UNews - Elizabeth Ferguson

Native Awareness Week to focus on truth and reconciliation

caroline.zentner — Thu, 25 Feb 2016 17:25:09 +0000

This year’s Native Awareness Week, February 29 to March 4, brings a week full of events that promise a feast for the body, mind and spirit and includes a session with Wilton Little Child, a commissioner with the Truth and Reconciliation (TRC) Commission.

This year’s theme is truth and reconciliation and Leroy Little Bear (BASc (BA) ’72, LLD ’04), special assistant to the President on Aboriginal issues, encourages everyone to participate.

“Here’s a chance to respond to the challenges thrown out by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission to colleges and universities,” says Little Bear, adding that the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge is responding to the challenges with the establishment of a TRC committee. “So, it’s very fitting that a Native Awareness Week on campus would also serve to awaken the people of the community.”

The week begins with an opening blessing Monday at 11 a.m., followed by a grand entry for the mini powwow at noon. Monday’s activities conclude with a showing of ‘Elder in the Making,’ a film about how a Blackfoot man and a Chinese Canadian rediscover their shared connection to the land and future generations.

People are invited to feast on fry bread and berry soup and try their hand at making a medicine bag on Tuesday. Dr. Michelle Hogue will talk about FNMI and science education from noon to 1 p.m. in the library. The day wraps up with a showing of the film ‘Relearning the Land,’ which presents a story about Red Crow College.

On Wednesday, the Faculty of Management will host a panel discussion titled ‘Aboriginal Tourism: Commodity or Outreach?’ The speakers include Carly Bastien of the Buffalo Rock Tipi Camp, Lori Beaver, who has 30 years of experience in Aboriginal tourism, Stan Knowlton, head of cultural interpretive services at Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump, and Clayton Twigg, former interpretive guide at Writing-on-Stone Provincial Park. Also on Wednesday, Jordan Bennett, a visual artist of Mi’kmaq heritage, will speak at noon and Rod McLeod, a Métis elder, will talk about Métis culture and artifacts.

Thursday’s events include a talk about teaching on reserve schools by the Faculty of Education’s Dawn Burleigh. TRC Commissioner Wilton Little Child will speak from 2 to 4 p.m. in the Students’ Union Ballroom. The day will finish with a talent show sponsored by the Native American Students Association.

Friday’s lineup includes an ART NOW presentation at noon and a closing fire with the elders at 1:30 p.m. Check out the online schedule for more information about events and locations.

Ferguson earns provincial honour

trevor.kenney — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 22:07:40 +0000

Elizabeth Ferguson (BA '03, MA '05, Native American Studies), the coordinator of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge's Native Student Advising office, has received an award from the Institute for the Advancement of Aboriginal Women (IAAW) for her work to support First Nations, Métis and Inuit students at the U of L.

As the first recipient of this award from the U of L community, Ferguson joins more than 300 women from 76 communities across the province who have been recognized for their strength and accomplishments.

First Nations, Métis and Inuit students enjoy the strength of support systems initiated by Elizabeth Ferguson.

"Elizabeth has single-handedly developed a lot of the support systems we have in place for our FNMI students, and has done so in a resourceful, gracious and determined way," says Dr. Judith Lapadat, the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ's associate vice-president, students. "I am extremely proud of her, as are our staff members who work with her to support our FNMI students. Elizabeth is a key point of contact for all of them at some point in their university life, and does everything she can to make their experiences here better. As a U of L graduate who returned to school as an adult, Elizabeth has the inside knowledge they appreciate."

The U of L currently has more than 400 FNMI students from all parts of Canada.

Ferguson, a member of the First Nations Dene community, is well known on campus and in the community for her advocacy for, and wholehearted participation in, numerous activities that showcase the achievements of the U of L's FNMI students. These include an event for families and graduates at spring and fall convocation ceremonies, the annual Native Awareness Week celebration and her role in enhancing the presence of Elders on campus.

She also started an FNMI student-specific food bank, made sure that the campus food services providers learned how to make fry bread, berry soup and other traditional foods at FNMI-focused events and works with students to provide settlement assistance when they relocate to attend school.

Her external community activities include a city-appointed position as the First Nations representative on the board of Economic Development Lethbridge, among many other commitments.

"Elizabeth Ferguson has been invaluable in the cultural, spiritual and scholarly advancement of First Nations, Métis and Inuit students on the campus of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge and has served the larger campus community through her leadership," says Dr. Carol Williams, a faculty member and Chair of the Department of Women and Gender Studies. "She has successfully shown the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ how, and why, ensuring student confidence through cultural specific and sensitive policy and practices is crucial to their success."

Ferguson earns provincial award

trevor.kenney — Fri, 24 May 2013 21:57:02 +0000

Elizabeth Ferguson (BA '03, MA '05, Native American Studies), the co-ordinator of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge's Native Student Advising office, has received an award from the Institute for the Advancement of Aboriginal Women (IAAW) for her work to support First Nations, Metis and Inuit students at the U of L.

