By: Nicole Blinn, Health and Human Performance, Dalhousie University

The Johnson Scholarship Foundation recently provided me with a bursary that allowed me to present my research at the World Indigenous Cancer Conference (WICC) in Calgary, Alberta, from September 16th to September 19th, 2019. With the financial assistance provided by the JSF Conference Bursary, I was able to present my project proposal, “The experiences of indigenous and children and youth: A scoping review”.  I received feedback and questions from other researchers, policy makers, practitioners, and community members, which helps inform my work as I move forward. Moreover, I got to hear about other people’s indigenous cancer research, which was an incredible opportunity for learning and networking. It allowed me to critically reflect on my work to improve it, as well provide feedback and questions to others. Attending this conference has helped me navigate the scope of indigenous cancer research occurring internationally, and will strengthen my own work as I progress. Notably, my co-presenter Leah Carrier and I were the only presenters focusing on indigenous children and youth, which highlights the importance of doing work for and with this population.  

As an undergraduate student, it was really significant for me to have the chance to present at an international conference so early in my research career. I even got to see one of my greatest heroes and role models, Dr. Nadine Caron— the first indigenous woman to become a  surgeon in Canada— speak about genomics and indigenous peoples, which was absolutely incredible and further inspires me to pursue my dream to become a physician-scientist. I am grateful for the support of the Global Health Office and from the Johnson Scholarship Foundation. 

By: Kyiaisha Benton, BSc in Recreation, BSW, Dalhousie University Alumni

                  My name is Kyiaisha Benton and I was selected to represent Nova Scotia and attend the African Youth Governance Conference in Accra, Ghana. The 2019 theme of the AYGC conference is – Partnerships for Youth Development: Key to Building Africa beyond Aid.  This year, Ghana is commemorating the 400-year anniversary of the first enslaved Africans to North America. Connecting to the continent of Africa is an emotional, symbolic, transformation and life changing experience resulting in new pride of heritage, culture and sense of oneself for every person of African diaspora visiting for the first time.  

Picture with the Chief of Cape Coast Osabrima Kwesi Atta II

                  From the moment we landed in Accra we were immediately greeted by the organizers of the conference, which was great. The first thing I noticed was how there was a large population of individuals of African descent which was something I was not very used to back in Nova Scotia. I felt comfortable being around individuals who looked like me given it was my first time ever in Accra and I was not very familiar with the unique cultural practices that were used. Furthermore, the Ghanaians were very open to welcoming us into their culture and way of living. They showed us this by explaining their history, introducing us to their wonderful food and were excited to learn more about the African culture back home in Nova Scotia. 

Elimina Castle

                  I chose to enroll in the committee of health during the conference, because it related to my goals within my future social work practice. Each committee was comprised of individuals of African descent who had different cultural backgrounds, cultural beliefs and educational backgrounds; which made the group dynamic interesting. Our role as delegates was to brainstorm problems and solutions related to the synopsis that was presented to us at the beginning of the conference. We were also asked to conduct extensive research on or individual topics and needed to be ready to debate with our fellow delegates during a General Assembly where the delegates would vote for each motion within the ten committees that would be held on the last day of the conference. After all of our hard work it was amazing to find out that our motion was passed into a resolution.   

Makola Market

I am so glad I got the opportunity to travel to Ghana. I feel that ten days was not enough to see all of the cities and historical sites in Ghana. Although I struggled at the beginning of the conference, I have learned so much about myself personally, which I will be able to take with me as I start practicing as a social worker in the fall. I loved the atmosphere and how welcoming the Ghanaians were to us as we were experiencing their culture and way of living for the first time. In the future I hope to not only travel back to Ghana, but explore other countries within Africa in the future. I urge you all to try and take a trip to Ghana, because it is an experience you will never forget! 

These experiences are made possible through the Johnson Scholarship Foundation and Dalhousie University’s PLANS (Promoting Leadership in health for African Nova Scotians) Program.

Conference Diversity Bursary for Indigenous and African Nova Scotians

Looking to attend a conference or other professional development opportunity?

As a part of the Johnson Scholarship Foundation (2016-2021) funding the Dalhousie’s Indigenous and African Nova Scotia Conference bursary program is designed as an initiative for Indigenous students (First Nation, Inuit, and Métis) and African Nova Scotians at Dalhousie University. The goal of the program is to enable students to attend extracurricular programming such as conferences as part of their professional development (does not include courses)

For more information please visit our website.

By: Leah Carrier, BScN, RN, PhD Student – Dalhousie School of Nursing

In September 2019, I had the opportunity to attend and present at the World Indigenous Cancer Conference, which was held in Calgary, Alberta. This conference provides an opportunity for health researchers, elders, knowledge holders, and community members to gather to discuss cancer research and the implementation of Indigenous cancer strategies globally. Previously this conference was held in Australia and the next one will be in Aotearoa (New Zealand), so I am very grateful to have been able to go while it was held in a more accessible location! With the generous support of the Global Health Office and the Johnson Scholarship Foundation, I was able to attend the meeting to present a research proposal and enhance my knowledge development as an Indigenous doctoral student and registered nurse.   

