A documentary titled “Essence of Healing: Journey of American Indian Nurses” will premiere on Saturday, April 30 from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the North Dakota Heritage Center in Bismarck, North Dakota. 

The program captures the journeys of fourteen American Indian nurses from the Northern Plains as they follow their calling into the nursing profession. The premiere will include a short program, showcase the documentary, and recognize the American Indian nurses who shared their journeys of healing. 

Groups collaborating to develop the documentary include:

-Cankdeska Cikana Community College, Fort Totten, North Dakota
-KAT Communications, Bismarck, North Dakota
-North Dakota State University School of Nursing, Fargo, North Dakota
-North Dakota State University School of Nursing at Sanford Health, Bismarck, North Dakota, and
-University of North Dakota Recruitment and Retention of American Indians into Nursing (RAIN Program), Grand Forks, North Dakota. 

View the Essence of Healing movie trailer on Facebook. The program details the lives and impact of American Indian nurses from North Dakota, with a goal to promote the recruitment of American Indians into the nursing profession, where they currently make up less than two percent of the nursing workforce. 

Premiere host: United Tribes Technical College, Bismarck, North Dakota. 

Sponsors of the premiere include: United Tribes Technical College; Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation; KAT Communications; North Dakota Heritage Center and State Museum; and Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Sky Dancer Casino and Resort. 

Funding for the project was provided by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, University Partnership Research Grant for the Health Profession Opportunity Grants Program, No. 90PH0019, Office of Planning, Research and Evaluation, Administration for Children and Families. 

For information about Essence of Healing: Journey of American Indian Nurses, contact Loretta.Heuer@ndsu.edu or 701-231-8205.