Rabetta Minhas and Amy Cull are at the centre of efforts to enhance access to care and improve service coordination across cabin communities in the Dehcho Region.

Learn more about both Nurse Practitioners below, and what drew them to working in the region.

Rabetta Minhas

Rabetta Minhas was born and raised on Vancouver Island. After completing her Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 2016, she worked in Victoria before accepting a position in Fort Simpson with the intention of eventually returning south. “Instead, Fort Simpson became my second home,” she said. “The camaraderie, mentorship, and growth I’ve experienced here have shaped me and my practice.” From Community Health Nurse to Nurse-in-Charge to Nurse Practitioner, Rabetta remains as committed as ever to the communities she serves.

With a strong background in social work, Rabetta has always been drawn to supporting the wellbeing of others, having previously worked or volunteered for crisis lines, street youth shelters, and life-skills programs for people experiencing homelessness. Her work as a prenatal outreach worker eventually led her to nursing, a profession that aligns with her values of providing holistic, compassionate, and culturally-focused care. Her work with marginalized groups and Indigenous communities since the age of 17 has also shaped her approach to leadership and relationships.

Rabetta says she is deeply connected to the communities she works in and is passionate about optimizing care delivery for residents of Fort Simpson, Sambaa K’e, Nahanni Butte, Wrigley, and Jean Marie River.

Despite system-wide challenges, Rabetta believes the key to resolution lies in collaboration and integrity, adding that sincere communication and persistence often lead to positive progress. “I aim to be an agent for positive change,” she said. “Someone who does the right thing and ensures people feel seen, supported, and cared for. My unrelenting optimism has never led me astray.”

While working in remote health care requires adaptability and courage – and can test even the most seasoned practitioners – Rabetta believes these challenges can be overcome. “I’ve been fortunate to work alongside many brilliant colleagues and leaders who embody the dedication and ingenuity it takes to make a difference.”

Outside of work, Rabetta enjoys travelling and activities like hiking, hunting, gardening, mountain biking, surfing, fishing, and painting, as well as spending quality time with family and friends.

Amy Cull

Originally from Newfoundland, Amy completed her Bachelor of Nursing at the Western Regional School of Nursing through Memorial University in 2015, and later completed the Nurse Practitioner program through Athabasca University in 2024. She has worked in Fort Simpson since 2019, originally as a Community Health Nurse before becoming a Nurse Practitioner five years later. In that time, she has provided care to residents of all four cabin communities during regular visits.

Amy drew inspiration to work in rural and remote nursing from the instructors she met in school. “[Their] stories made a strong impression on me,” she said. “I knew that was the type of nursing I wanted to pursue. After graduating, I built experience in several different areas over four years so I would have a strong, versatile skillset to bring to the North.”

Amy says she loves the expanded scope of practice that rural medicine offers, adding that she learns something new every day. “I also appreciate the flexibility to develop new skills and provide services based on what the community needs.”

While Amy focuses on duties that are specific to her new position, she also supports other areas because of her experience in the Dehcho region. She says staff consistently step up when needed to keep health centers and health cabins running as smoothly as possible.

Amy values the communities and residents she cares for. “It has truly become my home away from home,” she said. “The longer I am here, the more committed I feel. I enjoy going to work every day, and firmly believe that I get to do one of the most exciting and fulfilling jobs in the world, and I think that is something special.” Amy has a strong desire to improve access to care within cabin communities, and is excited that this proposal is moving forward.

Outside of work, she enjoys mountain biking, backpacking, hiking, skiing, snowboarding, and trail running.