UniversityexpandsIndigenousstudentspace

Earlier this year, Simon Fraser University opened its expanded Indigenous Student Centre (ISC) to provide a safe space for Indigenous students it’s a project that was six years in the making

For Jessica La Rochelle, director of Indigenous Student Services at SFU, this newly opened Indigenous student space is a way of reclaiming space on campus and being more visible

The space, which opened Jan 27, is for Indigenous students to feel welcome and seen at SFU, she said.

“I’m absolutely thrilled,” La Rochelle said “When I first started at

SFU in 2020, it was something that I was told about, and now being able to witness and actually work out of the space now has been really exciting

“I feel like it’s a space that we can really make our own,” she added “The students have some great ideas of things they’d like to see activities, workshops and programming that they’d like to see, and to be able to offer that has fuelled my passion for education and being able to provide those relevant cultural student services ”

The space is open from 8:30 a m to 4:30 p m

It offers work and study spaces for students to access, including computer stations and a meeting room with web conferenc- ing equipment

It also features a kitchen, a drumming room and opportunities for cultural connections through a variety of programs.

La Rochelle hopes that once construction is completed, Indigenous students will be able to have a safe space on campus to access after hours when it’s quieter.

The facility provides ac- cess to sewing machines and materials for students to learn how to make ribbon shirts and ribbon skirts, and the drumming room has drawn different folks including an El- der and a recent alum who does sessions on the larger powwow drum

“I just want [students] to feel welcome to come and access the space and recognize that it is a space designed by them and for them,” La Rochelle said. “We’re here to provide the services that they need to be successful.”

She encourages the Indigenous community at SFU students, faculty and alumni to visit the space and learn more

ISC’s expanded presence is not limited to the Burnaby campus The Surrey campus also has a new location, and theVancouver campus is being allocated additional space for future expansion

Visit www.sfu.ca for more information