Janine Landry speaks with Carla Duncan and Alicia Brink about the Apiwin Centre at Confederation College in Thunder Bay. Their position within the College’s Negahneewin Student Services is to be Student Navigators. At the Centre they are available to students during regular college hours. The Centre is targeted towards Indigenous students; however, they would never turn anyone away. Their goal is to make Indigenous students feel welcome and create a safe, comfortable space for students. They support students in a holistic way to help them meet their needs and succeed in school. They create a safe space for students (and often times community members as well) to come and have a place where they feel comfortable and can get help. The Student Navigators each have their own specialty, however they will help students with anything from their academics to personal and social issues, health issues, navigating the services within the college and the city. They bring community members into the centre to introduce students to the different services and personnel that are available within the community. The Student Navigators also hold activities for students such as beading, and mitten making. They bring Elders into the centre, hold powwows, bring students to their outdoors learning area to receive land teachings, and much more.
