Fourth year BSN students present research on Northern Nursing Research Day

Twenty-six Aurora College Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) students showcased their research posters as part of the annual Northern Nursing Research Day on Dec. 3.

The event’s theme this year highlighted the importance of northern health research and its direct impact on delivering quality healthcare to northern communities.

Each year, Aurora College is grateful to partner with leading northern health and wellness organizations, including Hotıì ts’eeda: NWT SPOR SUPPORT, the Institute of Circumpolar Health Research, the College and Association of Nurses in the Northwest Territories, and many other supportive community organizations.

This year’s poster presentation featured fourth-year BSN students presenting research topics ranging from healthcare delivery challenges affecting Black communities to clinical issues and the unique perspectives of Indigenous involvement in the healthcare system. Students were required to focus on a Northern issue pertinent to nursing.

Afternoon highlights included a keynote address by Dr. Christina Marie Chakanyuka, a member of the NWT Métis Nation and Assistant Professor at the University of Victoria. She spoke on “(Re)claiming Indigenous Ways of Knowing, Doing, and Being in Nursing through Intergenerational Mentorship.”

The day concluded with a panel discussion on the importance of culture in Indigenous nursing and research. Speakers included health researcher Taylor Hoggarth, as well as Lianne Mantla-Look, and Aurora College alumni student Jennifer Pitt who are both Registered Nurses (RN) practicing in the North.

Congratulations to Mirian Sopuruchi Iwuji, who won the People’s Choice Award for favourite poster. She won with her presentation called Closing the Gap: Understanding Cervical Cancer Screening Barriers Among Black Immigrant women in the NWT. Mirian’s project focused on the high rates of women who die every year worldwide from cervical cancer, especially Black immigrant women. She explored the many factors that may prevent women, including in the North, from getting screenings done at an earlier stage.

Aurora College is grateful for another successful year of collaboration with Hotıì ts’eeda: NWT SPOR SUPPORT Unit and the Tłı̨chǫ Government to make this event a success. We also extend our thanks to the Institute of Circumpolar Health Research, the College and Association of Nurses in the Northwest Territories and Nunavut (CANN), the Union of Northern Workers, and Sutherland Drugs.

Quote:
“Partnering again with Hotıì ts’eeda and ICHR continues to make Northern Health Research Day a special event. This year, the welcome by Elders Francoise Paulette and Rassi Nashalik and the closing by the Yellowknives Dene Drummers truly enriched the experience for all attendees, not just fourth-year students. Our panel included Northern Indigenous scholars, and our keynote speaker was a nurse with a PhD, conducting important research in the North. These features allow us to show why northern health research is so critical—not just to highlight the BSN program. By showcasing other researchers at this conference, we hope to inspire undergraduate students, as well as those in the Practical Nurse and PSW programs, and demonstrate how a focus on northern research can make a real difference.”

— Jodi Brennan, Chair, School of Health and Human Services

Quick facts:

• The Aurora College School of Health and Human Services has 106 students enrolled for the 2025-26 academic year.
• Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) students gain hands-on experience by collaborating with government and non-government organizations on community development and leadership projects.
• The BSN program’s extensive practice hours and diverse settings equip graduates with the skills needed to thrive in today’s healthcare environment.

Photos:

View our photos from the day here.

Aurora College delivers academic upgrading, trades and industrial training, certificate, diploma and degree programs to students at its three campuses: Aurora Campus (Inuvik), North Slave Campus (Yellowknife), and Thebacha Campus (Fort Smith) in the Northwest Territories. Culturally relevant post-secondary programs reflect Northern traditions, communities, and needs of the Northern labour market. Aurora College’s research division, Aurora Research Institute, conducts and supports applied research in the NWT. Research centres are located in Inuvik, Yellowknife and Fort Smith.

For media inquiries, please contact:
Jayne Murray
Manager, Communications and College Relations
Aurora College
867-872-7021
jmurray@auroracollege.ca