We acknowledge the College of Nurses of the Northwest Territories and Nunavut (CNNN) office is located on Chief Drygeese territory, which are the traditional lands of the Yellowknives Dene First Nation since time immemorial. We also recognize that CNNN regulates nursing professions in the Northwest Territories and
Nunavut, which comprises portions of lands from Treaties 8, 11, the Nunavut Agreement and within Inuit Nunangat. We are grateful to live and work on these lands and are committed to deepening our understanding of the distinct histories, languages, and cultures of all Indigenous Peoples, including the Dene, Inuit and Métis peoples.

Professional Development and Education

CANNN is committed to furthering our understanding of the distinct cultures and protocols of Indigenous Peoples living in the Northwest Territories and Nunavut and ensuring our members have access to Indigenous-led training and education. The following are free, and encouraged for all nurses working, or planning to work within the Northwest Territories and Nunavut.

Encouraged Training:

• Living Well Together, Government of the Northwest Territories
• Arctic: Peoples and Culture, University of Alberta
• Indigenous Canada, University of Alberta

CNNN’s mandate is the protection of the public through the regulation of nursing practice in the Northwest Territories and Nunavut. We fulfill this mandate by registering qualified nurses, establishing and enforcing standards of practice and conduct, approving nursing education programs, and addressing concerns about professional conduct. Every decision we make is grounded in our responsibility to the people of the North.

Nurses in the Northwest Territories and Nunavut provide autonomous, evidence-informed care that upholds the principles of cultural safety and honours Indigenous self determination. By integrating clinical excellence with an understanding of Northern practice realities, nurses lead across all healthcare environments—from remote community settings to acute care centres—to support a safe, equitable, culturally responsive and sustainable health system for all Northern resident. 

Nurses in the Northwest Territories and Nunavut provide autonomous, evidence-informed care that upholds the principles of cultural safety and honours Indigenous self determination. By integrating clinical excellence with an understanding of Northern practice realities, nurses lead across all healthcare environments—from remote community settings to acute care centres—to support a safe, equitable, culturally responsive and sustainable health system for all Northern residents.

Five principles guide how CNNN exercises its regulatory mandate.

1. Public Interest and Accountability
   We hold a statutory responsibility to act in the public interest. We maintain public safety by
   establishing rigorous standards of practice and holding nurses accountable to them. Our
   regulatory approach is proactive and restorative; when standards are not met, we prioritize
   education and the sharing of lessons learned to prevent future risk and improve system-wide safety and public trust.
   
   
2. Relational Regulation and Professional Integrity
   We recognize nursing as a vital, regulated, and respected profession within the health-care system. We fulfill our mandate through a “team approach,” building collaborative relationships with governments, Indigenous partners, and health system providers. By sharing our unique regulatory perspective and expertise, we foster a culture of mutual respect that supports professional integrity and system stability.
   
   
3. Shared Responsibility for Patient Safety
   We recognize public protection is a collective effort. We provide the public, employers, and the health-care team with clear, accessible pathways to report concerns regarding the conduct or competence of a nurse. We are committed to transparency and collaboration, ensuring that all partners understand their role in maintaining a safe and ethical nursing workforce in the North.
   
   
4. Continuous Professional Development and Competence
   We monitor and ensure nurses engage in ongoing professional development and remain current with evidence-informed best practices through our continuing competence program. Our role is to provide the necessary regulatory frameworks and resources that support a nurse’s lifelong commitment to professional excellence and safe, ethical practice. College of Nurses of the Northwest Territories and Nunavut Strategic Plan 2026–2029.
   
   
5. Cultural Safety, Humility, and Community Voice
   We uphold that cultural safety is a core competency and a fundamental right of every resident in the Northwest Territories and Nunavut. We mandate the integration of cultural humility and trauma-informed care into nursing practice. To ensure our standards reflect the lived realities of the North, we actively seek and embed the perspectives of Indigenous peoples and community members into our regulatory processes and decision-making.

CNNN’s current Strategic Plan runs through 2026. A renewed strategic direction reflecting our single-mandate transition will be developed in consultation with the Board of Directors.

Strategic Plan for 2023-2026 released