IPHCC and CNO recognize their partnership in strengthening nursing education to help support safer care for Indigenous Peoples

TORONTO, Oct. 5, 2026 /CNW/ -- Representatives from the Indigenous Primary Health Care Council (IPHCC) and the College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO) came together on Sept. 28, 2026, to celebrate their continued collaboration in advancing cultural humility in nursing education and cultural safety for First Nations, Inuit and Métis (FNIM) Peoples.

College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO) and Indigenous Primary Health Care Council (IPHCC) staff

This summer, CNO introduced a new educational requirement, known as a foundational theme, for all nursing programs across Ontario. The requirement will support nursing students' learning about cultural humility and cultural safety for Indigenous Peoples. It also establishes expectations for nursing education related to the histories, rights and health needs of FNIM Peoples, including the ongoing impacts of colonization and anti-Indigenous racism.

The theme advances CNO's response to TRC Call to Action 24 and embeds this learning within the educational expectations for entry-level nursing programs.

"Call to Action 24 asks us to look at how health professionals are educated and what they need to understand before they enter practice," said Nicole Blackman, Chief Operating Officer, IPHCC. "This work is about more than introducing new content. It is about ensuring nurses understand the histories and ongoing realities that continue to shape Indigenous Peoples' experiences of health care, recognize the impact of anti-Indigenous racism, and understand their own responsibility in creating safer care. Ensuring Indigenous knowledge and perspectives meaningfully shape nursing education is an important part of that change."

"We partnered with IPHCC on this work to ensure Indigenous expertise, knowledge and perspectives informed its development," said Sandra Porteous, CNO's Director, Equity Leadership. "As the nursing regulator with patient safety at our core, CNO has a role to play in the health system and the health outcomes of Ontarians. We believe our ongoing work addressing the Truth and Reconciliation Call to Action 24 will help support safer, more culturally responsive care."

This work reflects CNO's broader responsibility as Ontario's nursing regulator to examine how nursing regulation can contribute to systemic change and safer care for Indigenous Peoples.

"Our partnership with IPHCC is shaping our understanding of how CNO can meaningfully contribute to better health care experiences for Indigenous Peoples. By listening to and learning from IPHCC, we are identifying steps CNO can take to strengthen cultural humility in nursing education. We are grateful for IPHCC's knowledge and expertise and look forward to continuing this important work together," said Silvie Crawford, RN, CNO's Registrar & CEO. 

IPHCC is an Indigenous governed, culture-based and Indigenous-informed organization that supports the advancement and evolution of Indigenous primary health care service provision and planning throughout Ontario. IPHCC brings Indigenous knowledge, experience, and guidance to its work with health system partners, including efforts to address anti-Indigenous racism and strengthen cultural safety.

"What we value about this relationship is that the work has continued to evolve," said Caroline Lidstone-Jones, Chief Executive Officer, IPHCC. "Over the past two years, we have moved beyond individual initiatives and built a relationship where difficult conversations, shared learning and meaningful change can happen. Call to Action 24 is an important milestone, but it is not the end of the work. This partnership gives us an opportunity to continue examining how nursing education, regulation and practice can contribute to culturally safer care for Indigenous Peoples."

"We are very grateful for this partnership with IPHCC. Their guidance and expertise have been at the forefront of this work. We couldn't have done it without them, and we know we have a lot more work to do," Porteous said.

About IPHCC

IPHCC is an Indigenous-governed, culture-based and Indigenous-informed organization working to advance the health and well-being of Indigenous Peoples in Ontario. Guided by the knowledge, priorities and experiences of Indigenous communities and its members, IPHCC works to strengthen Indigenous-led health systems, address anti-Indigenous racism and systemic barriers, and influence meaningful change across Ontario's health care system.

For more information: [email protected]

About CNO

CNO protects the public by promoting safe nursing practice. CNO is committed to fostering a safe and trustworthy health care environment for all. To learn more, visit cno.org.

SOURCE College of Nurses of Ontario

For more information: [email protected]