NIAGARA COLLEGE
Niagara College unveils new, expanded Indigenous Lounge at heart of Niagara-on-the-Lake campus

A welcome song is performed by Elder Elaine Berwald and Nicole Joy-Fraser at the Indigenous Lounge opening on January 29.

Indigenous students have a new community gathering space to study, socialize or celebrate their culture at Niagara College.

January 29 marked the grand re-opening of the newly relocated and expanded Indigenous Lounge at the College's recently renamed Daniel J. Patterson Campus in Niagara-on-the-Lake. Operated by the College's Indigenous Education department, which is under the umbrella of Student Services, the lounge aims to create a sense of community and place for Indigenous students to enhance their student experience. A dedicated space for elder teachings and cultural programming initiatives, students can access resources and support services, and connect with peers and their culture on site.

The new lounge is not only larger than its former location, it offers additional features and amenities such as a ventilated area to allow for smudging sessions, and a kitchenette with a sink and refrigerator to enable food prep - both important to Indigenous culture - as well as more seating, tables, and extra computer workstations. It is also in a more central location on campus, in a high-traffic area near the Student Commons.

"We are proud to unveil this beautiful expanded location for Indigenous Education which is an important part of campus life," said College president Dan Patterson, PhD.  "This new student space is a testament to our College's longstanding commitment to supporting our learners and to advancing the understanding of Indigenous cultures, heritage and languages within our College community."

Student Services director Lianne Gagnon noted that Niagara College is dedicated to meeting the needs of its Indigenous students by providing academic and cultural supports, and encouraging student success.

"Indigenous students can face many barriers to education because of societal and historical factors and, for many, stepping through the front doors of a college shows their courage and desire to engage with formal education again in spite of the challenges," said Gagnon. "It is vital for our Indigenous students to know that they have a culturally-safe space on campus where they can connect with one another and our Indigenous staff members. We know having this space makes all the difference to our students; it helps them stay in school and helps them feel supported and safe."

Brian Kon, member of the College's Indigenous Education management Circle, chair of Niagara Region Métis Council, and Indigenous lead for the Niagara Catholic District School Board, noted the significance of the new space.

"The Indigenous Lounge provides a welcoming and safe place for students to share their culture and traditions as well as learn from one another," said Kon, who attended the grand opening. "It is a signal to the entire campus that Indigenous pride of our students and ancestors is strong and thriving at Niagara College."

For the hundreds of Indigenous students on campus, the Indigenous Lounge serves as a home away from home' and plays a central role in daily campus life. Many access the space in between classes to study, participate in activities, or to connect with their peers and their culture.

For Rachel Cloud, Indigenous Student Ambassador for the NC Student Administrative Council and second-year student in the Primary Care Paramedic program, the lounge has played an important role in her personal college experience.

"Moving three hours from home to come to NC left me feeling very lost and isolated. The staff, students and elder of the Indigenous Lounge made me feel welcome and at home from the first day," she said. "When the times got tough, Indigenous Education was there for me to support me in any and every way that I needed."

She has since graduated from Indigenous Education's Seeds of Community program, which teaches leadership skills to create peer mentors within the lounge for new incoming students, and became involved with the Indigenous Learning Circle to help educate faculty on how to support Indigenous students. Cloud noted that said that the Indigenous Lounge helps ease the transition to college for Indigenous students.

"Having the lounge provides a safe space for us to use our medicines, practise our culture, and be ourselves without the fear of scrutiny from others who may not understand or may not be as open and receptive to the practices of other cultures," she said. "The Indigenous Lounge has helped make my experience at NC second to none."

Second-year Business Administration - Human Resources student Dalton Bird, has also become a regular user of the Indigenous Lounge since he arrived at the College, and is thrilled about the new space.

"It's a great opportunity and a great privilege that Niagara College gave us a bigger space because it is very much needed due to growth in the number of Indigenous students at our campuses," said Bird. 

Bird spends his time in-between classes at the lounge not only to access support but to be available to help others with schoolwork or emotional support - just like others helped him during his first year.

"I would say that it's the Indigenous nature to help one another in our community we are one giant family," he said. "We take care of one another just as we would with our families at home."

Niagara College opened its first Aboriginal Student Resource Centre at the Welland Campus in 1992 and its first in Niagara-on-the-Lake in 2015. Both campuses also feature Indigenous gardens. 

For information about Indigenous Education at NC visit niagaracollege.ca/indigenouseducation/