About Us

Skú7pecen Nurse Consulting extends a warm welcome, embodying a commitment to delivering a spectrum of Indigenous health nursing consulting services. Our overarching objective is to ensure that Indigenous communities receive healthcare services of the utmost quality, underpinned by principles of Indigenous self-determination, sovereignty, collaboration, and respect.

Nikki Rose Hunter-Porter, RN, MN, BScN

Owner/Lead Nursing Consultant

Weyt-k, Nikki Rose Hunter-Porter ren skwekwst te St’uxwstews re st7e7kwen,

Hello, my name is Nikki Rose Hunter-Porter and I am a Registered Nurse with an Advanced Practice Master of Nursing Degree. I humbly and proudly situate myself as Secwépemc from St’uxwstews, Bonaparte First Nation, located within the southern interior of BC. I currently live within Secwepemcúl'ecw, within the traditional and unceded territory of Tk'emlúps te Secwépemc, colonially known as Kamloops, BC.

My Xpé7e (grandfather) is Bill (William) Porter (St’uxwstews); and my Kyé7es (grandmothers) are Rose Seymour-Porter (Dog Creek), Cathy Ignace (Skeetchestn), and Nellie Taylor (Skeetchestn). My Kí7ce (mother) is Debbie Alendal-Porter (St’uxwstews); and my Qé7tse (father) is Gordon Hunter, a White settler of English descent. I spent a great deal of my childhood and adult life within the traditional and unceded territories of Lil’wat First Nation. I was also raised by my Qé7tse (father), Rick Wallace, within St’at’imc territory. I have two 7tsétse (sisters), Tori Hunter-Porter and Kirsten Dickey. My husband is Marcus Scherer (Canoe Creek/Thunder Bay).

My passion for Indigenous health and wellness stems from my own lived and living experiences as a Secwépemc nurse, and from the mentorship and guidance I received from the Peoples within community. I completed my Master's of Nursing degree at Thompson Rivers University, with a focus on advanced practice nursing within Indigenous health. My research thesis entitled "Exploring the Experiences of First Nations Mental Health and Wellness Services with Skú7pecen (Porcupine)" was grounded in the strengths and voices of St’uxwstews Peoples (Secwépemc) accessing mental health care, while acknowledging the barriers and challenges that exist within the mental health care systems and structures.

Through my lived and living experiences with Indigenous Nursing Practice, Indigenous research methodologies, and connection to my homelands of Secwepemcúl'ecw, I have been able to lean into my authentic self and support the parallel pathways of health and wellness, westernized and Indigenous, to ultimately support my Peoples. I am guided by Knucwentw’ecw (help one another) and Y’ucwentwecw (take care of one another) through this work.

Affiliations and Registrations

Indigenous Councillor (RN Council) - Nurses and Nurse Practitioners of BC (NNPBC)

BC Board of Director - Canadian Federations of Mental Health Nurses (CFMHN)

Research Associate - BC Indigenous Health Nursing Research Chair (IHNR)

Registered Nurse - British Columbia College of Nurses and Midwives

Publications

Simon, D., Burns, N., Hunter-Porter, N., Lanceleve, T., Préfontaine, N., Herkimer, J., ... & Bearskin, L. B. (2023). Embodied in Indigenous research: How Indigeneity, positionality, and relationality contribute to research approaches and understanding. Healthy Populations Journal, 3(1).
https://doi.org/10.15273/hpj.v3i1.11475

Seymour, C., Bourque Bearskin, M. L., Wazni, L., Melnyk, R., Hunter Porter, N. R., Padley, M. (2023). Moving beyond ignorance and epistemic violence: Indigenous health nurse's response to systems transformation. Journal of Healthcare Policy. http://doi.org/10.12927/hcpap.2023.27107

Hunter-Porter, N.R.; Burns, N.; Benoit, A.; Auger, J.; Maddox, R.; Jull, J.; Linton, J.; Nemeth, J.; Brascoupé, S.; Préfontaine, N.; Simon, D.; Lanceleve, T.; Herkimer, J.; Weber-Pillwax, C.; George, N.; Friesen, M.; Bourque Bearskin, L.; Morton Ninomiya, M.E. How Indigenous Knowledge systems and Indigenous Knowledges are centered in research: An Indigenous-informed realist review protocol. (submitted to John Hopkins Press, Progress in Community Health Partnerships: Research, Education, and Action).

