December 2024 marks one year since Sandra Mandamin, an Anishinaabekwe from the Treaty #3 area, near Kenora, ON, joined Niagara College’s Indigenous Education department as the Indigenous Education and Transition Coordinator – a new role that was created to provide recruitment and transition services for prospective Indigenous learners.
It also marks one year of Mandamin doing a job that she loves – supporting Indigenous students as they connect with and explore the Niagara College community.
Sandra Mandamin (right) and Sheena Nueva-Maracle prepare to meet with prospective Indigenous students at a recruiting event at NC.
For the past year, Mandamin has been connecting with prospective NC Indigenous learners to support them through the various stages of transitioning to college. Starting with the application and arrival process, Mandamin ensures all Indigenous students coming to NC have the tools and resources to help them take the next step in their educational journey.
“Working with students to create a seamless transition to college while highlighting all the Indigenous services, supports and advocacy that our department (Indigenous Education) offers has been a rewarding experience for me,” said Mandamin. “For many Indigenous students, finding a sense of community is paramount to their success and I’m honoured to be the first point of contact for them as they find their way at Niagara College.”
The Indigenous Education and Transition Coordinator role was created in response to NC’s commitment to advancing Indigenous Ways of Knowing, Being and Doing – one of four areas of focus in the College’s Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Blueprint.
“Having a dedicated recruiter and Transition Coordinator for Indigenous students showcases NC’s commitment to helping students find community on campus while building long-lasting relationships,” said Leah Hogan, Director, Indigenous Education, and member of the Oneida Nation of the Thames (Bear Clan). “Sandra has been a wonderful addition to our team. Her passion and dedication to supporting our students is evident in everything she does, and we feel fortunate to have her supporting our Indigenous students’ journeys.”
Throughout the past year, Mandamin has taken her recruiting efforts further than any NC recruiter has been before. Travelling across Ontario and Quebec to various First Nations, Mandamin has connected with and built relationships with communities who were previously unaware of all Niagara College has to offer.
Mandamin supports Indigenous learners to support them through the various stages of transitioning to college.
When she’s not travelling around the province, Mandamin is connecting with community organizations to build partnerships that will help Indigenous students access supports in the community while also fielding a variety of questions from prospective students. She also helps applicants navigate the Indigenous Admissions Pathway – an NC commitment to give equitable access to Indigenous applicants for competitive Niagara College programs.
When reflecting on her first year at Niagara College, Mandamin recalls the feeling of seeing the impact of her work.
“I was fortunate enough to connect with a prospective student and his dad on a campus tour,” said Mandamin. “During the time I spent with them, I could see how important attending college was, not just for the student, but for the whole family.”
“I stayed in touch with that student and witnessed his transition from curious about NC, to accepting his offer, to proudly joining the NC community. It was rewarding for me to see a successful recruitment process and the pride that the student’s entire community felt as he took this next step in his academic journey.”
Mandamin’s passion for supporting Indigenous students shines through as she connects with prospective learners.
Looking towards the future, Mandamin is committed to supporting all Indigenous learners, regardless of their age, as they explore the various educational paths available to them at NC and is excited about the work the College is doing to advance services for Indigenous learners.
Through the College’s EDI Blueprint, NC has committed to advancing a more equitable and diverse college which includes creating conditions where Indigenous Ways of Knowing, Being and Doing are woven into the College’s curricular and co-curricular learning environment. NC will increase awareness of, and opportunities to learn about, Indigenous histories, presents, and futures through college-wide events that celebrate Indigenous cultures; planned activities that increase representation of Indigenous Peoples across the college environment; and communications about Indigenous initiatives at the college and within the community.
For more information about NC’s Indigenous Education department and the services available to Indigenous students, please visit the IE webpage.
