UNIVERSITY OF SASKATCHEWAN
USask brings prospective students to campus with Indigenous Summer Institute

ISI provided participants the opportunity to explore educational paths, build relationships, and experience campus life in a culturally diverse environment, explained Anteia Waldron, the Oyateki Student Advisor in the Office of the Vice-Provost Indigenous Engagement.

The Indigenous Summer Institute was originally piloted by Dr. Angela Jaime (PhD), USask's vice-provost of Indigenous engagement while she was at the University of Wyoming. In its inaugural year at USask, the program hosted 15 Indigenous high school students from Saskatoon and the surrounding area.

"The participants were able to stay in residence, explore Saskatoon, receive cultural teachings from Métis and First Nations community members," said Waldron, who worked with community organizations, including BHP, to officially launch ISI at USask.

While the ISI does showcase a number of different programs on campus, the goal isn't to get participants to decide what their future will hold, but rather to get them thinking about it.

"The main focus of the ISI is to help dispel any anxieties that Indigenous high school youth might have about post-secondary," said Waldron. "By inviting them to campus we can show them what life would be like if they decided to study here and part of that is just coming to Saskatoon, sleeping in dorm rooms and eating at Marquis Hall."

Initiatives like ISI go beyond just building the framework for the possibility of attending post-secondary, the connections made impact critical things like identity and finding your place in your community.

"I see myself in a lot of these kids," said Tianna Sangwais, a member of the Ochapowace First Nation, ISI mentor, and USask student. "I grew up on my home reserve, my home community, so I love to help provide these opportunities like ISI, ones that I never had when I was growing up.

"I want to show youth that you can still have your culture in an institution like USask. Finding a community among Indigenous student groups on campus improved my students and confidence as it fostered a home away from home."

With six of the mentors from USask and the extended community, ISI participants were able to connect with mentors with diverse backgrounds, finding opportunity and connection with different people.

Precious Harvey, a member of Montreal Lake Cree Nation, ISI mentor and USask student, shared her experience with the youth, demonstrating that not everyone's path looks the same.

"I did not grow up in my own community," said Harvey. "In high school there was almost shame around being Indigenous. Now as a mentor, though, I can show that even if you aren't stereotypically traditional or didn't grow up on the rez, you can still take up space in institutions. It doesn't matter if you're urban, you're still Indigenous and you're still a part of the bigger community."

Harvey said it's the lived experience that adds so much value for participants.

"I've been letting the kids know that I didn't know what I wanted to do," said Harvey. "I took seven years off, and I also had a parent who took 20 years off and went back for a degree."

"It's important for them to know that school isn't going to go anywhere, it's just a matter of when you're ready and when Creator puts you in that right path for it."

Participants had the chance to use state of the art technology in the College of Dentistry, build solar cars in the College of Engineering, and explore their artistic side in the College of Arts and Science's drama program, just to name a few. This quick sampling of what USask has to offer was aimed at exposing them to the possibility of what lies ahead.

"You know, sometimes the thought of your future can be overwhelming," said Sangwais. "There are so many options, but the Indigenous Summer Institute is here to guide them, nurture their medicine wheel, and remind them that at the same time, it's so exciting."

Waldron and the team at the Office of the Vice-Provost, Indigenous Engagement are excited to offer the program again this year, hosting Indigenous high school students on campus this summer from August 10-16. Students in Grades 11 and 12 are encouraged to apply.

"I'm looking forward to seeing the program grow over the next few years and see some of these kids, who are amazing, come back as mentors and lead the next generation of youth coming through," said Waldron. "I think that'd be really beautiful and seeing them thrive and come to campus and be a part of the community."