Indigenous Student Services: Connection and Engagement at First Nations House
Indigenous Student Services (previously known as First Nations House) worked with the Innovation Hub in Summer 2018 to investigate the reasons for a decline in student accessing services, solicit ideas for enhancing Indigenous Student Services's physical space, and gather inspiration for future programming.
Summer 2018
What services do Indigenous students need?
The goals of this project were to better understand student perspectives on the space, gain insight on the current state of Indigenous student engagement, and develop data-informed design principles for physical and program design.
KEY FINDINGS
Indigenous students and staff place significant value on their experiences and relationships with Indigenous-led student groups and services
Findings were divided into three themes:
- Guidance and support
- Community and space
- Structural barriers
Guidance and Support: Many students refer to First Nations House as a one-stop hub for basic needs; financial, academic, and cultural support; and guidance on navigating life at university.
Community and Space: For many students, it is important to have programming that is reflective of the Indigenous student body, private outdoor spaces to engage in cultural practices, and a connection with the community.
Structural Barriers: Many participants shared their frustrations with the structure of Indigenous programming and the institution’s inability to appropriately respond to the community’s needs. Staff are concerned about the ways students can access information and resources, and students question the lack of Indigenous representation in decision-making processes at student services.