Kendaaswin Day 2023
Jun 1, 2023 | Vanessa Tignanelli, Storyteller & Content Creator
“Kendaaswin” is an Ojibway word that translates broadly to “learning.” The goal of Kendaaswin Day is to offer Indigenous students an opportunity to visit Canadore College and experience firsthand the opportunities available after high school.
For this year’s Kendaaswin Day at Canadore College, Indigenous youth from local school boards visited the new learning and cultural gathering spaces in the Village at College Drive campus, with a focus on our Indigenous Wellness and Addictions Prevention program.
Over the course of the day, students participated in meaningful activities, drumming, storytelling, and workshops led by our Kikandaaswiwin Mookiisin STEAM Coordinator, our post-secondary STEAM Instructors, and our Indigenous Student Ambassadors.
Canadore College has been delivering meaningful Indigenous education for over 30 years, and supports Indigenous learners through both the School of Indigenous Studies (which currently oversees 21 programs) as well as the First Peoples’ Centre (which offers student success services, including cultural and personal supports.)
Nearly 30 percent of Canadore’s total student population is of Ojibway, Oji-Cree, Cree Algonquin, Mohawk, Inuit or Métis cultural heritage from Ontario, Québec and nation-wide – one of the highest representations in the provincial college system.
Canadore continues to strive to be a leader in reconciliation, intergenerational learning, and relationship building. We hope that these students were inspired by today’s teachings, and can see how a holistic learning environment can connect them to a variety of educational and career pathways for Indigenous learners.