Ministerial Statement: Labrador’s First Innu Nurse Honoured for Outstanding Contributions

Press Release

May 25, 2026

The following statement was read in the House of Assembly today by the Honourable Lela Evans, Minister of Labrador Affairs and Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation:

Speaker, I rise today to recognize and celebrate Mary Pia Benuen, a remarkable leader and trailblazer in Indigenous health care.

As Labrador’s first accredited Innu nurse, Mary Pia has dedicated her life to advancing Indigenous representation and delivering compassionate, culturally grounded care.

Raised in Sheshatshiu, she grew up proud of her Innu identity, guided by her family’s teachings, learning traditional skills and carrying those values forward throughout her life and career.

Mary Pia pursued her education with determination, travelling to St. John’s to complete high school before continuing to nursing school in Ontario. She later spent seven years at the Melville Hospital in Happy Valley-Goose Bay, where she became known for providing care that respected the language and cultural needs of Innu patients.

For nearly 30 years, Mary Pia has served as a public health nurse in her community, and in 1997, she became the health director for Sheshatshiu, further strengthening local health care leadership.

Through her advocacy, storytelling, and lifelong commitment to her people, Mary Pia Benuen has helped shape a more inclusive and responsive health care system.

In recognition of her extraordinary contributions, she was awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Memorial University.

I ask all honourable colleagues to join me in recognizing Mary Pia Benuen for her outstanding service and lasting impact on Indigenous health care in Labrador and beyond.

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