Labrador’s 1st Innu nurse receives honorary doctor of laws

Memorial University’s Labrador Campus hosted a historic convocation and recognized the decades of contribution made by Labrador’s first Innu nurse.

On Friday the first cohort of nursing and Arctic and Subarctic Futures master program graduates graced the stage to accept their degrees. Mary Pia Benuen was also awarded an honorary doctor of laws.

Benuen told the audience the day is significant, since it marked 36 years exactly since she became a nurse, which also coincided with her late mother’s birthday.

“What else can a girl want in her lifetime?” she said behind a podium, prompting laughter.

Speaking with CBC Radio’s Labrador Morning after the ceremony, Benuen said she was happy to see her years of work be recognized.

At the start of her career decades ago, Benuen said it wasn’t easy in Sheshatshiu, but in time she became a leader in the nursing department as well in the community.

Benuen said the graduation of the first nursing cohort is something she’s happy to see, adding she had been invited to talk to the students in their classroom when they were starting their education.

“I came and talked to them and told them that it’s going to be hard, but if you keep up to it, you’ll get there. And I’m so happy to see them here,” said Benuen.

She said all their hard work has paid off.

To improve the health-care system in Labrador, she said there needs to be more Innu people working in it and advocating for it.

“It’s only the Innu that know what is happening in their community,” said Benuen.

For Arctic and Subarctic Futures master program graduates Chelsea Flowers and Victoria Gatehouse, being able to continue their education in Labrador was meaningful.

“Being able to learn here at home in Labrador, it’s been quite the journey. A lot of hard work by a lot of people that would be too many to name right now,” said Gatehouse, who called Friday’s convocation “historic.”

Flowers said it was deeply meaningful to be able to stay home and learn, while also staying connected to the land.

“It was really, really transformative and heartfelt,” said Flowers.

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