Research 2006
Sitting in the Circle Together
Mary Young
Director of Aboriginal Student Services
Aboriginal students (First Nations, Métis, and Inuit) who attend The University of Winnipeg have a unique heritage, and equally unique life experiences and challenges when they attend university. The Aboriginal Student Services Centre (ASSC) is a place where Aboriginal students can get support during their studies and build friendships.
Dr. Mary Young, Director of the ASSC, counsels Aboriginal students. She’s also a researcher, exploring the university experiences of Aboriginal students and the effects of reconnecting with culture.
Young and a collaborator at St. Francis Xavier in Antigonish, Nova Scotia are each following three Aboriginal students as they progress through their post-secondary studies. Together, the students and researchers learn about the students’ experiences through twice monthly meetings and through student journals.
“They talk about what happened in the classrooms—what are the difficulties, what are the positive things,” says Young. “They have to balance the two.” Through this process, the students also gain valuable insight into how to perform a research project and develop their own research presentations.
Twice a month, students meet with Young and a community Elder. They share stories and life experiences and begin to develop a relationship built on trust. With the assistance of the Elder, the meetings help students reconnect with their culture, values, and beliefs.
“The students are so excited about this,” says Young. “I think if they had their way we’d meet all the time. I think that’s because I’m not doing research on them, we’re doing it together. So I sit in the circle with them, I’m not above them.”
Young traces her interest in Aboriginal culture and education to her master’s research. She found that many teachers in her classes did not know about the residential school system, a major part of Aboriginal history. As more Aboriginal students enter the school system, Young would like the next generation of teachers to be more informed about Aboriginal issues.
Learning what it means to “be Cree” or to “be Anishinabe” is a focus for Young, who was born on the Bloodvein First Nation in Manitoba. She has recently published a book, Pimatisiwin: Walking in a Good Way, which explores the link between Aboriginal language and identity. She plans to write another book about her current research.
“Part of it is getting the students to know themselves, who they are and who they are becoming,” says Young. “I’m hoping they will become self-confident because that will certainly help them as researchers and teachers, and allow them to assist other teachers and help them in their work. That’s a basic thing. It’s learning to walk together.”
To learn more about her research on Aboriginal education, contact University of Winnipeg faculty member Mary Young at m.young@uwinnipg.ca