NU hosts Aboriginal youth education gathering
Nipissing’s Office of Aboriginal Initiatives recently hosted a group of grade 11 and 12 Aboriginal students for an Aboriginal youth education gathering, Debwendizon - Believe in Yourself.
The event took place March 24 and 25, welcoming students from area high schools, including Widdifield, West Ferris, St. Joseph’s-Scollard Hall and Northern. Additionally, students from Nipissing First Nation’s Nbisiing Secondary School and Moose Cree First Nation’s Delores D. Echum Composite School in Moose Factory visited Nipissing’s North Bay campus for the gathering.
Dr. Mike DeGagné, president and vice-chancellor of Nipissing University, provided a compelling keynote address to the students, and their guidance counsellors and teachers.
Nipissing’s Fine Arts, Anthropology, Political Science, Biology and Bachelor of Physical Health & Education programs all hosted dynamic mini-lectures and provided students with engaging experiential learning opportunities during the gathering. The students took part in tours across campus including The Harris Learning Library, residence, and the Robert J. Surtees Student Athletics Centre.
As part of the gathering, Alanis Obomsawin’s documentary film, Hi Ho Mistahey, was screened on Monday evening for the community, in partnership with the North Bay-Parry Sound Catholic District School Board at St. Joseph’s-Scollard Hall. Following the film, a moderated panel discussion was hosted by Tanya Lukin-Linklater, director of Office of Aboriginal Initiatives, with the family of the late Shannen Koostachin - her parents, Andrew Koostachin and Jenny Nakogee, and their daughters. Those in attendance were deeply moved by the family’s story and message as well as the film, which documents the activism taken up by children and youth nationally for equitable funding for on-reserve schools across Canada. Dr. DeGagné shared closing reflections to the evening.
At the closing session of the two-day gathering, Muriel Sawyer, Nipissing First Nation member and long-time educator in Anishinabemwin, named the gathering in Anishnabemwin and provided a teaching behind the name. Muriel chose the name Debwendizon, translated to “believe in yourself,” and shared that in order for Aboriginal youth to take their place in the university, they must remember to believe in themselves, recognizing their strengths. That belief will carry them far.
The office of Aboriginal Initiatives offers Chi miigwech (thank you very much) to all of those people who participated and gave their time to make the gathering a successful one: Dr. Mike DeGagné, Dr. Carly Dokis, Serena Kataoka, Dr. Peter Nosko, Dr. Dennis Geden, Jennifer Bueller, Dr. Jim McAuliffe, Vito Castiglione, Muriel Sawyer, John Sawyer, Brian Hansen, Kerry-Lynn Peltier, Thomsen Dhon’t, the many university students who volunteered at the gathering, and the team from the Office of Aboriginal Initiatives.