Honours BSocSc Sociology, Minor in Indigenous Studies, Class of 2020

I consider my decision to do a Minor in Indigenous Studies one of the best decisions of my life. First of all, being a non-Canadian Indigenous woman, I had a chance to reconnect with my cultural background and the history of my nation. In some sense, I learned more about my heritage because of the Indigenous Studies courses. This program helped me understand the various social, economic, and political mechanisms that impacted and continue to impact the lives of Indigenous peoples, not only in Canada, but around the world.

Secondly, the variety of the courses required to complete the program allowed me to familiarize myself with different fields, including linguistics, geography, history, and anthropology. I consider this interdisciplinary approach a significant advantage of the program. It introduced me to the beauty and complexity of the Ojibwe language, historical details of treaty relationships, Wampum belts, decolonization, intersectionality, Indigenous research methodologies, indigeneity, and so much more.

Finally, through Indigenous studies courses I found my passion for Arctic research, which led me to enrol in a Master of Arts in Geography at the University of Ottawa. I’m also working as a Research Assistant with Ottawa Dialogue, a University of Ottawa-based organization. My Indigenous Studies background played a significant role in being able to get involved with this organization’s work. Overall, I’m incredibly grateful to everyone involved in the Institute of Indigenous Research and Studies for their hard work, commitment, and dedication during my time in the program.

Honours BSc Biomedical Science, Minor in Indigenous Studies, Class of 2020

I chose to minor in Indigenous studies to explore my connection to my ancestors and round-out my academic studies. As a Biomedical Sciences major, we were taught very objective and empirical scientific methods which left little room for discussion. In my Indigenous studies classes, I was able to explore critical thought, community-centered research, Indigenous epistemologies, and got a better look at how settler academia impacts Indigenous studies and students. I absolutely loved my minor, and it’s prepared me in many ways for my medical studies at the Northern Ontario School of Medicine (NOSM) looking at Indigenous social determinants of health. I would encourage anyone in a non-related field thinking about Indigenous studies to take the leap, it will only broaden your perspectives in your main field!

Honours BA with Major in Indigenous Studies*, Minor in Feminist and Gender Studies*, Class of 2019

I wanted to enter a program that would explore the diversity of unique Indigenous experiences not only to get a better understanding of how I interact with the world as someone with Anishinaabe and European roots, but also to understand the complexity of Indigenous identities as it relates to the land, and to Canada as a state.

Indigenous Studies at uOttawa presented various teaching methods, covering histories, rights, languages, cultures, the effects of colonialism, traditional ways of being, theatre, arts and more, bridging Western ways of learning with Indigenous ways of learning.

In the program, I learned two significant lessons:

One: Things are a lot more complex than I thought they would be. Your elementary and high schools were (likely) wrong!

Two: Institutions and systems that remain colonial will never be able to support Indigenous peoples. There is much work to be done to decolonize and unlearn colonial beliefs and systems, including at the academic level.

This is where the program needs diverse staff and students, to constantly learn from each other and develop future leaders with as much richness as possible. That’s the beauty of the program - it is an opportunity for students and faculty to decolonize academia from the inside out and present new ways of thinking that are invaluable in ALL fields of study. 

Since graduating, I have been advocating for First Nations education as a Policy Analyst with the Assembly of First Nations, where I work collaboratively with First Nations and government partners to find policy solutions and call for increased funding to assist in advancing students’ lifelong learning journeys.

*previously “Aboriginal Studies” and “Women, Gender and Feminist Studies”