Indigenous cultural supports

The council a place where students collaborate and create a sense of community.

Activities have ranged through Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW) walks and Aboriginal Awareness days.

Three members of the council drafted a land acknowledgement for the college. Askīyiwimamīhcītotamowin that was unveiled in April 2022. Photo at right shows the council members Ryan Powder, Kiera Comeau, Rikki Ducharme and Samantha O'Reilly at the event. Ducharme is the Indigenous services manager.

If you'd like be a member of the council, email Indigenous@lakelandcollege.ca

Elders are a key way to connect with culture. As knowledge keepers their role is to connect with you, answer your questions and be a gentle support. At left a local elder Brent Dillon discusses Cree ceremonies at an event in Otôtemiwewin, the Indigenous Student Lounge.

Among their activities:

• hosting Sharing Circles
• participating in speaking series
• visiting classrooms
• offering opening and closing prayers at convocation

Lakeland College committed to the principles of the Truth and Reconciliation report several years ago. Over time, these activities based on teaching all Canadians the truth about Indigenous experiences resulting from the national policies of assimilation and the Indian Residential School system.

Establishing an Indigenous support services position is one example of the many initiatives at the college. Other examples include:

• creating the Indigenous Student Lounge in 2018, renamed

  Otôtemiwewin in early 2025.on the Lloydminster campus - a space for Indigenous world views as well as a space to practice cultural activities such as smudging and monthly sharing circles

• raising the Treaty 6 and Alberta Métis flags at both campuses
• incorporating a land acknowledgement at all ceremonies and gatherings
• raising a teepee on both campuses with assistance from elders
• sponsoring staff trips to the Onion Lake PowWow
• soup and bannock sharing on both campuses

Photo: President Alice Wainwright-Stewart with an Indigenous dancer during an Aboriginal Awareness day on the Lloydminster campus.