Wabnode Centre for Indigenous Services

Welcome to your home away from home! From advisors and cultural programs to a comfortable space for you and your friends, we are here to help you succeed and stay connected to your roots. Our Elders provide personal support, while community partnerships make sure you are fine financially and thriving academically.

Encounter exciting new experiences while staying true to who you are!

• Provide one-on-one support, guidance, and encouragement
• Provide a cultural space on campus where students can smudge daily or just have a quiet space to reflect
• Help students to maintain and achieve wellness and life balance through mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual supports
• Enable students to participate in various ceremonies and celebrations throughout the year in our Sacred Arbour
• Lead various activities such as community circles, cultural teachings, community hand drumming and singing, Art Speaks, and the Elder’s Corner

• Encourage students to self-identify
• Promote student life events across the college and throughout the community
• Organize, support, and facilitate Indigenous student events and activities offered through the Wabnode Centre
• Support students in their transition from their community to the city and the college, helping to create a home away from home

Gchi-kinnomaagwein Miinwaa Enaadmaaget

• Assist you in identifying areas of difficulty and developing strategies to improve your performance
• Provide appropriate information, direction, and referral to other departments and agencies
• Provide support services, through community agency referrals to you if you are experiencing social/personal challenges in the areas of health, affordable housing, child–care, and financial need
• Provide academic support
• Assist you with funding and scholarship/bursary applications
• Act as a liaison between the Wabnode and The Learning Centre for tutoring support

The college has many bursaries available to help students with specific and immediate financial needs. You may be eligible for these awards.

Cambrian Indigenous Student Circle (CISC) is a student-led, elected association that assists and supports students by promoting Indigenous culture. The association is comprised of the President, Vice-President, Indigenous Student Life Coordinator, and two student representatives.

By organizing events and activities highlighting Indigenous culture, language, traditions, stories, and ceremonies, their focus is on introducing, educating, and sharing aspects of the Indigenous way of life with the entire student body. By inviting everyone into the circle, CISC offers the entire Cambrian community the opportunity to learn and understand, with the goal of reconciliation.

Every year, our Wabnode Centre for Indigenous Services and the Cambrian Indigenous Student Circle (CISC) lead Orange Shirt Day commemorations at Cambrian. Orange Shirt Day is held every September to remember all Indigenous students who attended residential schools, particularly those who died while in the care of these schools. Given current circumstances, we support all members of the Cambrian community who may wish to wear orange.

Cambrian staff and students may contact Wabnode to learn more about residential schools and the process of truth and reconciliation. Please see the contact information below. A National Residential School Crisis Line has been set up to provide support for former students and those who have been or continue to be impacted. Emotional and crisis referral services can be accessed by calling the 24-hour national crisis line: 1 (866) 925-4419.

To learn more, visit the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation (NCTR) website using the link below.

May 5 is the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG).

It is also known as Red Dress Day. Since 2011, people have been hanging red dresses in public places to remember missing and murdered Indigenous females in Canada, who are estimated to number in the thousands.

The red dress as a symbol was chosen for a variety of reasons. According to Indigenous culture, red is the only colour spirits can see and is a way of calling the spirits of missing and murdered women and girls back to their loved ones. The colour red also symbolizes many things, such as blood, anger, love, and the strength of women.

Beginning in 2020, Cambrian began offering a cultural awareness training program, Four Seasons of Reconciliation to Cambrian staff and students. This three-hour, ten-module online course is designed to directly respond to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s 94 Calls to Action.

It promotes a renewed relationship between Indigenous peoples and Canadians through transformational learning about truth and reconciliation. It was specifically designed in response to Call to Action #62, which focuses on the need for institutions such as Cambrian to implement curriculum and resources to help people learn about the historical and current context of Indigenous people.

Upon completion of 4 Seasons of Reconciliation, Cambrian staff and students can contact marnie.seal@cambriancollege.ca to receive a certificate.

Visit myCambrian to access the 4 Seasons of Reconciliation module.

The Circle for Indigenous Education at Cambrian College was formed to provide strategic direction, leadership, and advice with regard to Indigenous-specific programming and ensuring students obtain the utmost Cambrian College experience.

The Circle for Indigenous Education is made up of eleven members and three support members. These members represent a broad and diverse cross-section of the community. It includes Wabnode staff, Indigenous students, board members, Indigenous community members, and College staff.

Cambrian College recognizes its responsibility and obligation to provide a learning environment that celebrates the culture and the cultural diversity of our Indigenous learners. Indigenous education will strengthen the learning environment for both Indigenous and Non-Indigenous students.