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Mamidosewin Good News
First Full Moon Ceremony of the term coincides as aboriginal women take a stand
The students gather in Algonquin’s Mamidosewin Centre the night of Sept. 8. The scent of fresh cedar dominates the room. Sitting in large chairs in a circular pattern, the ceremony begins.
Candles sit on a small table in the centre of the circle, surrounded by a bowl of fresh strawberries and a tray containing dried tobacco, cedar and sage. A long feather adorned with blue, red and black beads is passed around to be held as each participant discusses their concerns for the month.
Click here to read article from Algonquin Times
Congratulations to Marie-Cecile Nottaway, Algonquin College graduate, on launching her Aboriginal catering business
Kitigan Zibi, June 21, 2012 – Nottaway, originally from Rapid Lake, Quebec, is the owner and powerhouse behind Wawatay Catering, so named in honor of family members who have passed on. Wawatay means northern lights in the Algonquin language and represents the colors of the spirits of the ancestors who continue to guide their loved ones from the spirit world.
Click here to read the whole story from Indian Country Today
Congratulations to Algonquin College graduate Joe Wabegijig, recipient of the Hydro One Scholarship Award.
Toronto, June 25, 2012 – Today Hydro One awarded the first recipients of its Hydro One FNMI Awards, an academic scholarship created for First Nations, Métis and Inuit (FNMI) students that supports their post-secondary education in power-related studies. Hydro One’s 2012 FNMI Award recipients are Joseph Wabegijig and Travis Reinke.
Click here to read the news release.
Algonquin College targets Aboriginal enrollment
Aboriginal student enrolment has skyrocketed at Ottawa’s Algonquin College, which has been making a concerted effort to target the young and growing demographic.The school now has almost 1,500 First Nations, Inuit and Métis students, totalling about eight per cent of the student body. Three years ago there were about 300.”We have, right now, 64 different aboriginal communities sponsoring students at this college,” said Denyce Diakun, the college’s director of workforce and personal development.
Click here to read the whole story from CBC.
Aboriginals struggling for fair status
BY JANIK SHANNON Education is an Aboriginal and Treaty right recognized under the Canadian Constitution Act of 1982, but for some First Nations students those rights aren’t as easily accessible as they should be. When it comes to post-secondary education, most students have two main options: they have their parents pay for their tuition, or they obtain OSAP loans which have to be paid back after graduation. For First Nation students it isn’t always that simple.
Click here to read the whole story from Algonquin Times
Aboriginal Cultural Celebration showcases talent and history
WRITTEN BY REBECCA POTTER Drumming, jewellery and food enticed the crowd into the Aboriginal Cultural Celebration, bringing a colourful presentation to the college. On Oct. 18, the cafeteria was lit up by colourful jingle dresses, Inuit students, Métis dancers and a father and daughter drum and flute duo.
Click here to read the whole story from Algonquin Times
Aboriginal services at Algonquin increase enrollment
WRITTEN BY MICHAEL AUBREY Aboriginal enrollment at Algonquin has soared over the past three years, largely due to new services aimed at increasing retention and easing the transition to college.The number of First Nations, Inuit and Metis students has risen to 1,500, five times the number the college had in 2009. Aboriginals now compose eight percent of the student body. A new campaign to help bridge the cultural gap First Nations students face at the college has led to the appointment of a new Aboriginal success specialist and new initiatives to bring students closer to their communities.
Click here to read the whole story from Algonquin Times
Algonquin supports Aboriginal students
WRITTEN BY MICHAEL AUBREY Algonquin has recognized that provincial funding doesn’t serve the needs of all Aboriginal students, and has taken the initiative by offering its own bursaries and work programs to remedy financial strain. Click here to read the whole story from Algonquin Times
Winter festival celebrates Aboriginal culture on campus
WRITTEN BY MICHELLE FERGUSON February known as “bear moon” or Makwa Giizis in Objibwe, is when the bears turn over in their dens. The mama bear positions her body away from the entrance so that when her cubs are born they will be sheltered from the cold, then sleeps on through the remaining winter weeks. And while there isn’t usually a celebration associated with the bear moon, the Mamidosewin Centre will be holding a winter festival by this name, Feb. 25-March 1. Click here to read the whole story
Bear Moon Rising
WRITTEN BY MICHELLE FERGUSON A slow beat filled the Student Commons, as Christine Tootoo crawled out from behind the orange chairs. Her face painted black and red, her cheeks puffed out with bouncy balls, the Inuit student waved her tongue at the audience and grimaced before letting out an eerie laugh as she made her way to the stage. Algonquin’s Woodroffe campus reflected its aboriginal name last week as the Mamidosewin Centre hosted the Mawka Giizis Bear Moon festival. Click here to read the whole story from Algonquin Times
Idle? Know more
WRITTEN BY: RACHEL AIELLO Lets all join hands, and go around, dancing around the world,” chanted the drum circle at Algonquin College’s first ever round dance flash mob on Jan. 17. The demonstration was aimed at educating the student community about what the ever-expanding Idle No More movement means to them: protecting Mother Earth for future generations. Click here to read the whole story from Algonquin Times
Idle No More Flash Mob
WRITTEN BY: RACHEL AIELLO Beats from a drum circle signaled noon hour as the latest flash mob demonstration in the growing Idle No More movement took place at Algonquin College, Jan. 17. As the rhythm grew, participants joined hands and a round dance formed around the main floor of the Robert C. Gillett Student Commons. Click here to read the whole story from Algonquin Times
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