Indigenous Support Services Framework
Land Acknowledgment:
Askīyiwimamīhcītotamowin
Here at Lakeland College, we acknowledge that the land we gather on is the traditional homeland, hunting, and ceremonial gathering places of the First Nations, Métis and Inuit. The Plains Cree, Woodland Cree, Saulteaux, Blackfoot, Métis, Dene, and Nakota Sioux people have practiced their culture and languages on Treaty 6 and Métis Region 2 territories for generations and were the original caretakers of this land. Many First Nation, Métis and Inuit peoples call this land home today and have done so for millennia. We would like to acknowledge the history we have created together on this land, and to be thankful for the opportunity to walk together side-by-side in friendship (Otôtemiwewin), learning from our past, and promoting positive relationships for the past, present and future.
Three members of our Indigenous Student Council created this land acknowledgment for Lakeland College. Kiera Comeau, Samantha O’Reilly and Ryan Powder wrote the askīyiwimamīhcītotamowin. The English translation of this Cree concept is the act of acknowledging the earth (land). It was unveiled on April 6, 2022.
Lakeland’s Indigenous Framework
Lakeland respects the sovereignty, lands, histories, languages, knowledge and cultures of all First Nations, Métis and Inuit people and acknowledges the international complexity of Canadian society. On the journey of creating a better tomorrow for learners, Lakeland shares in Truth and Reconciliation. Becoming a host for some of the first meetings for Treaty 6 in the Lloydminster area, Lakeland continues to promote understanding and learning.
Lakeland supports Indigenous initiatives that align with the institutional Mission, Vision, and Values to enhance relationships and extend collaborations. Lakeland embraces the theory of Belongingness and provides experiences and opportunities to cultivate better understanding.
Working with our manager, resource navigator, administrative assistant and wellness advisor, students are exposed to many aspects of Indigenous ways of knowing.
Indigenous Student Council
The Indigenous Student Council is an official Lakeland College Students’ Association club. It consists of members from both campuses, with a circle director from each campus. The council meets biweekly in a hybrid format to discuss fundraising initiatives. These fundraising efforts support a year-end cultural trip, allowing members to explore and learn more about their identities together. In addition to fundraising, the Indigenous Student Council plays an advisory
role at Lakeland College. The college actively seeks their opinions and guidance on a variety of important matters, including convocation, ceremonies, cultural protocols and other initiatives that impact Indigenous students and the college community. Their perspectives help ensure that events and practices are inclusive, respectful and reflective of Indigenous cultures and traditions.
Otôtemiwewin Student Lounge
Since 2017, the lounge has served as a vibrant hub for students to learn about Métis, Inuit, and First Nations cultures on Lloydminster campus. The seating is arranged in a large circle, and the space is smudged frequently. There are prints tied in Kokum hoods representing the four directions around the room. Indigenous art is showcased throughout, providing numerous selflearning opportunities.
Our soup and Bannock days are held within the lounge, welcoming all students to join. This inclusive space promotes learning and connection for everyone. We invite Elders and Knowledge Keepers from Treaty 6 territory to share cultural teachings, including hair, tipi and medicine teachings. The lounge is also ideal for hosting Indigenous workshops such as beading and ribbon skirt workshops, and it is frequently used as a classroom.
What is Otôtemiwewin?
In 2024, Lakeland College’s Indigenous Support Services respectfully approached Elder Florence Blois-Carter from Onion Lake Cree Nation with an offering of tobacco and print, seeking guidance for a name for the Lloydminster campus lounge that would make everyone feel welcome in it to learn about Indigenous culture.
Nevin Jarvis, artist and student
To epitomize the new name, Indigenous Support Services connected with Indigenous artist and Lakeland student Nevin Jarvis (pictured above) to commission a piece of art that reflected each distinct area of study at Lakeland.
The canvas features niso mikiwāhp (Two Tipis), representing the Lloydminster and Vermilion campuses. Continuing education and Foundational Learning are symbolized by strawberry plants, often referred to as the “heart berry” by Indigenous Peoples due to their shape. These interconnected plants, linked by a network of leaves, runners and roots, represent growth and the many pathways available to those pursuing continuing education.
The three hills symbolize the agricultural sciences, environmental sciences and energy programs, representing the land studied within each area and the energy present in all things.
A solitary figure with a long braid, seen from behind, symbolizes the health and wellness program. Hair, regarded as an extension of the spirit, reflects how we care for ourselves and others. The fire depicted in the artwork represents the fire and emergency services program.
