Indigenous nursing student is breaking barriers and embracing her heritage to inspire others

Makayla Mantla

From a challenging childhood in the Northwest Territories in the Behchokǫ̀ First Nations community and Yellowknife, to leading Indigenous health initiatives, Makayla Mantla's journey to the University of Alberta's nursing program exemplifies resilience. Overcoming adversity and self-doubt, she now serves as the director of Indigenous Health and Advocacy for the Canadian Nursing Students’ Association and has been invited by Canada's Chief Nursing Officer to speak at the prominent Alberta Association of  Nurses conference "Our Voice, Our Time" on May 2, 2024.

“I lived in Behchokǫ̀ up to age five. My early memories on the reserve were living in an old brown house, similar to a log cabin. I recall memories of mice in the walls, but I was so young that I barely noticed it. We would get water delivery maybe once a week, because there was no running water. I think during that time we had no choice but to stay there. We just had to survive off whatever we had,” Mantla recalls. 

“I have memories of my dad opening the door and all the snow coming in. It was hard to keep the place warm, especially in the wintertime. And on the reserve or in Yellowknife it's winter almost all the time,” she says.

Initially feeling constrained by societal stereotypes she had internalized, Mantla felt out of place in university. The turning point came after a Math 20 exam. “I arrived 15 minutes late for a test and had to quickly complete it. I finished before everyone else and scored 100 per cent — a first for me. It was a moment that made me realize my potential; if I set my mind to something, I can achieve it!”

In January 2020, Makayla began upgrading her high school classes at NAIT. “This was an important time in my life where I realized I am intelligent, capable, strong and resilient. I believed in myself for getting into the University of Alberta. I developed a strong character and a positive mindset. I no longer felt embarrassed to be starting school so late in life.”

During this period, she says she reconnected with her childhood dream. “I was finally confident – I wanted to be a nurse!” 

This decision led her to the U of A’s Transition Year Program, a choice that would set her on the path to the university’s top-ranked nursing program. “I remember after I graduated, my mom said, ‘All you have to do is upgrade so you can go to university,’ and I just started crying and I said ‘Mom, I can't do it. I'm not smart. I'm Indigenous, I don't belong. It took a long time to get out of that mindset!” she says.

“Eventually, I found a supportive community that not only recognized my potential but also encouraged me to connect with my cultural roots at the First Peoples’ House,” says Mantla. “I grew up without my language or my culture for so long, and this was the first time I was connecting to my culture.”

Her academic life was fraught with financial difficulties, a common barrier for many Indigenous students. “I graduated in 2012, and for seven years I worked at Cineplex or Starbucks and retail jobs. When I first started working I was excited to save for an education, but I wasn't able to because everything I ever made went to my parents or my siblings for my family of seven to pay bills and groceries. I was happy to do that because I had to be there with my dad and help take care of the family. And so when it came time for me to upgrade, I thought, ‘How will I do this?’” 

Through perseverance and support from organizations like the Freehorse Family Wellness Society Mantla got some much needed help. 

At the CNSA National Conference 2024, Mantla was motivated to run for an unfilled director position that had lacked Indigenous applicants for years. Just before telling a story, an elder asked, "Are there any Indigenous people here?" Mantla was the sole person to raise her hand. Recalling past advice from a BC Nurses’ Union representative — "If not you, then who?" — she decided to run. She was promptly told to prepare a speech the following day because she had won the election.

“I said, ‘What do you mean, speech?’ I remember being so nervous. I went on stage and gave a two-minute speech about my background and the feeling of not belonging,” says Mantla.

Her impromptu speech not only garnered support but also reignited her long-held dream of becoming a motivational speaker. “I envision using this platform to empower and inspire the younger Indigenous generation, encouraging them to pursue their educational and professional goals, particularly in health care,” says Mantla. 

Health-care inequities for Indigenous patients

Mantla notes firsthand the disparities in health care for Indigenous patients. “During my clinicals, I encountered two Indigenous patients that I believe could have had more appropriate care,” says Mantla. “One patient was positioned on a middle bed on a stretcher without bed rails, posing a significant fall risk, yet no one had addressed this safety hazard.”

“In another instance, I was asked to take vital signs from an Indigenous patient who was in a heated discussion with a nurse,” adds Mantla. “The nurse asked if I could take his vitals. When meeting his family, his wife inquired if I was Indigenous. They expressed immense relief and happiness, because they don’t see many of us in health care.” 

Networking and leading with purpose

A significant moment in her career came when she met Leigh Chapman, Chief Nursing Officer for Canada, at a gala dinner following Mantla’s election to the role of director of Indigenous Health Advocacy. Chapman, who had previously visited Mantla’s reserve and mentioned it in her speech, quickly captured Mantla’s interest.

“Seizing the moment, I introduced myself to Dr. Chapman, and shared my background and aspirations,” says Mantla. This encounter blossomed into a mentorship that has significantly influenced her career path. 

This networking has opened doors for Mantla that she had not anticipated. Chapman invited her to co-deliver a speech at an upcoming Our Voice, Our Time AAN conference, providing her with a platform to share her journey and inspire others. 

“One day, I plan to share my story with everyone. Reflecting on my entire life — dealing with poverty, food scarcity and housing insecurity — I realize I must keep moving forward. If I fail a class, for example, it's just a temporary setback, not a permanent defeat. Being the first in my family to attend university, I have to set an example for my siblings. I simply cannot give up.”