kihêw waciston is both a home and a heartbeat at MacEwan University, a living expression of respect, resilience and reconciliation. It is a place of belonging and grounding.
Here Indigenous students find university advisors who understand band funding and academic pressures, Knowledge Keepers and Elders who share ceremony and teachings and peers who know what it feels like to carry both culture and coursework.
It’s where resilience is honoured, stories are lifted up and the next generation of Indigenous leaders are prepared to carry their knowledge and strength beyond MacEwan's doors .
Everyone is welcome at kihêw waciston. You’re invited to attend events, visit the centre and learn through the teachings and culture shared here. We ask that you come with openness and respect: be mindful during ceremony, allow room for reflection and treat the space and those in it with care. To help you feel prepared, read our guide for allies: The Non-Indigenous Guide to kihêw waciston (and other Indigenous spaces).
Smudging is a sacred ceremony that offers cleansing, healing and balance. You are welcome to smudge anywhere on campus as per the Indigenous Ceremonial Practices Policy. Knowledge Keepers have smudge kits for Indigenous students and kihêw waciston always has medicines if you need them. As a courtesy, please email Facilities before you smudge.
Our spaces
Every part of kihêw waciston is designed with purpose. The tipi-shaped gathering room hosts ceremonies and study sessions. The wood floors and colours reflect the medicine wheel and the four directions. There are quiet places to study, computers to use and a nap room where you can recharge between classes.
Come for a visit; make yourself at home.
Prepare for university
The pimâcihisowin Foundation Program blends academic upgrading with ceremony, land-based learning and mentorship. With Knowledge Keepers, mentors and peers beside you, the program helps build the skills and confidence you need to begin university ready to excel.
Read Emma’s story
Glossary
An Elder is any person recognized by an Indigenous community as having knowledge and understanding of the traditional culture of the community, including the physical manifestation of the culture of their spiritual and social traditions. Knowledge and wisdom, coupled with the recognition and respect of the people of the community, are the essential defining characteristics of an Elder. Some Elders have additional attributes, such as those of traditional healer.
The principles of friendship, mindfulness, cooperation, respectfulness and non-interference encompass what it means to be a good neighbour. These values include all people without discrimination against any group or person, especially Indigenous First Nations, Métis and Inuit people in Canada.
Indigenous ceremonial practices may include smudging, which involves the lighting of traditional/ceremonial plants such as sage, sweetgrass, cedar and tobacco. Ceremonial songs may use rattles and drums. In fact, kihêw waciston, which translates to “eagle’s nest” in English, was the name given to the MacEwan Indigenous Centre during an Indigenous naming ceremony.
Other Indigenous ceremonies are:
- pipe ceremonies
- Elder teachings
- round dances
- powwows
- feasts
- sweat lodges
kihêw waciston is the name of MacEwan University’s Indigenous Centre. The name means “eagle’s nest” in Cree, representing a safe, welcoming place where students can learn, grow, and connect with community and culture.
The term Knowledge Keeper does not refer to one’s age, but rather to one’s place within the community and the level of cultural and traditional knowledge that they possess. The term is bestowed by the community onto individuals who are deemed spiritual and cultural knowledge holders.
paskwâwi-mostos mêskanâs (mêskanâs for short), which means “buffalo” in Cree. It is the Indigenous name of MacEwan University’s digital learning environment. The name was gifted to MacEwan. Watch this video to learn about the significance of paskwâwi-mostos mêskanâs.
pimâcihisowin, which means “to create a life of independence” in Cree, is designed to address the gap between an Indigenous student’s high school credential and the requirements they need to be admitted into a post-secondary diploma or degree program. Geared primarily towards Indigenous students, pimâcihisowin includes cultural support, mentorship and ceremonial events that help students achieve their post-secondary goals.