Hey everyone,
I am a First Nations/Native American student from Canada who is interested in applying to a number of American medical schools. I am a status, registered Indian from Canupawakpa Dakota Sioux First Nation, which is close to the American border. I am currently completing a Bachelor of Science at the University of Alberta.
Being First Nations is an integral part of my identity. I worked on a Cree Indian reserve in high school and all of my summer jobs have been with non-profit Aboriginal organizations. This has included two summers at the Metis Nation of Alberta and a summer with the Council for the Advancement of Native Development Officers. The latter deals primarily with economic development in First Nations communities and included regular work on a number of different Cree Indian reserves.
There is also the more personal aspect, which honestly isn't too different from some of my First Nations friends. Alcoholism in my immediate family, teenage mothers, been through two divorces, siblings have been in the child welfare system, none of my six siblings have a high school diploma, violence, a brother in jail, a parent and sibling on welfare, have lived on my own since the age of sixteen, and so on. I could go on for a while. I will honestly say that I haven't been able to maintain strong family or even cultural ties given my experiences. But then again, many First Nations youth aren't able to either.
Anyways, my experiences have definitely given me perspective on Native people which is helped by my educational background in Native Studies. I know that in my career, I want to be able to help First Nations peoples because that is what I have always felt that I would do. At this point, however, I am not entirely sure how this will happen, as I am only twenty-one.
Overall, do American schools consider Canadian First Nations in the same manner as American Indians?
Given that I did not grow up in the US, have my experiences been very different than those of American Indians?
Any other advice or input would be appreciated. Please be honest.
- Nathan
I am a First Nations/Native American student from Canada who is interested in applying to a number of American medical schools. I am a status, registered Indian from Canupawakpa Dakota Sioux First Nation, which is close to the American border. I am currently completing a Bachelor of Science at the University of Alberta.
Being First Nations is an integral part of my identity. I worked on a Cree Indian reserve in high school and all of my summer jobs have been with non-profit Aboriginal organizations. This has included two summers at the Metis Nation of Alberta and a summer with the Council for the Advancement of Native Development Officers. The latter deals primarily with economic development in First Nations communities and included regular work on a number of different Cree Indian reserves.
There is also the more personal aspect, which honestly isn't too different from some of my First Nations friends. Alcoholism in my immediate family, teenage mothers, been through two divorces, siblings have been in the child welfare system, none of my six siblings have a high school diploma, violence, a brother in jail, a parent and sibling on welfare, have lived on my own since the age of sixteen, and so on. I could go on for a while. I will honestly say that I haven't been able to maintain strong family or even cultural ties given my experiences. But then again, many First Nations youth aren't able to either.
Anyways, my experiences have definitely given me perspective on Native people which is helped by my educational background in Native Studies. I know that in my career, I want to be able to help First Nations peoples because that is what I have always felt that I would do. At this point, however, I am not entirely sure how this will happen, as I am only twenty-one.
Overall, do American schools consider Canadian First Nations in the same manner as American Indians?
Given that I did not grow up in the US, have my experiences been very different than those of American Indians?
Any other advice or input would be appreciated. Please be honest.
- Nathan
