Celebration of Learning Brings VIU Students, Mentors and Elders Together

VIU Elder-in-Residence Gary Manson leads a prayer song at VIU’s fifth annual Celebration of Learning event that was held at Shq'apthut, VIU’s Aboriginal Gathering Place, Feb. 10.

February 22, 2017 - 10:15am

Annual event honours strength of VIU’s Aboriginal student mentoring program, Community Cousins

The fifth annual Celebration of Learning at Vancouver Island University’s (VIU) Shq'apthut Gathering Place was not just about learning but a celebration of mentorship, Indigenous resilience and the Aboriginal journey to university.

The Feb. 10 event was organized and facilitated by student mentors from VIU’s 'Su'luqw'a' Community Cousins Aboriginal Mentorship Program. It brings Aboriginal students, community members and Elders together to share their experiences and talk about what led them to attend university in the first place. It also provides an opportunity to share how Community Cousins supported them in their journey.

VIU President and Vice-Chancellor Dr. Ralph Nilson is a big supporter of the mentoring program. He attended to welcome everyone to the event and stayed to participate in the day’s activities.

“The concept of Community Cousins started with the strength of traditional knowledge and learning. It is sustained through individual lived experiences and people coming together to learn from each other. Through that process everyone becomes stronger and that’s what education is all about,” said Nilson. “Mentorship plays a very important role in Indigenous communities and I congratulate the students, Elders and staff that had the vision to develop the Community Cousins program here at VIU and to build it into the powerful mentorship program it has become.”

Sheldon Scow is a VIU First Nations Studies and Anthropology student who shared his story with the crowd of participants. He talked about a journey of personal loss, grief, addiction and later triumph when he successfully pursued a degree program. Now in his second year at VIU and receiving top marks, Scow says he is spiritually, mentally and physically prepared to succeed.

“After the loss of someone very close to me I was a hurt, scared little boy who was too terrified to try at life. As a result, when I first attempted to come to VIU, I wasn’t ready. It took me a long time and many setbacks to really admit I wasn’t ready,” said Scow. “I finally took the time I needed to learn how to take care of myself. Even though I was hesitant, I joined Community Cousins and this place became my home away from home. I felt love here and it put me on the right path.”

He said joining Community Cousins and talking with VIU Elders-in-Residence sparked a thirst for his culture and a desire to learn about his language and people.

“I never thought I’d get here but I finally learned how to enjoy life and that was an important step. I have my mother, Community Cousins mentors and Shq’apthut staff to thank for that,” said Scow.

VIU Elder-in-Residence Gary Manson spoke about the ongoing reconciliation work being done at VIU and his participation in the Reconciliation Road series of events that took place on campus this past November. He says as an Elder it is important to him to talk with Indigenous youth about what suppression looks like.

“As we struggle to regain our language, health, traditions and culture we are reminded that colonization was very effective. These reminders of the injustices that took place bring up a lot of anger but it’s important for us to experience that together,” said Manson. “Thanks to the resilience of our young people who are, as best they can, carrying on with our ceremonies and traditions we are defining our future. I tell faculty members here – your kindness is a good start. In this gathering place we are visible and that is a good thing, a powerful thing.”

He said through the Community Cousins program they discuss their ceremonies, share traditional medicine, stories and much more.

“These are just a few of the topics we talk about here in this place and you can’t imagine how proud that makes us as Elders, as First Nations people, that we are having these conversations with our young people,” said Manson. “As Elders, we do this because we are striving to help our grandchildren have a better life – to not only survive in this world, but to thrive.”

To learn more about the mentoring program and to find out how to get involved go to VIU’s 'Su'luqw'a' Community Cousins Aboriginal Mentorship Program.

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