First Peoples@Seneca

First Peoples@Seneca strives to provide a smooth transition to and successful completion of college life.

Support services and resources include but are not limited to:

• Academic, personal and career counselling encompassing cultural and traditional sensitivity
• Elder support, full moon teachings, class presentations, opening prayers/blessings for special events
• Drop-in counselling
• Assistance with band funding or sponsorship applications
• Community partner connections that offer support involving housing, bursaries, health services, and youth groups
• Computer lab with updated software for most academic programs
• Comfortable and friendly environment to socialize or study

• Art Exhibits reflecting Canada’s Indigenous Traditional & Contemporary Art & Crafts
• Permanent Traditional and Contemporary Indigenous Art Display at room E1401 of the Newnham Campus
   

• Award Ceremonies for Seneca College and the Indigenous Community
• Year End Banquet: Indigenous Graduates Awards
   

• Tasewung Feast - Honouring the Ancestors & loved ones in October
• Gimaa Giizhik – An Honouring of Leadership Feast
• 3 Welcome Feasts for students for each term
• December student holiday gathering /dinner
• Feasting of the feathers and helpers ceremony
• Monthly full moon ceremonies
  
• Year End Banquet
• Orientation at King, Markham, Newnham and Seneca@York Campus
   

• Annual Indigenous student consultation gathering
• Bell, Let's Talk
• Orange Shirt Day
• Water blessing, King Campus
• MMIW awareness events on and off campus
• Various employer presentations, banks, government and Indigenous agencies

Examples: Various workshops hosted to teach and celebrate Indigenous Art styles eg. bark & quill, acrylic on canvas, leather work, beading and others.

• Teaching Cultural historic sites
• Open Doors Toronto-Historic Buildings
• Various Indigenous Art Tours
• Smudging Ceremony Teaching
• Medicine Wheel Teaching
• Student groups for special projects
• Annual Ice Fishing Inst. Invitational
• December Holiday Dinner event
  

• Opening prayer and Land Acknowledgements for annual events
  
• Remembrance Day Ceremony 
• National Indigenous Day (June 21^st)
• Year End Banquet
   

• Candy Palmater,
  Indigenous comedian, broadcaster and host of the Candy Show
• Dr. Brock Pitawanakwat, Indigenous Languages
• Dr. Niigaanwewidam Sinclair, Professor
• Krystal Abotossaway,
  TD Bank Group

• "Indian Horse" by Robert Wagamese
  
• “A Soldiers Tale” by Michael Grey Eyes
• Film screening such as Empire of Dirt, a TIFF NFB film by Jennifer Podemski

• First Peoples at Seneca Facebook page
• First Peoples at Seneca Instagram
• Black board updates on Indigenous Student Achievements i.e. “Seneca Spotlight” promote award winners
   

• Na-Me-Res Annual Traditional Pow Wow
• Native Child & Family Services Annual Pow Wow
• Toronto Council Fire Annual Pow Wow
• York University All Nations Pow Wow & Gathering
  

just to name a few

Smudging is available at the First Peoples@Seneca office.

Throughout the year, a series of cultural events are planned at various Seneca campuses. Students are welcome to explore and participate in these events. Students can look forward to dancing and drumming exhibitions as well as Indigenous film nights and craft workshops.

• Healthy Eating Program
• MMIW Red Dress Campaign
• Community garden to Medicine Garden strawberries picked and frozen for ceremonies

First Peoples at Seneca Facebook Page