Indigenous Support at Saint Mary’s University: Is it Enough?
Written by Annastatia Brooks
Thumbnail & Banner Photo by Recent News about the Indigenous Community on SMU.ca
With Orange Shirt Day just having passed on September 30th, Treaty Day on October 1st, and October being Mi'kmaq History Month in Nova Scotia, now is the perfect time to delve into Indigenous support at Saint Mary's University (SMU). SMU is located in Mi'kma'ki, currently known as Halifax, and is built upon the ancestral and unceded territory of the Mi'kmaq Nation. There is a responsibility for all colonial institutions, such as universities, to acknowledge colonization and respect Indigenous pasts. This article will explore the support that SMU provides for its Indigenous students, and address what can be done to improve SMU’s relationship with their Indigenous students.
Indigenous Student Advisor
Student Affairs and Services recently hired an Indigenous Student Advisor for SMU’s students. The Indigenous Student Advisor’s role on campus includes acting as a form of communication between the university, SMU students, and the Halifax community. The Indigenous Student Advisor also helps plan cultural programs and initiatives, provides guidance in terms of scholarships and awards for Indigenous students, and they are available to offer support for Indigenous students pursuing education in a colonial institution.
Kylar Johnson is the current Indigenous Student Advisor for SMU Student Affairs and Services. He was kind enough to participate in an interview for this article on support provided for Indigenous students at SMU.
This interview has been edited for clarity.
Q: What do you think SMU is doing well in terms of supporting Indigenous students on campus?
Kylar: “I had a conversation with the deans of the different faculties and they are all looking forward to working with me over this next year to develop more programming for Indigenous students (both current and future). While I can’t get into the details of all the things we talked about as we are still very early on in this process, and I wouldn’t want to give promises for programming that long-term ends up not being feasible due to funding, staffing, or other concerns that haven’t come up yet, I believe that in the coming months, should discussions like this continue, we will see a positive improvement for students at the school.”
Q: How can SMU, as a colonial institution, improve? What would you like to see changed?
Kylar: “I believe that the school does have plenty of things that they can improve on, as historically SMU has been behind other institutions when it comes to supporting their Indigenous students, though I believe that this comes from a position of fear rather than malice. Over my past couple of months of working at the school, I have found that there is a desire to help the Indigenous students on the side of the staff and faculty, though I believe that there is an underlying fear that someone is going to mess something up, and as a result, nothing gets done in response to the ongoing issues, which just goes on to perpetuate these issues. The most important thing that I can recommend for current Indigenous students is if they have any issues, concerns, or ideas on supports they would like to see in place, to reach out to me and I will do my best to get started on working toward solutions.”
Mawio’mis
SMU has been hosting an annual Mawio'mi (sometimes referred to as a powwow) since 2018. These Mawio’mis are an Indigenous celebration of life, and they include ceremonies, storytelling, dancing, and drumming. Powwows are incredibly important to the Indigenous community. They are a celebration of culture, and they allow Indigenous people to express themselves in a country where that right was previously stripped away. The Indian Act banned Indigenous cultural ceremonies such as powwows during the 1800s and early 1900s, and hosting powwows despite this legislation became a form of resistance. In 1951 the Indian Act was amended to allow for Indigenous peoples to celebrate their culture without consequences. Today, powwows are a way for Indigenous peoples to express themselves and retain a sacred ceremony that was once forbidden. SMU's Mawio'mis create a space for this, and they are open to the Halifax community.
Financial Aid
Indigenous people have struggled with pursuing secondary education in colonial institutions for generations, as the colonial government intentionally set up barriers preventing Indigenous peoples from achieving this goal. SMU does offer a variety of scholarships and bursaries for Indigenous students, as well as for other underrepresented and vulnerable communities. The Akkerman Bursary, the Kevin Bonnycastle Memorial Award, the Scott McCain & Leslie McLean Diversity Excellence Awards, the Thomas J and Donald P Keleher Memorial Scholarship, and the Turner Bursary are available to Indigenous students attending SMU. The Loretta Saunders Memorial Bursary, the Richard & Nancy Flynn Award for Indigenous Students, and the Sobeys Diversity Excellence Award for Indigenous Students are solely offered to Indigenous students. To apply for these awards, click here.
Furthermore, there are many external scholarships, awards, and bursaries available to Indigenous students. Feel free to contact the Indigenous Student Advisor for information on these awards, or check out the Government of Canada’s official Indigenous Bursaries Search Tool.
Indigenous student lounge
The Indigenous student lounge is available to Indigenous students attending Saint Mary’s. The lounge is located in Burke, room 114. A code is required for entry, and it is for Indigenous students only.
