Guidance, tutoring offered to U of M Indigenous students

Aleks Settee is counting on services and programs for Indigenous students at the University of Manitoba to help them avoid the problems that prevented them from graduating with a psychology and fine arts degree six years ago.

Settee, just one of numerous First Nations, Metis and Inuit students who went to a special orientation for Indigenous students at the university on Wednesday, said they learned about where to go to for class schedule assistance, career guidance, and tutoring.

“I’m not sure what was and wasn’t available in 2017, but whatever it was I didn’t have access to them,” the 26-year-old said, noting they left their studies two years later.

“I came here because I wanted to know what was out there for resources and to meet people. When I came here in 2017 I was right out of high school and wasn’t sure what I was doing. It wasn’t the right time for me.”

Equipped with knowledge about supports, Settee said they know they can achieve their goal.

Angie Bruce, vice-president (Indigenous) at the University of Manitoba, said the institution used the orientation to introduce both new and mature Indigenous students to the school at the beginning of the academic year, and show them the supports and programs that are there to help them excel.

She said they include everything from a sweat lodge on campus to an Indigenous Student Centre to Indigenous student connectors.

“We have 3,248 Indigenous students this year on the first day of classes,” Bruce said.

“That’s a 10.7 per cent rise (from last year) and the highest we’ve ever had. We’ve never broken the 3,000 mark until now — we’re really thrilled.”

Bruce said it is one thing to encourage more Indigenous students to enrol, but the institution wants to do everything it can to help them succeed by reaching their academic and career goals.

“It is really about connecting our Indigenous students with their culture and all of the programs,” she said.

“Research with First Nations, Métis and Inuit students has found the stronger they are in their culture, the stronger their success… they can come from 300 students at a school to 31,000 students here. This orientation really helps create that sense of belonging here.

“This is a great event to create that sense of community.”

Bruce said the university begins reaching out to them while they are in mid-high school.

“We’ve put a high priority on recruiting,” she said. “We want them to believe they can come here and can succeed.”

Korey Whiteway, who is in his third year of studies in the faculty of arts, said his goal is a career in psychology.

Whiteway, 25, said he is glad there are programs and services to help Indigenous students because he was assisted by the Qualico Bridge for Success program before enrolling at the university.

“The orientation definitely has helped me find my community quick,” he said. “You gradually would find it here, but I found it quickly because of this.

“The University of Manitoba is doing a good job of helping the Indigenous community.”

kevin.rollason@freepress.mb.ca