Dre Erwin Photography™
Dre Erwin BscN, RN-AAP
Pioneering the Visual Prescription™: Bridging Clinical Care and Indigenous Wellness
Hailing from the Northern Saskatchewan communities of Pinehouse Lake and Sandy Bay, Dre Erwin, RN-AAP, is a National Bestselling Author, Canadian Armed Forces Veteran, and a pioneering voice in therapeutic healthcare. With a career forged at the intersection of critical care and community advocacy, Dre serves as a vital bridge between clinical medicine and land-based Indigenous wellness. His work is defined by a singular mission: providing First Nations and Métis youth with the tools to reclaim their narrative through the lens of a camera.
The Visual Prescription™
Dre’s innovative model, Therapeutic Photography, acts as a trauma-informed intervention for those navigating the complexities of depression, anxiety, and addiction. By utilizing the camera as a Visual Anchor, Dre teaches individuals to block out the "static" of trauma and reframe their perspective—transforming the pursuit of the Northern Lights into a measurable journey of resilience and mental well-being.
Pioneering Leadership & Clinical Expertise
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Clinical Authority: As an Advanced Authorized Practice (AAP) Nurse with over 20 years of experience in ICU, Emergency, and Remote Primary Care, Dre brings rigorous medical oversight to mental health advocacy.
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Evidence-Based Care: His clinical expertise ensures that every program is rooted in psychosocial safety and land-based healing protocols.
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National Advocacy: Dre’s groundbreaking impact was the subject of the CBC award-winning documentary, A New Lens on Life. The film serves as a national blueprint for rural mental health intervention.
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Bestselling Author & Educator: Dre authored the national bestseller, The Little Boy Who Found Happiness in the Most Unusual Place. Published in both Cree and English, it serves as a therapeutic guide for youth navigating grief.
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Current Mission: Returning to the front lines in Sandy Bay, SK, in June 2026 to continue implementing the Pinehouse Protocol and land-based wellness initiatives.
The Founder & Clinical Lead
Primary Care Nurse (RN AAP)
Drawing from extensive clinical experience in ICU and Emergency (ER) settings, Dre has transitioned to specializing in Advanced Authorized Practice in the North. His focus is serving Métis and First Nations communities, delivering essential healthcare tailored to remote settings. This clinical background—from critical care to community health—informs his holistic approach to using photography as a health intervention.
Founder of the Pinehouse Photography Club
Following a period of personal loss, Dre turned to photography as a tool for his own resilience. After noticing local youth struggling with addiction and mental health challenges, he realized the camera could serve as a powerful therapeutic bridge. He founded the Pinehouse Photography Club as a safe, award-winning space where youth learn to "capture the cosmos" while rediscovering their own hope and purpose.
Bestselling Author & Educator
Dre’s top-ten bestseller, "The Little Boy Who Found Happiness in the Most Unusual Place," is more than a story—it is a dual-language (Cree/English) guide for healing. Based on real-life journeys of youth navigating the suicide of a parent, the narrative illustrates how therapeutic photography becomes a transformative tool in recovery, turning personal tragedy into a beacon of resilience for young minds.
By putting cameras in the hands of these youth, a nurse literally is saving lives in the north.
Corey O'Soup
The Fusion of Art & Clinical Expertise
Dre Erwin is carving a new path for healthcare innovation in the North. By bridging the gap between medical science and the therapeutic power of the Saskatchewan sky, he is creating sustainable wellness solutions where they are needed most.
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Clinical Innovation: Using Advanced Authorized Practice (AAP) to deliver high-level care in remote Métis and First Nations communities.
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Scalable Advocacy: Expanding the Therapeutic Photography model from a local club into a province-wide blueprint for youth resilience.
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Literary Impact: Using storytelling and cultural preservation to provide youth with the "visual anchors" needed to navigate grief and loss.
A New Lens on Life: The Story of the Pinehouse Model
Discover the award-winning CBC documentary that introduced Therapeutic Photography to the national stage. Filmed on location in Pinehouse Lake, Saskatchewan, this film follows Dre as he works alongside youth to turn the camera into a tool for mental health recovery.
Watch the preview below to see how art, culture, and clinical advocacy are building a new blueprint for resilience in the North.
Our mission is to provide youth with visual anchors for mental health through the clinical framework of therapeutic photography, fostering resilience and preserving cultural identity across the North."