First step in strengthening of relationship
“It’s something that I think everybody really has in common, not only just our people, but other religions and other people in general, we always like to give thanks to the things we have, the things that are provided to us. To have our students have the idea to make the mural based on that moment, it’s such a cool thing,” said Hamelin.
“It’s such a meaningful part of our culture as well, being able to give thanks to everything on our Earth, and it’s just one of the coolest things I think I’ve ever seen.”
Hamelin emphasized how this was a good step for the college to take in strengthening relationships with the Indigenous students who do choose to go to Champlain.
“For a long time, many different schools and institutions didn’t really have too many things to represent our people. Being one of the first to have a mural be put up to recognize our students and the community and recognize that partnership that we have with the school, it was a really cool thing to finally be able to see it, and it’s an honour,” said Hamelin.
“This is a place where they have the support from not just the Indigenous students here, Indigenous staff members, but also the non-Indigenous students and the non-Indigenous staff members. They have the full support of the college. This college is welcoming our people. We’re not outsiders.”
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Jonathan Collin, the director of Student Services at Champlain, said that it was important for the college to do that.
“I see it as a necessary step to moving forward with the community and creating important links for students who don’t necessarily look at our college as a place that they would necessarily see themselves. Having and creating space for them to feel welcome, feel like it’s home, is extremely important for us, so we’re happy to do it. I think it’s a great step forward,” said Collin.
“I think it’s huge, and it’s really encouraging for me as a new director of Student Services to see that it’s making a difference for our students and our whole population, really enjoy it. When we unveiled it, we had a big crowd out, and people were really happy to see it up there, which I think is a huge step forward.”