In Memorial: DR. IRIHAPETI MERENIA RAMDSDEN

Aboriginal Nurse, The,  Dec 2003  by Sweetwater, Indigo

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Ngai Tahu Rangitane

24 February 1946 - 5 April 2003

New Zealand's health community is keenly feeling the loss of Dr. lrihapeti Ramsden who passed away in April of this year. Here in Canada we shall also miss her contribution to nursing. Irihapeti's involvement in the profession, particularly as the architect of "cultural safety", means that few in the nursing world remain untouched by her passing. Her legacy will not be forgotten.

Irihapeti's contribution to the development of effective health care for all people, but especially for indigenous people, will continue in New Zealand and around the world. If the distinction of a genius is the development of an original, then lrihapeti was a genius.

Irihapeti has guided us with her version of cultural safety as developed in three courses in the New Zealand undergraduate nursing curriculum: Te Mara, Te Kakano, and Te Puawaitanga - the Cultivation, The seed and The Blossom.

The implementation of this vision has not been easy yet lrihapeti remained focused. She reminded us that the core of our profession is not about nurses and midwives; it is about people and their access to appropriate and equitable health care. Irihapeti's extraordinary ability to inspire, motivate and challenge students and staff has contributed hugely to the development and delivery of nursing and midwifery education in New Zealand. It will live on in the practise of those nurses and midwives for generations to come.

To review her Cultural Safety dissertation please refer to www.culturalsafety.massey.ac.nz/thesis.html

Respectfully submitted by

Indigo Sweetwater

Copyright Aboriginal Nurses Association of Canada Dec 2003
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