The image of a Câpân (greatgrandparent) holding hands with a Câpân (great-grandchild)—a term meaning “the one who holds my hand” and used interchangeably between the
two—represents human services. Their hand-holding gesture also symbolizes inclusive education, illustrating how we lift each other up. A person fingerpainting the mikiwāhp honors the interior design program. The large trades program at Lakeland College is represented by a bone scraping tool near the fire, symbolizing the tools and machines essential to the trades.
The business program is symbolized by an eagle feather, a representation of knowledge. It reflects the opportunities available to students through various degree pathways offered in partnership with other institutions. An arrow, placed near the tools and fire, symbolizes the university transfer program, highlighting the many directions students can take.
The northern lights shining above house the animals of the Seven Grandfather Teachings: The Beaver for Wisdom, the Eagle for Love, the Buffalo for Respect, the Bear for Courage, Bigfoot for Honesty, the Wolf for Humility and the Turtle for Truth. The piece is further enriched with the presence of sacred medicines, including sage, sweetgrass, cedar and tobacco, grounding the artwork in traditional teachings and practices.
Together, these elements embody Otôtemiwewin and reflect our shared journey as we walk side by side.
Indigenous Support Services Events
April
• Bison teachings
• Year-end windup for Indigenous Student Council
• Bannock-on-a-stick
• Indigenous Student Council meeting
• Bannock and beadingto-go
May
• Convocation (Elder, drummers, fiddler)
• Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women Walk + Moose Hide Campaign
June
• Interschool Powwow (partner collaboration)
• Indigenous Peoples Day
• Staff pipe ceremony
• Indigenous Student Council year-end trip
(No events listed)
• Tawâw Kîsikâw (Welcome Day)
• Tipi raisings on each campus
• Lakeland College Powwow showcase
• Indigenous medicine walk
• Soup and Bannock + Elderin-Residence + resource booth
• Indigenous Student Council meeting
October
• Treaty/Métis card blitz
• National Day of Action for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women
• Soup and Bannock + Elderin-Residence + resource booth
• Indigenous Student Council meeting
• Info sessions to each class at Lakeland College
January
• Start four-week series of Friendship Circle meeting
• Soup and Bannock + Elderin-Residence + resource booth
• Indigenous Student Council meeting
• Ribbon Skirt Day
Elder in residence
Elders are key to connect with culture. As Knowledge Keepers, their role is to connect with you, answer your questions and be a gentle support.
Among their activities:
• Hosting Sharing Circles
• Participating in speaking series
• Visiting classrooms
• Offering prayer
• Ceremony
• Share teachings
November
• Blanket exercise
• Ribbon skirt workshop
• Soup and Bannock + Elderin-Residence + resource booth
• Indigenous Student Council meeting
• Beading workshop
• Louis Reil Day
December
• Indigenous Makers Market
• Soup and Bannock + Elderin-Residence + resource booth
• Indigenous Student Council meeting
February
• Creation Story
• Pipe ceremony + feast
• Day of Indigenous Storytelling
• Have a Heart Day
• Hair teachings with hairstyling students
• Soup and Bannock + Elderin-Residence + resource booth
• Indigenous Student Council meeting
• Moss Bag teachings
March
• Friendship Circle four-week series
• Round dance + Indigenous Makers Market
• Elder Appreciation Day
• Soup and Bannock + Elderin-Residence + resource booth
• Bannock-on-a-stick
• Indigenous Student Council meeting
• Two-spirit awareness day
Yearly activities and experiences
• Smudging teachings
• Heart of Treaty 6 Interschool Pow Wow
• Hiring of drummers, singers, fiddlers and an Elder for Convocation
• Indigenous Student Council
• Creation story teachings
• Setting up tipis on each campus
• Blanket exercises
• Medicine teachings
• Bison teachings with Elders
• Circles for Reconciliation
• Lakeland College Powwow in honor of National Day of Truth and Reconciliation
• Treaty and Métis Card blitz
• Tawow Kisikaw (Open house/Early bird)
• Soup and Bannock once a month on each campus along with Elder in Residence and a resource booth
• Ribbon skirt workshops
• A day of Indigenous storytelling
• Bannock-on-a-stick
• Elder Appreciation Day
• Round Dance
• Atayohkewin (Pipe ceremony, Feast, Creation Story)
• Friendship circle meeting four-week series on each campus
• Indigenous Makers Market
• Beading workshop
• Cultural connections (Tipi Village)
• Medicine walk
• Moose Hide Campaign
• National Day of Action for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Woman
• Louis Reil Day (wear ribbon attire)
• Moss Bag Teachings
• Bannock and beading-to-go
How can Indigenous Support Services assist Lakeland College staff?
