MATAWA FIRST NATIONS
HEALTH ROLE MODELS
Rayanne Waboose, RN, HBScN
Rayanne was born in Sioux Lookout, Ontario and is a member of Eabametoong First Nation. Her early years were spent living in Fort Hope at her family’s traditional territory of Miminiska . She remembers spending the spring and summer months in Miminiska and winters in Fort Hope and Pickle Lake . The family moved to Sioux Lookout when Rayanne entered primary school. She attended the local elementary and secondary schools in Sioux Lookout and graduated from Queen Elizabeth District High School .
Rayanne knew from a young age that she wanted to be a nurse “when she grew up”. At the age of 8 years she became ill and needed to be hospitalized for several weeks at Toronto ’s Sick Children’s Hospital. Her parents were not able to accompany her to Toronto and she became very homesick and lonesome for them. The nurses made sure she called home on a regular basis and gave her extra attention. It was because of this positive experience that inspired Rayanne to become a nurse. She wanted to be like the compassionate and caring nurses that took care of her.
Rayanne entered the diploma nursing program at Confederation College in Thunder Bay after graduating from High School. It was during her second year of college that she heard about the Native Nurses Entry Program that was being offered through Lakehead University in Thunder Bay . This was a one year preparatory program offered to First Nations students wishing to pursue nursing at the degree level. Upon completion of this program, Rayanne entered the 4 year nursing program and graduated from Lakehead University with a Honours Bachelor of Science in Nursing (HBScN) in 1993. Rayanne credits the love, support and encouragement she received from family and friends during her years at school for helping her to realize her dream of becoming a nurse.
Since graduation, Rayanne has worked as a General Duty Nurse at the Sioux Lookout Zone Hospital; a Diabetes Nurse Educator with the University of Toronto program in Sioux Lookout and as a Community Health Coordinator with Matawa First Nations. Currently, Rayanne is working as a Program Manager with Health Canada , First Nations and Inuit Health in Sioux Lookout, a position she has had for the past 9 years.
Rayanne has had the opportunity to visit many of the First Nation communities within the Sioux Lookout area and has met many people through her work. She enjoys her work and resides in Sioux Lookout, Ontario . She has 3 children.
Rayanne hopes more First Nations students would consider entering a career in Health. Here is her advice; “Don’t be afraid to go after your dream. Sometimes it’s not easy and things may happen in our lives that cause us to want to quit. But remember, you can do anything you set your mind to. When you believe in yourself and accept that some dreams may take longer to reach, you will find the road to success. It is such an awesome feeling when you have accomplished what you have set out to do.”
