Laurier grad Emma Labelle pursues nursing career rooted in Indigenous healing

May 23, 2025

When Emma Labelle first arrived at Wilfrid Laurier University’s Brantford campus, she wasn’t quite sure what path she wanted to take. She had chosen Laurier because a friend was attending and having a familiar face on campus would make the transition to university a little easier.

“I didn’t know what I wanted to do, didn’t know where I wanted to go,” Labelle admits. “I applied to a couple of different schools, but Laurier was my top choice because I would know someone.”

Four years later, Labelle is set to cross the stage and receive her diploma at spring convocation – confident, focused and driven by purpose.

Following graduation from Laurier with a double major in Indigenous Studies and Health Studies, Labelle will begin in the practical nursing program at Anishinabek Educational Institute this fall. Held on the Munsee-Delaware Nation near London, the program is rooted in First Nations values, including traditional medicine teachings and healing practices.

Raised in Sarnia, Labelle has roots in Henvey Inlet First Nation through her mother and her grandfather is Métis.

“I want to see more traditional medicines and traditional healers working with Indigenous peoples in the healthcare system,” says Labelle. “There’s such a disconnect there. That way of healing is so important and needs to be more available. And I believe there are a lot of non-Indigenous folks who could benefit from this knowledge, too.”

Labelle says the Two Row Wampum – one of the first treaties between Indigenous peoples in North America and Europeans – provides a model for both governments and the healthcare system. Parties to the treaty agreed that neither would interfere with the other and they would travel together as equals.

Cultural reconnection

Through her studies and the efforts of supportive faculty members, Labelle says she re-engaged with her Indigenous heritage during her time at Laurier.

“I became more connected to my culture through learning more about it,” says Labelle. “And I gained a lot of knowledge about the healthcare system and the inequities that Indigenous peoples face within it. Now, I want to gain more hands-on experience while working with people.

“Everything I want to do is for my culture and ancestors – because of what we lost. It’s a big part of why I’m studying, why I’m learning and everything I do.”

Although she only began visiting Onkwehonwe:ne, the Brantford campus Indigenous Student Centre, during her final year, Labelle says the experience was powerful. She credits Indigenous Student Centre staff for creating a welcoming space for all students.

“I wish I had stopped at the Indigenous Student Centre sooner,” she says. “But I’m very happy I got there. It’s such a great sense of community. They’re there to support and I’d recommend any Indigenous first-year student visit. For all students, it’s important to find people and places that provide a sense of community.”

Community played a big role in Labelle’s Laurier experience. She worked as a peer academic coach, supporting first-year students, including fellow Indigenous students, in navigating their first year of university. She was also an executive member of the Students’ Union’s Campus Advocacy Committee, where she worked to raise awareness about issues including missing and murdered Indigenous women. Labelle also volunteered as part of Laurier Orientation, welcoming new students to campus.

While her journey at Laurier began amid some uncertainty, Labelle says it turned out to be exactly the right choice. Looking back, she says she’s grateful for her time at Laurier and the supportive environment she found at the university. That’s why she says crossing the stage at convocation this June will be both exciting and bittersweet.

“I feel like I’ve grown a lot,” says Labelle. “I went from not knowing what I wanted to do to figuring it out through those first couple of years. It certainly was a lot of growth and I’m looking forward to what comes next.”