Posted by Margaret Angus Courtesy of NS Health

Channelle Beaumont is a Mi’kmaw Indigenous Patient Navigator (MIPN) who was initially drawn to a career in healthcare because she’d experienced her own health challenges and knew how hard it was to navigate the system.
Now, Channelle is helping other Mi’kmaq and Indigenous patients and families navigate the system, working to, “ensure they receive the culturally appropriate care that they rightfully deserve.”

From Annapolis Valley First Nation, Channelle started her healthcare career as a licensed practical nurse working in her community. That role was both rewarding and challenging. “I found it hard to set boundaries between living in community and working in community,” she said. Ultimately, she decided to devote her talent, skill and passion for Indigenous health in a different way, as an MIPN supporting Nova Scotia Health’s Western Zone, which includes Annapolis Valley, South Shore and Southwest Nova Scotia.

Channelle is one of five MIPNs at Nova Scotia Health. The MIPN role is important because Indigenous individuals and communities encounter specific obstacles in accessing healthcare, she said. These include cultural differences, the impacts of historical trauma, and systemic discrimination.

“As MIPNs, we’re committed to meeting the needs of Indigenous patients. We can help improve trust and communication between healthcare providers and patients. The biggest thing that I’d like patients to know and understand is that ...