Connecting to one another and to the land. That was the goal of NPAAMB’s On the Land, Meet and Greet, held September 15 on the historical grounds of Willowbank Heritage Conservation School in Queenston.
NPAAMB coach mentor Marie Bowering prepares for the smudge as NPAAMB executive director Jason Shawana officially welcomes students to a circle of support.
The gathering, which welcomed the latest students in NC-NPAAMB’s Journey to Success in healthcare program, represented a new tradition for the team.
“Nearly three quarters through the 14-week virtually-delivered program with our last cohort, the NPAAMB team created a day for students to gather on the land, in real-time, live for the very first time,” said Shanyn Porter, NC program manager. “It was transforming for all involved that day as we connected with one another and the land, and it gave students the ‘boost’ of human energy they needed to get to the finish line, and what we needed too, to help get them to the end successfully!”
Porter says the program team wanted to continue to instill the powerful feeling of connection to people and to the land within current students, who are also taking the program virtually during the COVID-19 pandemic, which is how the On the Land, Meet and Greet was born.
“As we move forward now with our virtual delivery, we won’t be just faces behind the screens to one another, we will be so much more,” she said.
Journey to Success students and program delivery staff were joined by staff from NC’s Indigenous Education, NCSAC representatives and other members from the NPAAMB team at the On the Land, Meet and Greet.
NCSAC president Tom Price attended the gathering to help provide a warm NC welcome to students.
“The opportunity to attend the On the Land, Meet and Greet to welcome the new Journey to Success healthcare cohort highlights the collaborative partnership between NCSAC, Indigenous Education at Niagara College, Niagara College, and NPAAMB,” said Price. “Gathering on the historical grounds of Willowbank Heritage Conservation School and participating in a smudging circle with 30 members of the Indigenous community, only strengthens our meaningful relationships and highlights our focus on the success of our Indigenous student community.”
The current cohort began its 14-week journey to success on September 14.
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