UArizona Nursing Celebrates Native American Heritage Month

“We want to let our academic community know about the incredible journeys and important contributions to the nursing profession these students make. Each one of them is a shining example for future Indigenous students and we couldn’t be more proud to have them as INCATS at the University of Arizona,”  ~ Timian Godfrey, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC, CPH

The program provides financial support, culturally aligned mentoring, professional skills development and preparation for RN licensure or APRN certification and career navigation support to scholars who are members of American Indian/Alaska Native tribes. INCAT scholars are enrolled in a UArizona Nursing priority nursing program (BSN/BSN-IH, MEPN, DNP Family Nurse Practitioner or Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner Specialty) and have been nominated by one of the College's community partners. Partners include Tohono O’odham Health and Human Services, San Carlos Apache Healthcare Corporation, Tuba City Regional Health Care Corporation, Ft. Defiance Indian Health Services-Tséhootsooí Medical Center, Phoenix Indian Medical Center, Pascua Yaqui Health Department, Gila River Health Care, Tohono O’odham Community College, San Carlos Apache Community College, and Navajo Technical University. At the conclusion of the program, each INCAT scholar is expected to return to a tribal community or tribal healthcare setting to honor investments of tribal collaborations and partnerships.

“These stories enrich faculty awareness on the diverse experiences, talents, resilience and career goals of our students," says Michelle Kahn-John, PhD, RN, PMHNP-BC, GNP. "Programs like INCATS are mutually enriching, bringing cultural insights and new knowledge to faculty while also benefitting students through intentional engagement of faculty in elevating students to their highest potential through meaningful and inclusive teaching and mentorship. We’re honored to be collaborators in co-creating a beautiful, strong, inclusive and diverse nursing workforce at the UArizona Nursing."

“We want to let our academic community know about the incredible journeys and important contributions to the nursing profession these students make,” says clinical assistant professor Timian Godfrey, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC, CPH. “Each one of them is a shining example for future Indigenous students and we couldn’t be more proud to have them as INCATS at the University of Arizona.”

As we begin our celebration of Native American Heritage Month, a nationwide tribute to the rich ancestry and traditions of our indigenous cultures, we zero in on three of our exceptional Native American nursing students. We’re proud and excited to share their perspectives and stories, and excited to expand our focus on diversity and inclusion.

Joshua Isaac Billy

Please share a bit about where you are from.

Growing up in the small town of Shiprock, NM, on the Navajo Nation, the desert landscape seems endless. But if you look deeper without an outsider lens, then you will find a town that’s immersed in traditions and surrounded by land formations with stories passed down for many generations. Within this small town, you’ll see little rez kids that look like me making the most out of what they have, while also trying to avoid trouble. Unfortunately, it’s easy to get caught up in the wrong crowd here, which forced my mom to move our family around to pursue better opportunities for us.

Tell us about your educational journey to the University of Arizona and why you’ve chosen nursing as a career.

I will always remember how it felt to ride a school bus on bumpy dirt roads as a kid, but this was before I truly understood the disparities that plague my community and other Indigenous communities alike. Highlighted is the lack of reliable roads, which hinders access to quality health care as families embark on journeys to receive basic health care. As an aspiring nurse, I’m obligated to fight these social injustices by becoming an advocate for my people. Drawing inspiration from my community, my mom, and my love for science, I felt that nursing was the best fit.

As a nurse, how do you plan to impact the health of Indigenous people or your community?

As one of the few admitted Indigenous nursing students to the BSN program, we need more Native American nurses as they make up less than half a percent of students in baccalaureate nursing programs in the United States. Furthermore, we need our people to serve each other by increasing Indigenous visibility and representation. This will benefit our communities drastically as it is my utmost belief that we know how to help our people best. After graduating from the University of Arizona in May 2022, I plan to fulfill my service commitment and work at an Indian Health Service (IHS) hospital to treat and work with Native American patients. In this role, I look forward to utilizing my cultural knowledge to bridge the gap between Western medicine and Indigenous ways of knowing to ensure quality care for Native American patients.

Johnice Barajas

Please share a bit about where you are from.

My name is Johnice Barajas, I grew up in Tucson, AZ. My mother is White Mountain Apache from Cibecue, AZ and my father is Tohono O'odham from the village of Vaya Chin. I was raised south of south Tucson near the Tohono O'odham Nation. I graduated from Sunnyside High school. I am the eldest of 4 siblings and a first generation college student. I grew up in a very diverse neighborhood where we were able to ride our bikes and play outside all day without concerns since we pretty much knew each other on our street. 

Tell us about your educational journey to the University of Arizona and why you’ve chosen nursing as a career.

My decision to become a nurse came at a critical time in my family. My father unfortunately had a medical issue which landed him in the hospital for a major procedure at the time. I remember the doctor coming in to talk to my family and he was very abrupt and we did not know any of the medical terminology he used. Needless to say, I was scared for my father and decided that I would become a nurse to help my family and friends with medical understanding. 

As a nurse, how do you plan to impact the health of Indigenous people or your community?

Currently as a Nurse Practitioner I have worked with various tribes to care for their patients. When I first became a nurse, my first job was working with Veterans which was rewarding however, after a while, I still felt unfulfilled in my career. I wanted to work for Indigenous communities and began my work in Sells, Az on the Tohono O'odham Nation in their emergency department. I then wanted to see what life was like working on the White Mountain Apache reservation and worked in their emergency department. I would watch physicians talk to my tribal people and felt I could also help them gain a better understanding of their healthcare options and went back to obtain my Masters Degree in Nurse Practitioner. I have also worked on the Hopi reservation as an DNP to ultimately return home to Tucson to work once again on the Tohono O'odham Nation where I feel a sense of closeness. 

Kimberly Yazzie

Please share a bit about where you are from.

I’m originally from Isleta Pueblo, New Mexico and I reside in Phoenix, Arizona. I represent the Navajo, Hopi and Isleta Pueblo tribes.

Tell us about your educational journey to the University of Arizona and why you’ve chosen nursing as a career.

I honestly do not have a story as to why I chose nursing. I always knew I wanted to be a nurse. However, the specialty did not come to me until years later. I feel as I have always been drawn to psychiatry.

As for my educational journey, I was very fortunate to make a connection at work which led me to get into contact with Dr. Kahn-John. She informed me about the Indians in Nursing: Career Advancement and Transition Scholars (INCATS) program. I feel as though this is my path that I am supposed to be on. I applied to the graduate program and received the INCATS award. I am truly honored and thankful to receive this opportunity.

As a nurse, how do you plan to impact the health of Indigenous people or your community?

Currently, I’m seeking my Doctorate of Nursing Practice in Psychiatry. American Indians and Alaskan Natives have one the highest rates of suicide as well as alcohol and substance abuse. Therefore, this specialty is desperately needed and I hope to be able to help promote mental health awareness within the Indigenous communities.