As the first recipient of this award from the U of L community, Ferguson joins more than 300 women from 76 communities across the province who have been recognized for their strength and accomplishments.

"Elizabeth has single-handedly developed a lot of the support systems we have in place for our FNMI students, and has done so in a resourceful, gracious and determined way," says Dr. Judith Lapadat, the U of L's associate vice-president, students. "I am extremely proud of her, as are our staff members who work with her to support our FNMI students. Elizabeth is a key point of contact for all of them at some point in their ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ life, and does everything she can to make their experiences here better. As a U of L graduate who returned to school as an adult, Elizabeth has the inside knowledge they appreciate."

The U of L currently has more than 400 FNMI students from all parts of Canada.

Ferguson, a member of the Dene community, is well known on campus and in the community for her advocacy for, and wholehearted participation in, numerous activities that showcase the achievements of the U of L's FNMI students. These include the annual Native Awareness Week celebration, an event for families and graduates at spring and fall convocation ceremonies and her role in enhancing the presence of Elders on campus.

She also started an FNMI student-specific food bank, made sure that the campus food services providers learned how to make fry bread, berry soup and other traditional foods at FNMI-focused events and works with students to provide settlement assistance when they relocate to attend school.

Her external community activities include a city-appointed position as the First Nations representative on the board of Economic Development Lethbridge, among many other commitments.

"Elizabeth Ferguson has been invaluable in the cultural, spiritual and scholarly advancement of First Nations, Metis, and Inuit students on the campus of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge and has served the larger campus community by her leadership," says Dr. Carol Williams, a faculty member and Chair of the Department of Women and Gender Studies. "She has successfully shown the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ how, and why, ensuring student success through cultural specific and sensitive policy and practices is crucial to their success."

Helping students find their way

trevor.kenney — Tue, 10 May 2011 20:29:27 +0000

Shawnee Brave Rock never intended to go to university, but after excelling at her high school upgrading courses, she followed the example of her mother – a PhD student – and enrolled at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge.

Born and raised in Lethbridge, Brave Rock knew the city well, but the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ campus was new territory.

"It was really exciting but at the same time, I was really intimidated. It was just really scary," she says.

For the pre-management student, the Native Student Advisor, Elizabeth Ferguson, has been a critical resource.

Judith Wabegijig, left, and Shawnee Brave Rock are appreciative of the assistance they get from Native Student Advisor Elizabeth Ferguson.

"I'm a single mom, and I think my biggest struggle isn't school – it's life outside of school," says Brave Rock. In the last two years, she's approached Ferguson for help with everything from scheduling classes to accessing the food bank, and says this guidance has eased a lot of the pressure.
"One of the most important factors for success for aboriginal students is the support they receive on campus. This support must be culturally relevant and reflect the needs of the aboriginal community," says Ferguson (BA '03, MA '05).

Campus can feel like a large, imposing place for any student, but it can be especially tough for First Nations, Métis and Inuit (FNMI) students. Many of these students are from out-of-town and may feel shy about asking for help finding the services they need or connecting with the FNMI community. Having an FNMI advisor can mean all the difference.

Judith Wabegijig, a mature student taking Native American Studies, would agree: she meets with Ferguson two or three times each semester for guidance.

"It's stress relieving being able to talk to the advisor about unexpected problems I've had and being directed to the right person to talk to," she says. It's also helped her maintain focus and motivation when the demands of student life pile up.

But success at university requires community support, too. In addition to offering academic counselling for students, the Native Student Advisor organizes several events during the year to connect FNMI students with each other and with the
U of L campus as a whole, like Native Awareness Week. For Brave Rock, these social links are as important as academic services to her success.

"When I'm in class and walking around university, I don't see many aboriginal students. But, because of the services the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ offers, I've met a lot of other native students. It's not that it's exclusive, but we stick together and do things together."

With a tradition of strong aboriginal connections, the U of L implemented the Native Student Advising Program in 2002 in response to the growing number of FNMI students, and to ensure they received the support they needed to succeed academically.

This year, the program received a significant boost thanks to a gift from the Ralph Klein Foundation and matching funds from the Alberta Government through the Access to the Future Fund. As a result, the Native Student Advising Program will be able to hire a second advisor, expand its services and help more students like Brave Rock and Wabegijig in the coming years.

"The Ralph Klein Foundation was proud to support the U of L because of the work the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ does for aboriginal students," says Colleen Klein, who served as Chair of the Foundation. "Words cannot express how much this will impact the lives of the aboriginal students: it will provide them with a sense of welcoming and belonging, and will allow them to follow their dreams and become role models for other students."

UNews - Elizabeth Ferguson

Native Awareness Week to focus on truth and reconciliation

Related Topics

Ferguson earns provincial honour

Related Topics

Ferguson earns provincial award

Related Topics

Helping students find their way

Related Topics