November 20 to 24 is Indigenous Education Wellness Week at Niagara College and a lineup of workshops are being offered to encourage Indigenous students and their allies to get active and find balance in their lives.
From fitness classes and therapeutic art activities to meditation and medicine wheel workshops, students are sure to find programming that interests them, with a variety of offerings available at both campuses during the week.
Students can view the offerings through the links below:
View full calendar of events at Welland Campus
View full calendar of events at Daniel J. Patterson Campus in Niagara-on-the-Lake
View workshop descriptions here
The initiative is a partnership between multiple college areas including Health, Wellness and Accessibility Services (HWAS), Indigenous Education, Athletics and Student Engagement and the NC Student Administrative Council (NCSAC). The College is also welcoming several community partners who will host activities for students including Spirit Painting and Beaded Lanyards workshops.
“IE Wellness Week is a series of workshops offered for Indigenous students and their allies to breathe, play, and be well,” said Jamie Consoli, Indigenous Counsellor, HWAS. “With finals approaching, along with holiday preparation and the shorter days of light, this time of year can become energy draining for students. We are really excited to offer these opportunities for students to practice wholistic wellness.”
Most offerings are drop-in style and students are welcome to participate in what interests them. The workshops and events that require registration are listed below with links to register. Take home kits for certain workshops are also available for pick up in the Indigenous Education Centres, while supplies last. Please note that Indigenous students receive priority registration for the following events:
- Skoden to Bingo Night (Nov. 20, Welland Campus): Registration form
- Dodgeball Tournament (Nov. 20, Welland Campus): Register via the Tournament Series form
- Joy of Meditation Workshop (Nov. 20, Welland Campus): Registration form
- Mindful Movement (Nov. 23, Welland Campus): Registration form
- Beaded Lanyards Workshop (Nov. 23, Daniel J. Patterson Campus): Registration form
- Spirit Painting Workshop (Nov. 23, Daniel J. Patterson Campus; Nov. 24, Welland Campus): Requires registration through Indigenous Education. Contact Jessica Winger to register.
The “Skoden to Bingo Night” (registration link above) will be a highlight of the week on November 23 from 5 to 9 p.m. at the Welland Campus (Wellness Lounge, S174). The event will feature first-time bingo caller Karl Dockstader from NC Indigenous Education and a chance for students to win prizes. Download event poster here.
For each activity that students attend, they will receive a participation ballot. Students can drop off their ballots at the Indigenous Education Centre located at their home campus to be entered into a raffle for a basket full of wellness items, curated by the Indigenous Counsellor (one basket for each campus). IE Centre locations: N003 at the Daniel J. Patterson Campus and Room L201 at the Welland campus. Deadline to submit ballots is Monday, November 27.
