West Nipissing’s own Rylee Restoule, a member of Dokis First Nation and graduate of Franco-Cité, was recently featured on the Health Sciences North website as a young Indigenous professional making a difference in her community and beyond. In addition to being showcased by the Sudbury regional hospital on June 23, Rylee was crowned Miss Kikendaad at the recent Dokis FN Pow Wow, held June 28 and 29 in Dokis.
In her new role, she will represent her community and act as a role model and youth ambassador, aiming to create awareness around Indigenous culture, history and reconciliation. In fact, she has already begun having an impact, launching the “Dokis Powwow Closet”, collecting gently used regalia that members can borrow as they start their path into dancing. “Your donation could help someone take their first steps into the circle with pride,” she invites, hoping to see more young people begin their cultural journey and participate in community events. Rylee is the daughter of Caroline and Jamie Restoule. Following is the piece published by Health Sciences North, reprinted with their permission.
Rylee Restoule is Bridging Health Gaps for Indigenous Communities in Northern Ontario
by Arron Pickard, Health Sciences North Communications Associate
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.”
