Aboriginal Nurses Association of Canada (ANAC)

The official formation of the Canadian Association of Aboriginal nurses (C.I.N.A) was in 1975. However, its origins precede this historic date in a year. In 1974, the land was made for the actual formation of the association of several nurses who share a common vision based on their unique perspective that Aboriginal caregiver for indigenous peoples. The initial face two supporters of the organization task, nurses and Jocelyn Bruyere Jean Goodwill, were to identify and communicate with other nurses of Aboriginal ancestry. This in itself proved to be a major undertaking because at the time there was no existing record to help locate nurses based on their ancestry. Jean Goodwill, Founder, Aboriginal Nurses of Canada Goodwill Association. Almost a year later, 41 of these nurses met in Montreal to discuss their common role in the fight against many health issues affecting Native Americans. Their similarities in education and training, cultural background and concern for the health of their populations has resulted in a vision and a common goal. The formation of what was then called the Nurses of Canadian Indian ancestry. The founders of the association met first to share their skills, education and culture heritages eventually improve what they have seen first-hand that nurses - the general conditions of health appalling encountered by their own people. They soon discovered that if their association was to survive and develop and achieve success goals that brought them the first time together, they should also be familiar with the culture of politics and bureaucracy, they must learn the subtleties of funding criteria and to develop new skills in the arts of persuasion and diplomacy. The founders were also faced with many full administrative and legal obstacles to the integration of the new organization. However, these and the many other obstacles would be overcome and the evolution and development of the association continues today as the Aboriginal Nurses Association of Canada.