Indigenous Education Month spotlight: Sandi Wemigwase

“What brought me to this work is wanting to make an impact in post-secondary institutions,” says Wemigwase.

November 1, 2018

By Kaitlyn Balkovec
 

November 1 marks the start of Indigenous Education Month. Throughout this month, OISE News will spotlight Indigenous people from the OISE community who are doing work in Indigenous education. Through these conversations, we’ll explore the question: ‘How can Indigenous education advance justice for Indigenous peoples?’

Today, we start with Sandi Wemigwase. Sandi is a member of the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians from Harbor Springs, Michigan and is currently a 3^rd year doctoral student at OISE.

When talking about what brought her to her work in Indigenous education, Wemigwase says she has always wanted to make improvements in post-secondary institutions that would benefit Indigenous students.

“I want to leave the place in a better condition than it was when I was there, so that the generations that come after me will have fewer challenges,” she says.

Wemigwase hopes that the success of Indigenous students within universities will pave the way for future generations of Indigenous people who are thinking about attending post-secondary institutions.

“It is important that there is a trail of successful Indigenous scholars,” she says.

Watch the video above to learn more about Sandi’s work in Indigenous education. 

Indigenous Education Month Spotlight: 
 

• Professor Jennifer Brant is teaching future educators how to incorporate Indigenous perspectives into the classroom
   
• Dallas Fiddler is working to increase representation and break down barriers for Indigenous students
   
• Doctoral student Fernanda Yanchapaxi strives to protect Indigenous knowledges for future generations