Globally, Indigenous peoples face a higher cancer burden that non-Indigenous peoples, which is evident even among children and youth. In workshops, we learned that Indigenous children face massive survival inequities when compared with their peers. One of the key learning points from the conference was that as health practitioners and researchers, we cannot try to make Western paradigms fit Indigenous communities and expect the same outcomes. By employing Indigenous research methods and strategies, we can find what works for Indigenous communities in terms of cancer care and implement strategies to improve outcomes. This reminded me of a talk I heard by Dr. Nadine Caron earlier this year, where she urged child health clinicians to stop trying to get Indigenous children to meet Western benchmarks for health and rather, to exceed these benchmarks by facilitating communities to define their own health pathways. There are innate strengths in our cultures and communities and health professionals and researchers can build on these strengths when designing strategies for Indigenous cancer patients and their families.  

One of my favourite parts of the conference was presenting a poster with my friend and colleague Nicole Blinn, a fourth-year undergraduate Health Promotion student. We were accepted to present a poster entitled “The Experiences of Indigenous Children and Youth in the Cancer Care System: A Scoping Review Proposal”. By co-presenting at this conference, we receive feedback on our proposal from experts in the field of cancer research. The feedback we received from knowledge holders, elders, and community members will inform the design of our review project and future directions for our research in this area. 

Thank you to the Johnson Scholarship Foundation and the Global Health Office for giving me the opportunity to attend this event – I am looking forward to implementing the knowledge I gleaned from this event in my research and clinical practice!  

For more information on these bursary opportunities for Indigenous students please visit the Global Health Office website.

By: Kem Ogoti, Dalhousie University College of Pharmacy student 

This winter semester started off with the opportunity for me to attend the Professional Development Week (PDW) Conference in Montreal. I loved the experience I gained from PDW 2020. I heard different topics from speakers and I participated in Canada’s Next Top Pharmacist representing Dalhousie University. 

Dr. Stanley Vollant was one of the keynote speakers and my favorite from the whole conference who spoke about his first-hand experience as the first Innu person in Quebec to become a surgeon in 1994.  He shared his teachings on traditional medicines and his work with community. I learned that it does not matter where you are from or even the difficulties you may face through your journey.  The key is to have a goal and work hard towards it.  The end result is all that matters. I also learned from another speaker about antibiotic stewardship and what role a pharmacist can play to make a contribution to the management of antibiotics around me and have an impact in the big scheme of things.   

I was also privileged to compete in Canada’s Next Top Pharmacist and won 3rd place for Dalhousie University.  I recited a poem that is dear to my heart entitled “Strong Black Woman.”  It was important for me to share my truth with the conference and have everyone appreciate it.   

Answering the judges question with the rest of the candidates on stage

Reciting my poem “Strong Black Woman” during the talent portion of Canada’s Next top pharmacist

PDW is a great conference to attend as you get to meet future colleagues and possible employers from all over Canada. It was also great to have the career fair and begin to start thinking about where I would like to work in the future. Montreal was also a great location to have it as we got to explore the city and immerse with the French culture.  

Competing in Canada’s Next top pharmacist representing Dalhousie University showcasing my traditional Kenyan outfit with my white coat on during the white coat strut walk.

I would like to thank the Johnson Scholarship Foundation and the Global Health Office for making this experience possible for me and express my extreme gratitude for the opportunity. For more information on these opportunities please visit the Global Health Office Diversity website. 

By: Zoe Rolle, DipDH, BSc (Biology), Dalhousie Dental Student

Hi! My name is Zoe Rolle, an incoming first year dentistry student at Dalhousie University. I’ve known at a young age that I wanted to pursue a career in Dentistry; which arose from having an amazing family dentist. However, sometimes I found it difficult self-navigating through tough academic courses and non-academic requirements that I needed for the Doctor of Dental Surgery program.

Zoe Rolle

I completed my undergraduate degree in Biology at Acadia University in 2017 and then went on to complete a Diploma in Dental Hygiene at Dalhousie University in 2019.

During my time at Dalhousie, a close friend encouraged me to become involved with PLANS (Promoting Leadership in Health for African Nova Scotians). After researching more about this program, I knew immediately that not only would it help guide me in the right direction, but also allow me to share my resources and connect with other students who may benefit from my experiences in university. PLANS also helped me network with a lot of African Nova Scotian students who are currently enrolled in health programs and/or working health professionals.

The D.D.S program at Dalhousie is a four-year degree focused on the study of oral disease, prevention and treatment; they accept up to 40 applicants a year! When I found out how small the class sizes were, I was initially intimidated, worried that I would not meet the requirements to be considered a top 40 applicant. However, I didn’t let it deter me from pursuing my dream. I completed my academic requirements and then went on to sit an entrance exam required for all dental schools in Canada called the Dental Aptitude Test (DAT).

