First Nations Breast Cancer Survivors: Liza Simen-Falvy, Jacqueline Davis, Jean Hanuse, Nancy Philips, Margaret Harris, with spiritual healer Bev Julian (Centre)

Autobiography: Jacqueline Eunice Davis
My name is Jacqueline Eunice Davis. I am Cree from the Peguis First Nation in Peguis, Manitoba. I am a divorced mother of three (3) sons; Christopher, Fred, and Dan and grandmother to Zane, Raven, Shaylyn, Gabrielle, and Freddie. All of whom live back east with the exception of Dan who resided in Vancouver. I love been a mom and grandma it brings me great joy. I am happy to be here on earth enjoying life to its fullest and making the best of it. I try to live a healthy well-balanced lifestyle. I moved to Vancouver in 1981 after my divorce to work as a nursing assistant in local hospitals. I returned to upgrade my skills at the Native Education Centre here in Vancouver, and then transferred on to College to pursue a career in the medical field. I enjoyed going to school learning about new things it was exciting. I was also involved with breast cancer work and I was producing the video Echoes of The Sisters: First Nations Women: Breast Cancer and trying to study. I had to withdraw from my studies due to fatigue and illness, but hope to return someday to finish.

I was diagnosed with diabetes in 1989, as I was beginning to accept and live with diabetes, one year later April 1990 I got the most terrible news: I was diagnosed with breast cancer. After hearing the words: “breast cancer” my thoughts were: “Am I going to die?” I had a mastectomy (removal of the breast), and chemotherapy treatments. I never got terribly sick, but I got fat and kept my hair. One year later I opted to have breast reconstructive surgery and had a saline breast implant implanted to make a new breast. I like my new breast it makes me feel whole again. I had a very good medical team and the communication between me and them was very good. My support was my family and very close friends. I also utilized the services and resources that were available, there was nothing pertaining to Aboriginal literature or videos. I never saw a Native woman at the BC Cancer Agency while I was going through my treatments.

Since, my diagnosis I come to realize that the existing breast cancer information was not reaching Aboriginal women, so I decided to bring it to them.

I Founded the First Nations Breast Cancer Society on July 04, 1995. It is a volunteer-non-profit organization and is registered in the Province of British Columbia. Its mandate is to offer breast cancer education and support to First Nations women. “WE DO NOT OFFER MEDICAL ADVICE”. I am currently the President of the Society. I was trained as a Qualified Breast-Self-Examination Instructor through the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation, BC/Yukon Chapter. It is through Breast Cancer Workshops, Breast-Self-Examination (BSE) Instructors Workshops, School Fairs, Pow-Wow’s, Conferences, Healing Circles, Public Speaking, Video Production and visiting native women who are newly diagnosed with breast cancer that I can share my knowledge and story, so that they don’t have to suffer the consequences that myself and others had too. I hope to help educate and arm all Aboriginal women with knowledge and education about this horrific disease breast cancer. I also spearheaded and produced two (2) First Nations educational breast cancer videos, Echoes of The Sisters: First Nations Women: Breast Cancer & First Nations: Breast-Self-Examination. The videos are used by both non-native and native professionals on and off reserves. Both videos have been broadcast on National television and have gone International.

My hobbies consist of swimming, reading, sewing, cooking and meeting movie stars. I like traveling, and meeting people and I enjoy my volunteer work with the First Nations Breast Cancer Society and Community Crime Prevention, but when I don’t feel well I just stop and rest.

I recently received the Meritorious Service Medal in recognition of my involvement in founding the First Nations Breast Cancer Society and my breast cancer work. (A deed or activity performed in a highly professional manner or very high standards that brings honour to Canada. Canadian Honours System -The Governor General of Canada.)

Breast cancer is not prejudice it don’t care what color or race you are, it will attack you just the same. I would like to encourage all women to do their monthly breast-self –examinations, have yearly mammogram every two years if over fifty years of age, have yearly check-ups by your doctor, and try to live a healthy well-balanced lifestyle. Hold onto your dreams and never give up.

It is my hope and the First Nations Breast Cancer Society to save lives for generations to come.