Canadore College Supports Indigenous Learners: Here's How

From the First Peoples' Centre to the Kikandaaswiwin Mookiisin Indigenous STEAM program, Canadore's here to support your Indigenous education.

Each year, Canadore College welcomes approximately 700 Indigenous learners to our three campuses in the City of North Bay, located on the traditional territory of Nipissing First Nation and on lands protected by the Robinson-Huron Treaty of 1850. Our satellite campus is in Parry Sound, located on the traditional territory of Wasauksing.

Last year over half of those Indigenous learners attended programs offered on campus, whereas others went to Indigenous partner campuses or learned and earned credentials in their home communities. Many more chose a part-time learning path.

Nearly 20 percent of Canadore's total on-campus student population celebrates Indigenous heritage from diverse nations.

The First Peoples' Centre offers comprehensive cultural and academic support for Indigenous learners attending Canadore and reaches out to many more through recruitment, promotion, and community outreach projects.

The Indigenous student experience at Canadore

At Canadore, many Nations are represented, including:

• Ojibway
• Oji-Cree
• Cree
• Algonquin
• Métis
• Mohawk
• Inuit

We welcome approximately 700 Indigenous students annually from across the country.

Many services are available for our students, including:

• personal and academic counselling
• advocacy
• elders' programs
• mentorship
• peer tutoring

Our goal is to offer cultural relevancy within post-secondary programming to increase student and graduate opportunities. Our Indigenous Preparatory Studies, Indigenous Pre-Health, and Indigenous Wellness and Addictions Prevention programs are unique to the province.

CASA: Canadore Aboriginal Students Association

All First Nation, Inuit, and Métis (FNIM) students are encouraged to be a part of the CASA (Canadore Aboriginal Students Association) team. CASA members are leaders in connecting students and creating our exciting and inclusive campus culture by presenting a diverse selection of events, activities, and student success learning opportunities.

CASA is a volunteer cored group, and members will form a supportive, coaching, inclusion relationship with FNIM students and the college community at large, to help peers develop college survival skills and learning strategies. The overall goal is to encourage independent learning, healthy lifestyles, and a satisfying, memorable college experience. It's a lot of fun, so be sure to join us!

Kikandaaswiwin Mookiisin Indigenous STEAM program

Understanding that Indigenous peoples have been practicing STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) for thousands of years, the KM STEAM Program honours and celebrates the land and its teachings.

Developed in partnership with Actua, a national network of 40 university and college members including Canadore College, Kikandaaswiwin Mookiisin empowers young people to see their future educational and career success in high-skill STEAM fields — while giving them renewed confidence in their Indigenous identity and unique place in the world.

What is Kikandaaswiwin Mookiisin?

The Kikandaaswiwin Mookiisin Indigenous STEAM Program is an educational and career initiative of the School of Indigenous Studies and the First People's Centre at Canadore College in North Bay, Ontario, developed with its national partner, Actua. Kikandaaswiwin Mookiisin means "knowledge springing forth."

What is STEAM?

We live in a quickly changing world where competency in the integrated STEAM disciplines — Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics — will be vital for students to succeed in almost any career they choose. It's not just the subject matter that's important in STEAM, but its problem-solving approach that focuses on hands-on (experiential) learning, rooted in the land, and responding to real world challenges and opportunities.