Indigenous Support Services is here to support you in creating meaningful and culturally appropriate experiences for your students.
• Booking Elders, Knowledge Keepers, or Storytellers: You can book cultural speakers through us, and we will accommodate honorarium amounts while reviewing proper protocols with you beforehand. Whether you have a specific individual in mind or need assistance finding the right speaker, we can help. For example, if you are in the environmental sciences program and looking for someone to speak about Indigenous medicines relevant to your coursework, we can connect you with the right presenter from our extensive network.
• Private blanket exercise bookings: We offer private bookings for the blanket exercise, designed to deepen understanding of Indigenous histories and perspectives. A minimum of 25 participants is required, making it a great option for departmental teams.
• Team-building activities: Looking for a handson cultural experience? We can facilitate tipi raising activities for teams or classrooms. This activity is available for groups of five or more on either campus.
• Guidance on Indigenous ceremonies and practices: Have questions about Indigenous ceremonies, such as how long a student may be away if attending a wake? We provide guidance and can help integrate cultural considerations into your policies, ensuring clear expectations around attendance and participation in traditional practices.
• Friendship Circle series: Every year, we host a four-week Friendship Circle series on each campus, inviting staff to engage in open conversations about reconciliation efforts, workplace challenges, or personal reflections with an Elder.
• Support with sensitive meetings: Indigenous Support Services can be present during meetings between instructors, deans and students to ensure clear communication. Some students may request our presence to help clarify information or ask follow-up questions after the meeting.
• Classroom visits and service overview: Instructors can invite us into their classrooms to introduce students to the services we offer, ensuring they are aware of the cultural and academic supports available to them.
• Support for smudging: We can assist individuals or entire classrooms in participating in smudging, ensuring students and staff have access to this important cultural practice.
• Otôtemiwewin Student Lounge bookings for meetings and gatherings: Our lounge is available for internal and external meetings. The circular seating arrangement fosters open discussions where everyone can see and engage with one another. Movable desks provide flexibility for group work or structured activities.
Recognizing Protocols Ceremony
Indigenous people in Treaty 6 partake in many different lodges and ceremonies. Ceremony can include the burning of sacred medicines such as sweetgrass, cedar, sage, and tobacco. During Ceremony, many Indigenous people will ask the Elders/Pipe Carrier for prayers and this usually includes giving a print as well as tobacco. As the medicines burn, the smoke carries our prayers to the Creator and the smoke cleans our spirit.
Indigenous Support Services hosts smudges for staff and students that include a prayer from an Elder. Smudging can help individuals move forward in positivity. Otôtemiwewin Student Lounge is vital for Ceremony as the room allows for smoke ventilation. It is the only space between both campuses that has this ability.
Protocols and guidelines
Lakeland College follows cultural protocol and traditions. This shows gratitude for the knowledge that is shared with students or staff. It is important to follow our protocol guidelines when working with Elders and Knowledge Keepers:
1. Always approach the Elders/Knowledge Keepers with humility and respect, acknowledging their wisdom and experience when inviting them to come into the college.
2. Offer tobacco, a traditional gift of respect in Indigenous cultures, as a gesture of gratitude when seeking guidance or knowledge.
3. Ask and follow any specific protocols or traditions that the specific Elders/Knowledge Keepers may have in place for certain ceremonies or gatherings.
4. Address them using their appropriate title, such as Elder or Knowledge Keeper, unless given permission to use their first name.
5. Listen attentively to their words and teachings, showing interest and appreciation for their knowledge.
6. Be mindful of your actions and words, ensuring they align with the values and teachings of the Elders/Knowledge Keepers.
7. Always seek permission before sharing any knowledge or teachings given to you by the Elders/Knowledge Keepers, respecting their teachings.
8. Remember that the Elders/Knowledge Keepers are the keepers of traditional knowledge and cultural practices, and their guidance and wisdom should be valued and always respected.
