Building confidence of Indigenous post-secondary learners
A program at Cambrian College is helping prepare Indigenous students as they consider post-secondary education.
The Indigenous Learner Transition Program is part of a three-year research project to help students gain confidence and feel encouraged to pursue post-secondary education.
The program was developed at Cambrian and funded through the Natural Science and Engineering Research Council of Canada.
"A lot of times our Indigenous learners would come to campus and only be here for a week or two and then they would go back to their communities and that is really backed up by research," said Janice Clarke, dean of the school of justice, community service and general studies at Cambrian College.
"Indigenous students experience high levels of stress, mostly because they are moving away from their community and the relocation is really stressful."
Winter Visitor is from the Wemindji First Nation, a small community on the east coast of James Bay. She will start her first year at Cambrian College this September but is in Sudbury early taking part in the Indigenous Learner Transition Program.
"I am finding a sense of myself and also my culture, as well," said Winer.
"I can also pass along the teaching that I am learning here, as well. So I like to also learn and also share."
Kailey O'Bumsewin is a mentor in the program. She took it last year as she prepared to enter her first year of nursing at Cambrian.
"College can be a lot of stress because of the academic side and then, like, we have full moon ceremonies, which is like releasing the stress and stuff. So that really helped me manage (to) balance college life," said O'Bumsewin.
The medicine wheel is a big focus of the program.
"Understand the differences between the physical, the spiritual, the mental and the all-encompassing balance that comes from working your wheel on a daily basis," said James Tregonning, coordinator of the program.
"So taking that way of life and putting it into practise."
The program was launched in August of 2021. So far, 42 Indigenous learners from across Canada have taken part with many pursuing post-secondary education.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Why these immigrants to Canada say they're thinking about leaving, or have already moved on
For some immigrants, their dreams of permanently settling in Canada have taken an unexpected twist.
DEVELOPING Live updates from the Trump hush money trial: Stormy Daniels, bookkeeper testify
Adult film star Stormy Daniels is on the stand a second time Thursday as former U.S. president Donald Trump’s hush money case continues in Manhattan. Follow live updates here.
Ontario family receives massive hospital bill as part of LTC law, refuses to pay
A southwestern Ontario woman has received an $8,400 bill from a hospital in Windsor, Ont., after she refused to put her mother in a nursing home she hated -- and she says she has no intention of paying it.
Here are the ultraprocessed foods you most need to avoid, according to a 30-year study
Studies have shown that ultraprocessed foods can have a detrimental impact on health. But 30 years of research show they don’t all have the same impact.
Miss Teen USA steps down just days after Miss USA's resignation
Miss Teen USA resigned Wednesday, sending further shock waves through the pageant community just days after Miss USA said she would relinquish her crown.
B.C. wildfires likely to spread with weekend temperatures expected to soar, province says
Wildfire and emergency management officials in British Columbia are urging residents to be prepared for increased fire activity as temperatures are expected to soar above 30 C in parts of the province this weekend.
Listowel, Ont. football player drafted, despite only three years of experience
A Listowel, Ont. man, drafted by the Hamilton Tigercats last week, is also getting looks from the NFL, despite only playing 27 games of football in his life.
Ontario man frustrated after $3,500 paving job leaves driveway in shambles
An Ontario man considering having his driveway paved received a quote from a company for $7,000, but then, another paver in the neighbourhood knocked on his door and offered half that rate.
BREAKING Sheldon Keefe out as head coach of Toronto Maple Leafs
The Toronto Maple Leafs have fired head coach Sheldon Keefe. The team made the announcement Thursday after the Original Six franchise lost to the Boston Bruins in seven games in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs.