This story is part of a series of alumni features during Indigenous History Month.
June is National Indigenous History Month (NIHM), an opportunity to acknowledge and learn about the rich history, culture and contributions of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples.
In honour of Indigenous History Month, Niagara College is proud to share the stories of Indigenous alumni, including Paige Sedore.
Born and raised in downtown St. Catharines, Sedore is a 2024 graduate of Niagara College’s Social Service Worker program. An Indigenous advocate, transitional support worker and artist, she is deeply committed to creating change at every level. Describing herself as someone with “an overwhelming surplus of empathy,” Sedore’s journey of reconnecting with her Indigenous identity has shaped her path both personally and professionally.
Current role and career path
My current role is Transitional Support Worker at Abbey House, which is an offsite location of the Niagara Regional Native Centre. We are a transitional home for Indigenous women and children who are facing crises such as homelessness, fleeing from intimate partner violence, and escaping human trafficking.
I have been in this position for over one year, and it is exactly where I need to be right now. I was welcomed to the NRNC and Abbey House with open arms, and I haven’t looked back since.
Before I started school, I was a housekeeper for seven years. I was burnt out and both financially and emotionally unstable. I had just gotten out of an extremely toxic relationship, and I knew that I needed a change.
At Abbey House, I facilitate life skills workshops, coordinate cultural workshops, and advocate for our clients, whether that means attending FACS meetings and court as Indigenous advocates, working alongside other agencies, providing one-on-one peer support and case management, or helping host community events at the NRNC.
Niagara College’s impact
The experiences I’ve had at NC have shaped who I am as an advocate, as a professional, and as an individual. I was treated with the utmost respect by faculty and peers alike, I was able to harness my empathy and use it for amazing things, and I learned all the tools and resources I needed in order to assist in people’s healing journeys.
Inspiration and passion
I am passionate about enacting change within our communities. I am passionate about helping others. I am passionate about hearing other people’s stories, and connecting on a spiritual, emotional, and mental level. I am passionate about speaking my voice.
Standout NC experience
My standout NC experience was when I found out I was graduating on the president’s honour roll with a 97% average, and when I was notified that faculty had chosen to award me the Jacqueline P. Robarts award upon graduation. It felt incredible and cathartic. It felt like my hard work and dedication was not only seen but deeply appreciated and I felt truly recognized.
Advice for Indigenous students at NC
My advice? Follow your passion, listen to your gut instinct, and take the plunge. It can be unnerving diving deep into the unknow, but there’s also something beautiful about that. Indigenous people are capable, intelligent, deserving, and we posses so much wisdom and knowledge deep within ourselves. Sometimes the hardest part is believing that yourself. We as indigenous people deserve to live the lives we strive for.
