Exploring the role of Indigenous-based support in post-secondary education: the on-campus Friendship Centre at Grande Prairie Regional College
Date
2018-09-04
Authors
Benning, Brigitte
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Abstract
In response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of 2015, and the longstanding advocacy of Indigenous peoples, there is a national movement within Canada to better support Indigenous students in post-secondary institutions. Research that is strength-based, Indigenous-led, and community-focused recognizes the wealth of existing Indigenous knowledge, practices and programs across Canada. This includes the variety of interventions which are being employed to Indigenize and decolonize post-secondary institutions, such as the On-Campus Friendship Centre at Grande Prairie Regional College. The On-Campus Friendship Centre, which is an Indigenous-based support program for all students, has been running for nearly two decades. Nationally, there are 125 Friendship Centres, yet the On-Campus Friendship Centre is the only one that is directly situated within a post-secondary institution. Through the guidance of my Métis Sash Research Framework, which I created to reconcile Indigenous and qualitative methodologies, I have engaged in research that explores the role of the On-Campus Friendship Centre in the experiences of Indigenous students at Grande Prairie Regional College. From my findings, I discuss the role of the On-Campus Friendship Centre and address prominent challenges within the program. I also highlight wise-practices for improving Indigenous-based support within post-secondary institutions across Canada.
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Indigenous, Post-Secondary Education, Indigenous-Based Support, Indigenous Students, Indigenization, Reconciliation, Decolonization, Friendship Centre, Intergenerational Trauma, Intergenerational Resilience, Wise-Practices, Strength-Based Research, Metis, Indigenous Methodologies, Qualitative Methodologies, Residential Schools