Hearing from SMU’s Indigenous Community
This interview has been edited for clarity.
Alex Sack, who is Mi'kmaw from Sipekne’katik First Nation, has insight into the treatment of Indigenous students attending SMU. He is currently studying Social Justice and Community Studies at SMU, and he has education and work experience as a Social Services Worker.
Q: What has been your experience attending SMU as an Indigenous student? Have your experiences been positive or negative?
Alex: “For me, the first year was difficult as someone who transferred from NSCC Truro; there was much more support at NSCC compared to SMU. At NSCC they provided more support than I ever imagined, and this was for both Status and Non-Status Natives. It was a year after my first year at SMU until SMU hired an Indigenous advisor. At that time, the SMU Indigenous Student Society seemed to be pretty inactive as well. This made it harder to access things such as ceremonies and smudging. The transition to SMU was really hard for me coming from a place where culture and identity were celebrated, and funding was more vast for us.”
Q: What has been your experience working with SMU as an Indigenous person?
Alex: “I think that overall while working with SMU in Res Life, they really wanted to see me succeed. They were able to provide me generously with funding to host the first 2023/24 Indigenous Meet and Greet. They also have a diverse selection of staff and allowed me to take time off to celebrate Mi'kmaw holidays that are not traditionally supported by other work environments.”
Q: What is your involvement outside of SMU in Halifax’s Indigenous community?
Alex: “I am a grass dancer, so I compete and dance for fun at powwows. I also work with a few non-profits in supervisor capacities to facilitate Indigenous teachings and outdoor work, and I provide one-on-one culture support to my clients. Additionally, I work in roles that allow me to teach traditional Mi'kmaw teachings and to act as an advocate for those in need.”
Q: What programs have you taken advantage of as an Indigenous student attending SMU?
Alex: “There is not a lot of programming for Indigenous peoples at SMU. I feel that some of the supports, such as English as a Second Language and Multicultural programs that happen at SMU, do not feel inviting as an Indigenous person, as they are geared towards International students. Or, if there are some geared towards Canadian and American students, it's mostly towards the White Canadians. A lot of Indigenous people, too, do not feel connected to Canada or America, as we recognize ourselves as our own nations and tribes and that are not recognized by other people.”
Q: What would you like to see SMU improve in order to provide better support and cultivate a more inclusive community, as an Indigenous student?
Alex: “One big thing I think would be to provide more academic support that is geared towards Indigenous peoples. For me, English is a second language, so writing in an Academic setting with colonial expectations can be overwhelming.
Considering that for a lot of our Indigenous people it is their first time in a big city and away from home, more supports are needed. One thing that can support this is Dockside having more Indigenous meals.
The Indigenous lounge has a code on the door that can create barriers between people feeling safe and comfortable, especially for Natives who are reconnecting. I myself grew up in foster care and often do not always feel welcomed in certain spaces, even being an Indigenous person with Indian Status; SMU is not set up for those who are reconnecting with their Indigenous identity, either. The lock on the door to this safe space can feel like a barrier to Indigenous students who do not feel like they belong. It can make Indigenous students feel like there is an extra boundary preventing them from fully connecting to thier culture.
Additionally, more spaces where smudging is allowed are needed. I smudge when I am in a crisis, and the current SMU policy is that you have to book a certain room for smudging and inform the conference center when smudging will take place. This only works in certain situations, and I can not determine when I am in crisis or post-crisis. With this being said, the new Indigenous lounge is working on this.
Along with these recommendations, I would also recommend training for all staff. One time, I booked a room to perform a smudging ceremony, and I had permission from Conferences and Services to smudge in their space. Despite this, I was reported to security, and security personnel arrived wearing their uniforms. This was overwhelming, and as a visible minority, having the police called can be intimidating and traumatizing, so security arriving had the same effect. Luckily for me, I've dealt with similar experiences before, and I was able to remain calm, but I know that not everyone feels comfortable enough to stand up for themselves and advocate for their needs. SMU needs to educate all of its staff, including professors, custodial people, and security, on cultural awareness and anti-oppression training. Every worker needs to understand smudging, smudging tobacco, and the ceremony. I was treated like a criminal for smudging even though I was told I could smudge, and more training among all staff should be mandatory, not just for Indigenous students, but for students of all cultures, to ensure that everyone feels welcomed.
[Author’s note: smudging is a sacred ceremony performed by Indigenous peoples across the world. It involves burning a sacred plant, then wafting and inhaling the smoke to cleanse oneself of negative thoughts.]
Q: Would you recommend SMU to other Indigenous people seeking a post-secondary education, or would you suggest another institution?
