George Desjarlais feels it’s critical for students, especially those who identify as Indigenous, to see other Indigenous people on campus. It’s something the Knowledge Keeper/Facilitator felt was missing when he went to school. 

The enduring legacy left by the residential school experience heavily influences Desjarlais’s approach to supporting students at MacEwan. “You know, we have to recognize that there was a time, not too long ago, when we weren't offered a spot at the table to make decisions about our needs,” he says. 

MacEwan’s two Knowledge Keepers/Facilitators, George Desjarlais and Daphne Alexis, are situated on campus, within kihêw waciston Indigenous Centre, to support students and the work of the university. 

Desjarlais, who grew up in East Prairie, living in traditional ways – hunting, fishing and picking berries, and taking part in ceremonies with his family and community – says “I'm not a counsellor, but – for Daphne, me and people before us – our lived experience is something you can't get from a book.”  

“For many students, this might be the first time they have the option to be taken to ceremony,” says Desjarlais, whose areas of focus are the Cree star teachings and plants as medicine. “And it's vital – it's who we are. We are ceremonial people; we are prayer people. And in our young people, there's a thirst for culture and a sense of belonging.”

Speaking to someone you trust may mean the difference between success and struggle at school. Daphne Alexis, who is originally from Paul First Nation, shares a story of an Inuit student who came to her last term when she was considering leaving MacEwan. 

“She was really homesick because she was missing the whale harvesting season. I said, ‘Well, tell me about it,’” recounts Alexis. “She told me about how they prepare and what they do. And as she was doing that, her face just lit up. She was having a good time with that memory and refreshing herself.” 

For Terri Cardinal, associate vice-president, Indigenous Initiatives and Engagement, building a community of support means creating multiple opportunities for Indigenous students, so that they can receive support that is culturally appropriate. 

“Oftentimes within our communities when we are struggling with difficult times, traditionally, we go into our spaces of ceremony and we sit with the old people – those who have experienced life help us through those hard times.” 

To Cardinal, the work of the Knowledge Keepers/Facilitators flows throughout the whole university, not just within the walls of kihêw waciston. 

“How do we really truly support students if we're not educating faculty?” she asks. “And so, we provide resources to faculty so they have what they need to teach our Indigenous students.” 

Knowledge Keepers/Facilitators offer support around campus and in the classroom, which might include helping to teach Indigenous topics, supporting the educational needs of individual students and providing an Indigenous perspective on cultural appropriateness. 

“It's really kind of miraculous to be part of big events,” says Alexis, who brought blessings at the groundbreaking for the new School of Business. “It was important and significant. It was my opportunity to ask Mother Earth to allow us to use this piece of land.”

Part of MacEwan’s efforts to honour our place O-day’min involves a focus on Indigeneity and Reconciliation. As Cardinal explains, that starts with creating safety in our spaces by having Knowledge Keepers/Facilitators bring ceremony to the university. 

“Our first Knowledge Keeper, the late Roxanne Tootoosis, always had this teaching: we go to ceremony and we ensure that it's always guided spiritually in a good way, with a blessing and proper protocol. And that's part of ensuring that we are spiritually taking care of this space.”

Knowledge Keepers/Facilitators keep regular office hours at kihêw waciston. Connect with them in person or get in touch via email.