Honoraria
Lakeland College recognizes the importance of honorariums as appropriate cultural protocols that must be adhered to. These honoraria are a traditional custom in most Indigenous cultures. Procedures, guidelines and forms are available to assist faculty and staff when offering
Honoraria rates:
Elders/Knowledge Keepers/events/speakers:
• 0 - 1 hour: $150
• 1 - 4 hours: $250.00
• Greater than four hours: $500
Traditional performers:
• Traditional Powwow dancer/Métis jigger (per person): $150 (half-day) or $300 (full-day)
• Traditional singer (per person): $150 (halfday) or $300 (full-day)
• Host drum - (includes multiple drummers): $1,500-$2,000 (full-day)
• Hand drum - (one traditional drummer): $150 (full-day)
• Individual fiddler - $250 (half-day) or $500 (full-day)
Workshops:
• Workshops (beading, ribbon skirt/shirt, moccasin making, Moss Bag, etc.) will vary and must be approved by the Indigenous Support Services Manager. Fees will include materials.
an honorarium. Please consult all guidelines to ensure that proper, respectful and culturalsensitive situations are addressed. It is the responsibility of the Lakeland host or facilitator to graciously host Indigenous individuals at Lakeland events, and gatherings.
Additional Notes:
• All fees listed are considered minimum recommendations. Requests for higher fees are allowed but up to the Indigenous Support Services Department’s discretion.
• Fees do not include travel and accommodation expenses.
• All honoraria must be filled in using the document titled “Fee for Service” and approved by the Indigenous Support Services Manager prior to payment.
• Fees exceeding $1,000 will require an invoice or a supplier request form along with a direct deposit slip for e-transfer purposes.
Grieving support measures for staff, students and faculty
Acknowledging and supporting Indigenous funeral and wake practices demonstrates respect for cultural traditions and compassion for those grieving. By implementing these measures, Lakeland College can foster an inclusive and empathetic environment, ensuring that Indigenous students, staff, and faculty feel supported during these difficult times.
Leave and attendance policies: Provide flexible leave policies to accommodate extended mourning periods. Ensure students and staff can take additional days for travel and participation in Ceremony.
Academic and professional adjustments: Offer extensions on assignments, rescheduling of exams, and flexible deadlines without penalties. Provide options for remote participation in classes or meetings when travel is necessary.
Travel considerations: Many reserves are remote,
requiring extensive travel. Attendees may need one to two days for travel before and after the funeral. Barriers such as lack of transportation, limited access to driver’s licenses and financial constraints can delay or prevent attendance at school. Some students may need to depend on others and family for transportation.
Mental health and wellness support: Recognize the impact of grief compounded by systemic challenges, such as inadequate housing, poor health care, and economic disparities. Offer culturally appropriate counseling services, including access to Elders and Knowledge Keepers.
Community awareness: Educate the institutional community about the cultural significance of Indigenous funeral practices. Promote understanding and respect for the diverse ways in which grief is expressed.
Funeral and wake protocol for Indigenous communities
Duration of wakes: Wakes often last up to four days and have a deep cultural significance. A fire is kept lit the entire time and the family choses “fire keepers,” who must maintain burning until the deceased is laid to rest. Singing and drumming around the casket continue late into the night, offering ceremonial support to the family.
Arrival of the deceased: Wakes typically begin only after the body arrives at the reserve. This may delay the start of the mourning process.
Community gathering: Family and friends gather in communal spaces to share memories, offer condolences, and
provide support. This continuous flow of visitors is central to the mourning process. The body must never be alone.
Drumming and burial: Drummers perform on the day of the funeral, offering songs to guide the deceased’s spirit. Burial traditions vary but often involve significant community participation.
Services and amenities: Usually gas stations, grocery stores, the band office will close on the day of the burial. This could delay basic needs such as fueling up, having a meal before commuting back, etc.
Indigenous student professional development request
Indigenous Support Services aims to support Indigenous students in their professional and academic growth by providing financial assistance for Indigenous students to attend conferences, summits and other relevant professional development opportunities. The goal is to enhance their educational experience and foster leadership skills among Indigenous students. Approved funding depends on mileage, accommodations and meals.
Objectives
1. Support Indigenous students: Provide financial aid to Indigenous students for professional development opportunities.
2. Promote academic and professional growth: Encourage students to participate in conferences and summits that will benefit their educational and career goals.
3. Enhance community engagement: Foster a sense of community involvement by recognizing the efforts of students in various clubs and committees.
4. Accountability and reporting: Ensure that funded students report back on their experiences, thereby benefiting the wider student community.