Presentations/ Guest Lectures

Keynote Presentations:

Hunter-Porter, N.R., Padley, M. (2023, May 12). Honouring Distinctions-Based Nursing and Intergenerational Mentorship. Clinical Nurse Specialist Conference: Changing Health Care Systems to Embed Cultural Safety and Humility, Kelowna, BC.

Guest Lectures:

Hunter-Porter, N.R. (2023, September 28). Indigenous Mental Health and Wellness/ Indigenous Research Methodologies, Guest Lecturer, Nurse 680, University of Victoria, Victoria, B.C.

Hunter-Porter, N.R., Padley, M. (2022, November 21). Canada’s Health Care System Indigenization/Reconciliation/Decolonization. Guest Lecturer, 4300 Nurse Leadership Thompson Rivers University, Kamloops, B.C.

Seymour, C., Hunter-Porter, N.R. (2022, September). Guest Lecturer, School of Nursing Orientation, Indigenous Nursing. Thompson Rivers University, Kamloops, B.C.

Presentations:

Seymour, C., Bourque Bearskin, R.L., Sturm, L., Hunter-Porter, N.R. (2023, October 19). BCCDC Grand Rounds, Clusters Research Project, BCDCD, B.C.

Hunter-Porter, N.R. (2023, October 12). Interior Health Research Week. Exploring the Experiences of First Nations Mental Wellness with Sku7pecen (Porcupine). Interior Health Authority, Kamloops, B.C.

Hunter-Porter, N.R. (2023, September 14). Exploring the Experiences of First Nations Mental Wellness with Sku7pecen (Porcupine). Healing Our Spirits Worldwide, Vancouver, B.C.

Seymour, C., Shakley, J., Bourque Bearskin, L., Chakanyuka, C., Dick, V., Hunter-Porter, N.R., Padley, M., Wazni, L., Davison, K. (2023, September 11-15). Advancing Indigenous Nurse-Led Wellness Research. Healing Our Spirits Worldwide, Vancouver, B.C. Presentation.

Hunter-Porter, N.R. (2023, July 10). St’uxwstews Research Dissemination, Exploring the Experiences of First Nations Mental Wellness with Sku7pecen (Porcupine). St’uxwstews, Bonaparte First Nations, B.C.

Hunter-Porter, N.R. (2023, May 21). Five Days of May Research Conference, Exploring the Experiences of First Nations Mental Wellness with Sku7pecen (Porcupine). Interior Health Authority, Kamloops, B.C.

Seymour, C., Bourque Bearskin, R.L., Sturm, L., Melnyk, R., Hunter-Porter, N.R. (2023, May 11). Clusters Research Symposium, Kelowna, B.C.

Hunter-Porter, N.R., Bourque Bearskin, R.L., Padley, M. (2022, March 7).

Nursing Faculty Council: Indigenous Health Nursing Research Team Update. School of Nursing. Thompson Rivers University, Kamloops, B.C.

Hunter-Porter, N.R. (2022, May 13). Indigenous Nurses Day Panel. First Nations Health Authority, Kamloops, B.C.

Hunter-Porter, N.R. (2022, May 31). Indigenous Health Research Symposium. First Nations Health Authority, Vancouver, B.C.

Hunter-Porter, N.R. (2022, June 10). Gathering for Indigenous Health Research (GIHR): Voices of Tomorrow. British Columbia Network Environment for Indigenous Health Research (BC NEIHR), Vancouver, B.C.