Writing these exams can be very expensive, luckily through PLANS I found out about a bursary program that awarded minority students the opportunity to write the MCAT, DAT and CASPer entrance exams which are required for most health/dental programs.

The Johnson Scholarship foundation covered the cost of my dental admissions exam, which was an amazing financial relief. It also provided me the opportunity to complete the requirements needed to apply to dental school.

After submitting my application, I received great news that I had been selected for an interview! Which is the second step of the application process. A few weeks after my interview I found out that I was granted acceptance into the 2020 entering class for Dalhousie’s School of Dentistry. It was definitely a full circle moment; I felt a moment of relief. All the hard work and effort put into completing the requirements were fruitful. I thought to myself, “it was all worth it!”

I now look forward to starting dental school in August 2020 and continuing my volunteer work with PLANS.

Bursary for Entrance Requirements Support for Indigenous and African Nova Scotians

As a part of the Johnson Scholarship Foundation (2016‐2021) funding, Dalhousie designed a bursary to support Indigenous students (First Nation, Inuit, and Métis) and African Nova Scotians applying to health programs requiring entrance exams (i.e., medicine and dentistry). The goal of the program is to reduce or eliminate the financial burden associated with application requirements. Bursaries will be awarded as a reimbursement of cost. Applicants may apply more than once for this program, funding will be subject to availability and application review. The total amount for the program will be determined by the annual budget.

To learn more about these opportunities please visit our website.

By: Yolanda Watungwa, Dalhousie Health Promotion Student

Promoting Leadership in health for African Nova Scotians (PLANS) works to support African Nova Scotian students pursue professions in the field of health. Amid the COVID-19 global pandemic, our efforts to offer support continue with innovation and compassion.  

COVID-19 has presented PLANS with both challenges and opportunities in the way in which we support students. In previous years, the summer months have been a time where we offer camps for youth interested in learning more about health professions at various post-secondary institutions across Nova Scotia. Like many organizations, PLANS has adjusted our work in order to respect public health and safety measures. As such, our summer camps will not be taking place in the way that they have in the past.  

We are exploring alternative strategies as we navigate these challenges and we are researching virtual opportunities for students and the community.  Youth engagement continues to be a priority for PLANS, and we are working hard to optimize the accessibility of our programs.  

We would also like to offer support to other members of the community. We are exploring strategies to effectively engage parents, caregivers, and family members who want to learn about health professions at Dalhousie University. 

We will be updating information about our summer offerings in the coming weeks through our website and social media (links are below). Until then, please reach out to our program manager with questions and ideas about engaging with PLANS.  Sarah Upshaw can be reached at sarah.upshaw@dal.ca. 

 Although the past few months may not have been the spring we had anticipated, we plan to continue to navigate the challenges we face with creativity and compassion.  With diligence we continue to explore and embrace innovation and new opportunities.  

Our Website

Social Media 

Facebook: PLANS.DAL
Instagram: plans_ns
Twitter: PLANS_DAL 

By: Afomia Gebre, Dalhousie University College of Pharmacy student

This summer, I had the opportunity to attend the African Youth and Convergence conference held in Accra, Ghana. This conference creates a platform where like-minded delegates from the continent and the diaspora connect to brainstorm ways to progress Africa to a Continent Beyond Aid. At the core of this conference, and the organization that hosts it, is the idea that youth are the future and therefore we should be invited to conversations about the development of the continent (and the world). This conference was made up of different committees. Delegates were placed in a committee of their choosing and each committee was presented with real issues hindering Africa’s development and were tasked with creating solutions to these problems. After collaborating with your committee members, you create a motion and present it to the other committees then following a debate, it was voted whether the motion was passed into a resolution or not.

Photo credit: AYGC website

Putting into words how enriching and fulfilling this experience was for me is difficult. Being named chair and being tasked with leading a group, doing intensive research, writing a motion and participating in debates allowed me to further develop my existing skills such as leadership and develop new ones such as writing a motion. This conference also gave me the opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals with a passion for Africa’s development, gain an international perspective on health and participate in conversations about global issues which allowed me to walk away with much more than just memories. Additionally, it gave me an understanding of what health issues were prominent in Africa and an understanding that at the core of these health disparities was the lack of accessibility to health services as well as a lack of education. It also exposed me to what other factors are hindering Africa’s develops and what possible solutions would help resolve those issues.

Photo credit: AYGC website

Outside of the days spent in the conference, we were given the opportunity to explore Accra. We were constantly immersed in Ghanaian culture from the jollof rice and fried plantain to the colourful markets filled with street vendors and locals. The experience was nostalgic for me; I haven’t been home to Ethiopia in nine years and being in Accra reminded me a lot of being in Addis Ababa; I felt as if I was home. Although the ten days I spent in Ghana were short lived, I returned to Nova Scotia with a head full of ideas and a new place to call home.

Afomia Gebre in Accra

This experience was made possible with supports from the Promoting Leadership in health for African Nova Scotians (PLANS) program at Dalhousie.