Niagara College’s Indigenous Education Department is pleased to announce that Karl Dockstader, Indigenous activist and community leader, has recently joined the College as the Indigenous Education Cultural Consultant (IECC).

The 18-month Indigenous Education Cultural Consultant role is the first of its kind at NC and is funded through the College’s Dream Big Fund – an initiative designed to support and cultivate trailblazing ideas that align with the key areas of focus in NC’s Strategic Plan.

The role of the IECC will be to support the College community to develop a three year plan that centers around accountability and responds to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada calls to action, Colleges and Institutes Canada (CICan) protocol and the Indigenous Peoples Education Circle (IPEC) action plan.

The project is titled the Katsistiyó or ‘It’s a Good Fire’ and is about building an experience with Indigenous students seeking to better themselves and the communities that they are a part of.

“My main goal is to create a positive experience for all Indigenous students at Niagara College,” said Dockstader. “For me, it is of the upmost importance to work with the College to find ways to address and adapt to First Nation, Métis and Inuit student needs by identifying and implementing ways of knowing, ways of doing and ways of teaching to create a wholistic student experience.”

Dockstader is proudly Oneida, Bear Clan and has lived in the Niagara Region his whole life. He is also an alumnus of Niagara College, having graduated from the Renewable Energies Technician Program in 2013. He identifies as “urban Indigenous’ – a unique part of his identity which provides him with a special ability to connect and integrate Indigenous culture and teachings into the ever-evolving Niagara College community.

“We are thrilled to welcome Karl to NC’s Indigenous Education team,” said Leah Hogan, Associate Director, Indigenous Education. “Karl is active in One Dish, One Spoon territories as an advocate for Indigenous peoples and is unafraid to take bold stances on matters that affect First Nations peoples. He will be instrumental in working with students, community partners and stakeholders to develop a strategy to amplify the student voice and create a positive, wholistic student experience.”

In addition to developing a three-year plan, Dockstader will be responsible for collaborating with the Cultural and Global Engagement team to develop an Indigenous Canadian and global experience project, advising on the creation of Indigenous curriculum at NC – including reviewing and providing feedback on position descriptions and interview processes – and conducting traditional Indigenous openings at signature NC events.

In the immediate future, Dockstader is excited to connect with the NC community and to engage with passionate students who are eager to make an impact.

“I’m really excited to tap into the idealism that NC students possess,” said Dockstader. “Young people often bring a lot more to the table than they are given credit for – especially when it comes to having a social conscience – and I’m looking forward to working with others who are motivated to seek equity and fight for greater social good.”

The creation of the three-year plan will begin with an environmental scan, followed by student consultations throughout the Fall 2023 and Winter 2024 terms which will inform the creation of a culminating report in Summer 2024.

After completion, this work from Katsistiyó will gift leadership, community, and future students with a guiding record that can inform and support Niagara College’s work to respect Indigenous ways of knowing, being and doing.

“The Indigenous Education team at Niagara College is trying to do something different and innovative with this project,” said Dockstader. “We’re going to build something that is very specific to Niagara, very specific to One Dish, One Spoon territories and very specific to the wonderful and unique First Nation, Métis and Inuit students that will participate in this process. Nothing is impossible in terms of what this final project could look like.”

“Enhancing the student experience is among Niagara College’s top priorities,” said Hogan. “By investing in Karl and the IECC role, the Dream Big Fund has allowed us to commit to strengthening our relationship with our local Indigenous community and First Nation, Métis and Inuit students as we build our reputation as a post-secondary institution that respects and honours Indigenous learners and walks in accordance with the Two Row Wampum.”

Dream Big

NC’s Dream Big Fund is designed to support and cultivate trailblazing ideas that align with key areas of focus in the College’s Strategic Plan, to boost capacity to take advantage of new opportunities, and to advance initiatives in areas including but not limited to:

  • Student experience;
  • Programs and services;
  • Research and innovation;
  • People and organizational development;
  • Community partnerships
  • Fundraising;
  • Alumni relations;
  • Learning enterprises;
  • Experiential learning; and
  • Co-curricular opportunities.

The Dream Big Fund is a $1-million fund that enables the College to more quickly approve pilot initiatives and activities that further one or more Strategic Plan objectives.