gave her the deep experience she draws on today. Along the way, colleagues and friends became her biggest cheerleaders and mentors, helping her see each new challenge as a stepping stone.

Health care, for Natalie, has always been more than a career. “It’s awe-inspiring to witness people at their best and sometimes in their hardest moments, and to feel connected through our shared humanity,” she says. That sense of connection is what drew her to health care in the first place, and what continues to inspire her work each day.

As part of the Indigenous Partnerships team, Natalie works alongside what she describes as “strong, fierce Indigenous women and men who uphold the ways of being taught to them by their families and ancestors.”

“It’s not every day you get to laugh and cry all in the same meeting—and feel supported to do so with grace,” she elaborates. “Being supported to show up as my full self motivates me to create the same feeling for all staff."

Her pride in her work isn’t anchored to one specific moment but instead ranges from lifelong friendships with colleagues to chance encounters in the grocery store with former clients. Every achievement, big or small, fuels her drive to take on what comes next.

For Natalie, success in her work stems from a collaboration of personal and professional experiences, both of which shape the way she navigates relationships. In addition to her work in the Indigenous Health realm, she’s also teaching in the Master of Social Work program at UBC Okanagan for the second year in a row.

After she’s finished grading papers, and caring for her patients, she’s going to take her third trip to Japan this fall for a well-earned vacation. Travel, curiosity and adventure are as much a part of her life as emails and Teams calls.

At work and home, balance comes from staying connected. To Natalie, that means connection to family, the land, colleagues and communities, and to the sense of shared purpose that drives her channels of work.

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