Nurse, Musician, Community Advocate, Mother

Inez Jasper originally came to UBC to study science on her way to a career as a doctor. “I saw the need in my community,” she said, “And I thought being a physician would have a really positive impact.” But over the course of her studies, she changed her mind and applied to the School of Nursing. “It made more sense for me and my personality, as well as the type of care I wanted to offer.” She graduated with her BSN in 2006.

The road to her degree completion was not without hurdles. “What I remember most about my time at UBC is being different,” she says. Inez grew up in Chilliwack, and is a member of the Sto:lo First Nation. It was a challenging experience, she says, to be one of the few Aboriginal faces in Nursing and at UBC given the pervasive low awareness of First Nations culture and issues across society. “It was good to be part of the conversation, to see the awareness rising as we discussed the health issues and the social issues that affect health behaviour in Aboriginal communities.” When things were toughest, she relied on the support of her parents – both UBC graduates – and her peers and friends at the First Nations Longhouse on campus.

After graduation, Inez worked for a short time at St. Paul’s Hospital, but was quickly recruited back to Chilliwack to work at the health centre on reserve land, providing community and public health care for the 11 bands in the Sto:lo First Nation. She was quickly given responsibility for home care and community health, and undertook professional development in diabetes education and nursing foot care to help address the high rates of diabetes and related complications in the community.

However, in 2009, her career took a marked turn. Always surrounded by music, Inez followed this second passion and recorded an album, and then spent 2013 and 2014 touring and promoting her work as a full-time musician. Her second album was released in 2013, and was nominated for a Juno Award for Aboriginal Album of the Year in 2014. Inez has paired her public persona with a key message for youth: stay in school, and pursue higher education, especially in health care. “I grew up with the message: Everyone has a gift. Find yours, nurture it, go to school, and work for your people. There’s a lot of work to be done.”

Now home from touring, Inez is working to balance work as a nurse, a musician, and a mother to her two children, 6 and 2. “I really missed nursing when I was touring. I love helping people, I love doing health education and seeing the results of this work with families and children.” Inez has returned to her work at the local health clinic in Chilliwack, where she lives with her family, and has been working as a locum in Bella Coola, helping the community recover from recent trauma. She continues to advocate for change, to improve the lives of Aboriginal people in her community and beyond.

Asked about her advice for today’s students, she says, “The best thing to do is do some soul searching, and be ready to grow. Connect with as many other students as possible, as well as mentors and your personal cheerleaders. Aboriginal or not, there’s always going to be some rough spots, and you’ll need those cheerleaders to dust you off and get you back on your feet.”