Meet The Coach

Paddle with me
This lesson continues the discussion of cultural safety. The Koptie article tells the story of a journey by Dr. Irihapeti Ramsden, a nurse in Aotearoa (New Zealand) who, after many years as a practicing nurse, went back to school to earn her PhD. She nearly finished her degree, before her death in 2003 at the age of 57, after a 5 year battle with breast cancer. Dr. Ramsden’s dissertation became a turning point for Indigenous Peoples striving to self-identify and be properly recognized in mainstream culture, academia, healthcare and social services. This created a significant paradigm shift in the practice of nursing and spread to all practices of health.

A Paddler’s Perspective
Dr. Ramsden was instrumental in the development of culturally safe practices. She changed the practice of nursing, having cultural safety integrated into training and practice. It became an educational requirement for all New Zealand Nurses. Enjoy this article – there are many heart-warming stories. My favorite is a quote from Dr. Ramsden, “There are 3 kinds of people in the world – those that make things happen, those that watch things happen, and those that never knew what hit them. Let nurses be in the first category.” She quotes Paulo Freire’s often, and uses his work as a framework for understanding the disregard for Indigenous rights. See optional resources for more information.