Indigenous-Led campaign aims to boost stem cell donor representation

That realization led to discussions with Younghusband, who pointed to existing initiatives such as Black Donors Save Lives and East Asian Donors Save Lives as examples of community-based campaigns designed to improve donor representation among populations that are often underrepresented in health-care systems.

Bernard said historical and ongoing distrust of health-care institutions contributes to lower participation rates among some cultural groups.

“When we think about Canadian health-care systems, they’re often viewed through a Western or colonial lens,” she said. “For many Indigenous people and other communities, there can be mistrust surrounding those systems.”

The campaign’s goal is to help bridge that gap through education, outreach and partnerships with Indigenous communities.

“Our focus is on expanding educational materials, working directly with communities and raising awareness,” Bernard said. “Ultimately, we hope that leads to more Indigenous donors joining the stem cell registry.”

Finding a stem cell donor match is considerably more complicated than matching blood types. Donor compatibility is based on human leukocyte antigen, or HLA, markers, which are inherited and closely linked to ancestry.

Younghusband explained that those genetic markers make donor diversity critical within the registry.

“Only about 25 per cent of patients find a match within their family,” she said. “The rest rely on finding a suitable donor outside their family.”

Because HLA markers are inherited, patients are more likely to find a match among people who share similar ancestral backgrounds.

“It’s very complex,” Younghusband said. “Almost every marker has to align perfectly.”

That means increasing participation among Indigenous donors could improve the chances of Indigenous patients finding compatible matches when they need stem cell transplants.

Younghusband noted that Indigenous ancestry itself is diverse, spanning numerous nations and communities across Canada. However, broader Indigenous representation in the registry can still increase opportunities for successful matches.

“There have been situations where someone from the West Coast matched with someone from the East Coast because they both had Indigenous ancestry,” she said.

The campaign is also building on momentum created by UNBC’s Stem Cell Club, which has seen significant growth in recent years.

Younghusband served as president of the club during the 2025-26 academic year. She said the organization collected 374 stem cell swab kits from residents across Northern B.C. this year, more than doubling the approximately 150 kits collected the previous year.

The samples are added to the national stem cell donor registry, helping expand the pool of potential donors available to patients across Canada.

“The club is still in its early stages, but we’re seeing continued growth,” Younghusband said.

She believes northern communities have an important role to play in supporting Canada’s donor network.

“Having representation from the North on registries is incredibly important,” she said.

While Canadian Blood Services no longer operates a donor centre in Prince George, Younghusband said stem cell donor recruitment efforts provide northern residents with another opportunity to contribute to what she described as “Canada’s Lifeline.”

“People still want to feel like they’re making a difference,” she said. “This offers another way to do that.”

The Indigenous Donors Save Lives campaign will officially launch during National Truth and Reconciliation Week in the fall of 2026.

Organizers envision starting with UNBC and local community partners before expanding throughout the province and potentially across the country.

For Bernard, the campaign aligns with broader efforts to improve health equity and representation in health care.

“As a registered nurse, advancing health equity and representation is really important to me,” she said.

Although she has Métis family roots, Bernard said she wants the focus to remain on improving outcomes for communities rather than on her own background.

“This campaign is about bringing communities together and raising awareness,” she said.

The pair’s work reflects a growing movement among Indigenous and allied health-care professionals who are working to reduce barriers and improve access to care across Canada.

Bernard said increasing Indigenous participation in the donor registry is ultimately about ensuring patients have the best possible chance of receiving treatment when they need it.

“Our goal is education, awareness and helping people understand the importance of registering,” she said.

Community members will have an opportunity to learn more about stem cell donation and register as donors at two upcoming events.

The first will take place at UNBC on Tuesday, Sept. 29, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

A second event will be held at Lheidli T’enneh Memorial Park on National Truth and Reconciliation Day, Wednesday, Sept. 30, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Organizers hope the events will mark the beginning of a larger effort to increase Indigenous representation in Canada’s stem cell registry and, ultimately, save lives.‌

by Cheryl Jahn

Indigenous-Led campaign aims to boost stem cell donor representation

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