IPPC Indigenous Pharmacy Scholarship by Shoppers Drug Mart
2026-2027 PharmD Scholarship Recipient
Natasha Big Smoke Woitte
University of British Columbia
Natasha Big Smoke Woitte, whose Blackfoot name is Pretty Pipe Woman, is a proud member of the Piikani Nation of the Blackfoot Confederacy in Southern Alberta. She is currently entering her third year of the Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) program at the University of British Columbia.
Natasha is a first-generation university student who earned her Bachelor’s of Science majoring in Biological Sciences and minoring in Chemistry from the University of Alberta in 2024. Natasha’s commitment to Indigenous health equity began in her undergrad, where she worked on a research project called Ai'aoskiikowaata (“providing guidance to youth”) exploring the impact of the child welfare system on Indigenous families. Learning about the profound health disparities Indigenous Peoples face, she was inspired to pursue a career in health care to serve as an advocate for improved Indigenous care.
Since a young age, Natasha has embraced leadership roles that reflect her dedication to community and culture. She served as princess for her reserve and local Friendship Society 4 times, representing her community with pride and reconnecting to her Blackfoot heritage. Her leadership has continued at UBC, where she is now the Chair for the Indigenous Pharmacy Student Collegium wills serve as a mentor in the Peer-to-Peer Indigenous Student Mentorship Program. Natasha is also an Indigenous Student Representative on the Indigenous Pharmacy Student Support Committee (IPSSC) at UBC, a group that works to find new ways to support Indigenous students in the faculty and advises on curriculum and program development. Through these roles, Natasha works to build culturally safe spaces, community and support for her fellow Indigenous peers.
Natasha has also worked with UPROOT, a UBC research team focused on the Indigenization of pharmacy care. With UPROOT, Natasha has contributed to Indigenous curriculum development, community-based patient care and reciprocity projects, policy design and travel across British Columbia to work directly with Indigenous partners. She is passionate about continuing this work and ultimately hopes to one day bring what she learns with the team back to her own Nation.
Beyond her Indigenous-focused work, Natasha is an active member of the PharmD community. She has served as a peer tutor through the Office of Student Services and as a peer mentor to first-year PharmD students. She has also participated in the Canadian Society of Hospital Pharmacists mentorship program, facilitated support groups for people living with Parkinson’s disease, volunteered at events with the UBC Pharmacists Clinic and even played on the PharmD intramural basketball team. Natasha has actively pursued numerous clinical shadowing and mentorship opportunities and has secured placements in competitive faculty-based and clinical pharmacy directed studies research projects.
Natasha feels extremely fortunate to be the recipient of the IPPC Indigenous Pharmacy Scholarship, which has enabled her to focus on her academics and the work she is most passionate about: supporting fellow Indigenous students and advancing Indigenous health initiatives within pharmacy education and care. She is also deeply grateful for the mentorship, encouragement and professional connections the scholarship has provided.
Natasha thanks Shoppers Drug Mart for taking the time to learn about her journey, introduce her to opportunities within pharmacy and support new learning experiences. Above all, she is grateful to the Canadian Pharmacists Association (CPhA) and the Indigenous Pharmacy Professionals of Canada (IPPC) for their work supporting the future of Indigenous representation in pharmacy.
“I have had the privilege of connecting with the IPPC organization and representatives from CPhA and Shoppers Drug Mart through email, conference calls, and, finally, in person at the IPPC Gathering in Winnipeg. I cannot fully express how thankful I am for the support and sense of family that have come from this scholarship. At times, being one of the few Indigenous pharmacy students at my school can feel isolating. However, through the connections this scholarship has facilitated, with some connections as far as the national level, I feel empowered and inspired by the people who are helping me fulfill my goals.”
This scholarship has been generously supported by Shoppers Drug Mart.
