London Staff Member Receives Prestigious National Award for Pediatric Indigenous Healthcare

Children’s Miracle Network recently awarded Nicole Yawney, Indigenous Youth Wellness Consultant for Children’s Hospital at London Health Sciences Centre, the Canadian Impact Award.

Nicole works with Indigenous children, youth, and families as an Indigenous person, helping to open doors for them at Children’s Hospital in London to feel accepted, understood, and welcomed to incorporate traditional Indigenous healing practices into their care.

This connection can be a simple conversation or a nature-based fidget toy, the offering of an Indigenous book or game, an invitation to create ribbon skirts and dreamcatchers and most importantly, access to ceremony and the four sacred medicines such as sage, cedar, tobacco and sweetgrass.

As Nicole works with patients and their families, she creates an environment of belonging, safety, and comfort to help ensure Indigenous culture is not only acknowledged but tightly woven into their care – to support their moments of joy, pain, struggle, and happiness.

In addition, the weaving of cultural practices into care often happens in the hospital’s Healing Space, made possible thanks to an integral partnership with Atlohsa Healing Services.

Each year, Children’s Miracle Network grants the Canadian Impact Award to one doctor, nurse, caregiver, or team across Canada during Children’s Hospitals Week to recognize their significant impact on the care provided to children in their hospital.

Canada’s Children’s Hospital Foundations congratulates Nicole for her incredible and meaningful work. Her thoughtful efforts also reflect her passion to build relationships with Indigenous communities and organizations in the hospital’s region, resulting in meaningful connections to help Indigenous children and their families feel supported in their care.