Cheyenne Joseph awarded Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal
Author: Angie Deveau
Posted on Oct 26, 2023
Category: UNB Fredericton , UNB Saint John
Cheyenne Joseph, the University of New Brunswick’s (UNB) Piluwitahasuwin, was recently awarded a Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal for her exceptional contributions in the fields of nursing, rehabilitation, education and research and for her unwavering commitment to the advancement of Mi'kmaq wellness and culture.
Kevin Arseneau, a member of the provincial Legislative Assembly for Kent County, presented Joseph with the prestigious medal at a small event hosted by UNB at the Richard J. CURRIE CENTER.
“The Queen Elizabeth II's Platinum Jubilee Medal serves as a reminder that it is people like Cheyenne who work tirelessly behind the scenes to uplift families and communities,” he said.
Arseneau said recipients like Joseph often remain unnoticed but profoundly affect community cohesion.
Joseph said she is motivated by a desire to improve public health outcomes.
“What we do in the community is because of our heart," she said. “I got into nursing not to work in hospitals but to positively impact families' lives and communities. My work explores population-level strategies and interventions that we don't often discuss in healthcare systems.”
“We [public health practitioners] do what we do because we know it impacts people and their health,” she added. “When we see people and families continue to improve and grow, we see communities rise and thrive. And isn’t that the goal of healthcare systems?"
Arseneau stressed the importance of digging deep into our communities' roots to find people like Joseph, who shape many aspects of society.
“This medal represents the power of storytelling,” he said. “The actions and stories of medal recipients can motivate others to affect change.”
He said it also encourages people to recognize that passionate contributions to the community can have a lasting impact.
“Their actions, driven by a genuine desire to make a difference, inspire us all to contribute in our unique ways,” said Arseneau. “We know that positive change begins with dedication and passion."