Alex: “I would say that if you are a prospective student, you cannot rely on SMU for additional support at this time. I am hoping that the new Indigenous Advisor can make the necessary changes, but at this time I would say no.
Especially for those who are coming into the city for the first time and away from their culture, it can be really hard. Or, even if you are a new, reconnecting native, there are some barriers in place that make it difficult. If you want to come to SMU, do it: it is a very diverse school and there are caring people at the school that will help you if you bring up your concerns! They want to help you and they recognize the gaps that SMU has. But, you have to be your own advocate, because if you do not speak up about your needs, they will go unnoticed and you will not be connected. If this is your first time here in Halifax please connect with the Mi'kmaq Friendship Centre.”
SMU Compared to Other Local Universities
Though SMU is known for its intercultural community, much change still needs to occur to improve the institution for Indigenous students.
According to Winds of Change, a magazine focused on advancing Indigenous students in STEM, the top schools for Indigenous students in Canada located in the Atlantic provinces include Acadia University, Cape Breton University, Dalhousie University, Memorial University of Newfoundland, Mount Saint Vincent University, University of New Brunswick, and University of Prince Edward Island. SMU is not mentioned on this list.
In 2018, two professors, Diane Obed and Sandra Muse Isaacs, quit their jobs at SMU because of the institution's lack of support and “failure to Indigenize”, otherwise known as a failure to decolonize. In an interview with APTN National News, Obed and Muse Isaacs expressed their complaints surrounding SMU’s failure to cultivate a more inclusive environment towards Indigenous people in a colonial institution, eventually leading to them leaving their workplace. In an interview with the National Post, Muse Isaacs stated that SMU's actions towards reconciliation are mere "window dressing". While the statements, promises, and gestures that SMU is making for Indigenous people are important, they are not sufficient, and action is needed.
When viewing SMU's website, it seems apparent that they are making an effort through the President's Task Force on Aboriginal Students, by hiring an Indigenous Student Advisor, and by creating an Indigenous student lounge. However, when hearing from their Indigenous students and staff, it is apparent that the institution has made empty promises and has failed to follow through with the recommendations provided by the Indigenous community.
What can SMU do better for their Indigenous students?
Looking to the leading universities in Atlantic Canada as inspiration, here is a list of what SMU should add to their already existing support so that Indigenous students can feel that they belong and are valued at SMU. Let SMU be a school that Indigenous students can recommend to other Indigenous folk seeking post-secondary education, knowing that they will thrive, be accepted, and be encouraged to fully express their Indigenous identity while attending.
Add an Indigenous Student Centre in the O'Donnell Hennessey Student Centre
This center would be modeled on Dalhousie University's Indigenous Student Center. It could be a designated, separate space in the O'Donnell Hennessey Student Centre used to provide Indigenous students with direct support and allow them to gather in a safe place.
Plan and host exclusively Indigenous cultural events and banquets.
Mount Saint Vincent University hosts a plethora of events, including an Indigenous Student Centre Open House and Orientation, a Treaty Day Celebration, a Mi'kmaw Mid-Winter Feast, and Cultural Workshops including drum building, talking stick making, and languages.
Increase awareness on Indigenous celebrations and national days of awareness
Including National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, Treaty Day, National Indigenous Peoples Day, Apuknajit, National Day of Action for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and Two-Spirited People, and Mi'kmaq History Month; they each must be more than just acknowledged.
Provide free tutoring for Indigenous students.
Considering that approximately 10.2% of Indigenous people living in what is now called Canada speak an Indigenous language as their first language and that education is less accessible in Indigenous communities, tutoring and educational support are necessary. Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador offers free tutoring services for Indigenous students, and SMU should as well.
Create a permanent, designated smudging space.
Follow Dalhousie University Agricultural Campus' initiative by implementing a designated, ventilated smudging space. The Dalhousie University Agricultural Campus Student Learning Commons provides sage bundles for students and has a built-in permanent exhaust exchange system so that smudging can be performed immediately when one is experiencing a crisis without the hassle of booking ahead of time.
Increase Elder involvement on campus.
As Dalhousie University has already shown, Elders must be present on campus to offer support and guidance to Indigenous students. Elders are crucial for knowledge keeping and continuing cultural traditions, and they can help to improve Indigenous student’s wellbeing on campus.
Overall, though it is clear that SMU is attempting to acknowledge Indigenous history and land rights through land acknowledgments, meager services, and inadequate support, it is clearly not enough. The dark history of European settlers in what is now called Canada can hardly be offset by hollow words and empty promises. SMU must step up and increase/improve their pre-existing supports in order to ensure that Indigenous students feel welcomed, valued, and that they belong at SMU.