01/11/2026
FPWC is deeply saddened by the news of the passing of Dr. Madeleine Kétéskwēw Dion Stout on December 30, 2025 in Winnipeg, Manitoba. We extend our heartfelt condolences to her family, husband Robert, daughters Roberta and Tammara and her grandchildren, who she was immmensely proud of, and her many friends across Turtle Island.
Madeleine was a member of the Kehewin Cree Nation in Alberta, and a former student of the Blue Quills Residential School. She was one of the first Indigenous nurses in Canada, becoming a practical nurse in 1968 and receiving her nursing degree in 1982 from the University of Lethbridge. She credits her grandfather and an encounter with a nurse when she was a child for her career and ultimately, her lifelong commitment to meaningfully contribute to Indigenous health. She contributed to this work over the span of her career through her many roles; Indigenous public health in Alberta; special advisor to the Minister of Health and Welfare Canada; Inaugural Director of the Indian and Inuit Health Careers Program; Director of the Centre for Aboriginal Education, Research and Culture at Carleton Univerisy; member of the National Forum on Health appointed by Prime Minister Jean Chretien; Vice-Chair of the Mental Health Commission of Canada; President and founding member of the Aboriginal Nurses Association of Canada (now known as the Canadian Indigenous Nurses Association) among many other appointments to various professional committees and associations.
“She drew on a Cree lens in all of her life work, leaving an indelible mark in shaping health and wellness in Canada,” said a tribute from the Faculty of Nursing at the University of B.C. The tribute from the National Collaborating Centre on Indigenous Health recognized her as a fluent Cree speaker, who liked to use the phrase nahi miýw‐āyāwin in her health research. It describes fairness, wellness, a focus on values, and a recognition of inequities. “There are many kinds of poverties, including the poverty of affection, understanding, participation, and marginalization that continue to exacerbate health inequities,” she said. (https://nursing.ubc.ca/community/news/2026/in-memoriam-madeleine-keteskwew-dion-stout )
Madeleine was the recipient of numerous honours, including honorary doctorates from four universities (University of British Columbia, University of Ottawa, Carleton University, Western University), the Centennial Award from the Canadian Nurses Association, an Indspire Award (2010) and appointment to the Order of Canada in 2015.
We raise our hands to Madeleine who taught the importance of Indigenous ways of being, doing and knowing as critical elements to Indigenous health and wellbeing. Through her teachings, stories and research, which she generously shared with all who crossed her path, she reminded all about the importance of connecting to Indigenous identity to support grounding our purpose as Indigenous helpers and finding meaning in Indigenous knowledge systems. All part of the vision to realize Indigenous self-determination in health care that Madeleine challenged everyone to reach for. Madeleine was a friend to FPWC offering guidance and supported the purpose of our organization. She contributed to the development of the First Nation Mental Wellness Continuum Framework and personified the key elements of the Framework. Her words and teachings brought to life all the cornerstones of the Framework which are necessary to Indigenous wellness and healing. She carried herself with poise, dignity, respect and authenticity, the same values she imparted in all her work. Through her work she challenged all of us to honour our identity, our language, our knowledge system and to ground our work in rights, spiritual responsibility, relational practices and accountability. Our past Board member, Dr. Caroline Tait provided an apt description of her “Madeleine never stopped educating people, encouraging everyone to be strong, brave, kind and authentic.”
We are forever grateful for the time we shared with Madeleine and everything she gave to us with humility, wit, love and respect. We echo the words of Dr. Caroline Tait “It is difficult to imagine a world without Madeleine Dion Stout in it.” Today and always, we remember and celebrate the exceptional life of Madeleine Kétéskwēw Dion Stout and commit to carrying forward the knowledge bundle she shared with us to improve the health and wellbeing of Indigenous people across Turtle Island. We know she will continue to shine her light upon us as she sits among the ancestors from the Star World.
