MacEwan University and Indigenous Peoples

In the past few months I have become increasingly impressed with MacEwan University's commitment to Indigenous peoples and reconciliation. While not a student or staff there myself, I live in Edmonton and have been at their campus for several events.

Here are some of the reasons:

At the start of an event I attended there, Fred McGinn, Dean of Health and Community Studies, in his opening remarks said that MacEwan has the goal of being the first university in Canada to meet the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's Calls to Action (presumably, those that apply to educational institutions). That's quite a goal!

kihêw waciston (Eagle's Nest) Indigenous Student Centre (logo at left) is "a home away from home for MacEwan University's Indigenous students. Here you can gather, work and grow in a community that honours the distinctive knowledge of Indigenous peoples and supports you on your post-secondary journey." There are also Indigenous student advisors available to assist students.

In 2019, it will be moving to a larger more prominent location in the Robbins Health Centre building.


Roxanne Tootoosis is the university's Indigenous knowledge keeper and facilitator. Read more about her.