Health Sciences North and Health Sciences North Research Institute are proud to honour and celebrate National Indigenous Peoples Day on June 21. In the spirit of respect and solidarity, we would like to shine the spotlight on a staff member whose mission it is to build and lead a research team that centres Indigenous voices, needs, and health outcomes in a system that has long overlooked them.
When Rylee Restoule first stepped onto the Laurentian University campus, she was a young Ojibwe-Kwe woman from Dokis First Nation, fluent in French and deeply aware of her First Nations identity — but still searching for a deeper connection to her culture.
Today, she holds a Master’s degree in Health Studies, runs a small Indigenous-focused business, and is helping to reshape the way Northern Ontario’s healthcare system serves Indigenous people.
Her journey hasn’t been straightforward. She grew up in Sturgeon Falls, a predominantly French-speaking, white town, just west of North Bay. While her father worked in Indigenous health governance and instilled pride in their identity, cultural practices like powwows, beading, and traditional ceremonies weren’t a regular part of her childhood.
“We always knew we were First Nations,” Rylee said. “My dad instilled that in us. But we didn’t grow up hunting or dancing in powwows. That came later, when I went out and found it myself.”
That journey began in earnest during her post-secondary studies. After two years studying Health Promotion in French at Laurentian, her program was abruptly cut during the university’s insolvency crisis. She transferred to Trent University to study biology with a focus on health sciences, and it was there, surrounded by other Indigenous students and faculty, that she began to attend beading circles, sewing groups, and ceremonial events.
“That’s where I really started involving myself in my culture,” she said. “I didn’t grow up with it, but I chose to pursue it.”
She later completed a Master’s degree at Athabasca University, specializing in health research. While the program was not thesis-based, she shaped every project around Indigenous health. Her work explored health disparities, cultural disconnection, and the lack of Indigenous-specific data in the broader health research landscape.
The Research Gap
Rylee is now the co-ordinator of Indigenous Health Research at Health Sciences North Research Institute (HSNRI) in Sudbury. Her mandate? To build and lead a research team that centres Indigenous voices, needs, and health outcomes in a system that has long overlooked them.
One of her first initiatives is to research the role and impact of Indigenous Patient Navigators. These are individuals who help Indigenous patients access services, manage travel logistics, and feel culturally safe while receiving care in hospital environments that can otherwise be alienating or intimidating.
“For someone coming from a remote First Nation, arriving at a large urban hospital is overwhelming. There are language barriers, cultural gaps, even fear rooted in historical trauma. Navigators help bridge that gap.”
She’s quick to note that while her own experience as an Indigenous woman in healthcare has been largely positive, it’s not the norm.
“I know the system. I have a support network. But for many, just getting to the hospital is a huge challenge,” she said.”
Rylee’s research complements several of HSN’s key goals outlined in the new five-year strategic plan, Together For You 2030. HSN is committed to addressing health equity gaps by promoting an inclusive environment free of racism, discrimination and all forms of bias, and to continuously engage with Indigenous communities and health organizations to strengthen relationships and develop pathways that increase availability and access to culturally safe and holistic care.
Colonial Legacies and Systemic Barriers
The mistrust many Indigenous people feel toward the healthcare system isn’t unfounded. Canada’s legacy of residential schools, Indian hospitals, and medical experimentation on Indigenous children has created generational trauma and deep skepticism toward institutions.
Even today, systemic issues persist. There’s a lack of policies supporting traditional healing practices in hospitals. Cultural inclusion might be mentioned in strategic plans, but without formal frameworks or staff education, these initiatives often fall short.
“There are no clear policies around how to incorporate traditional medicines, how to handle potential drug interactions, or how to respect a patient’s cultural preferences in a medical setting. These gaps create confusion and, worse, more barriers.”
Rylee believes that meaningful change starts with research-backed policy development, and that Indigenous communities must lead that research.
Craft, Culture, and Community Healing
Outside of her research role, Rylee also runs a small business creating and selling ribbon skirts, ribbon shirts, beaded earrings, and other handmade cultural items. What began as a personal hobby quickly evolved into something more meaningful.
“There’s a sense of pride when you wear something that represents who you are. I wanted to help others experience that too, especially those who didn’t grow up connected to their culture.”
This year, she took another big step: she made her own jingle dress and began dancing at powwows.
“They say powwows are healing — and they really are. You’re surrounded by community, culture, food, music. It’s good medicine.”
Looking Forward
Although still early in her career, Rylee is already having an impact. She’s a first-generation graduate, a cultural connector, and a researcher with a mission. And people are noticing. Young family members now come to her for advice on schools, programs, and finding purpose, she said.
“It makes me proud that they see me as someone to look up to. I want to use the privileges I’ve had — education, support, access — to open doors for others.”
Her long-term goal? To help create a healthcare system in Northern Ontario where every Indigenous patient feels safe, respected, and seen, and where culture is not just an add-on, but a core part of care.
“There’s still a lot of work to do,” she says. “But we’re moving forward.”
Happy National Indigenous People’s Day, Greater Sudbury. Here at HSN, we are committed to addressing health equity gaps by promoting an inclusive environment free of racism, discrimination and all forms of bias.
That’s why we have such great people on our team, people like Rylee Restoule, who is the Coordinator of Indigenous Health Research for Health Sciences North Research Institute. It’s Rylee’s mission to eliminate barriers and help Indigenous patients navigate the complex healthcare system.
HSN will continuously engage with Indigenous communities and Indigenous health organizations to strengthen relationships and develop pathways that increase availability and access to culturally safe and wholistic care. The Indigenous Health Advisory Council and the Calls to Action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Report will guide this work, as set out in HSN’s new strategic plan, Together For You 2030.