Oki nitaaniko Ponokohkyiaao (Hello, my name is Elk Bear); My English name is
Nathan Crow, and I am a 29-year-old Blackfoot male and member of the Kainai
First Nation. I grew up in Lethbridge my entire life, and as an Indigenous
person, I believe this has enabled me to walk in two worlds and see the world
through a two-eyed seeing lens. It wasn’t until I returned to school at the
University of Lethbridge in 2019, that I was introduced to these terms which I
feel are a great definition and representation of how I see the world and
choose to walk through it. I plan to use this concept of two-eyed seeing and my
experience of walking in two worlds to achieve my initiatives as a member of
the Students’ Union Council, which will mean using the strengths of both
cultures to actively collaborate with both the Indigenous and non-Indigenous
demographic at the University of Lethbridge and surrounding community.
Initiatives
My initiatives as a member of the Students’ Union Council will be to work
closely with Iikaiskinni (Indigenous Student Centre), the Indigenous Student
Success Cohort, the Indigenous student body and other Indigenous programs,
services, departments and clubs within the uLethbridge community to ensure that
the Indigenous demographic is actively participating in community and campus
events in collaboration with other uLethbridge programs, services, departments
and clubs. An additional initiative, will be to continue the University of
Lethbridge’s priority to Indigenize the institution, which is also known as
Indigenization inclusion, and is defined as “… increasing Indigenous faculty
and student admission. This approach focuses on addressing the need to
accommodate Indigenous faculty, staff, students, and communities in overcoming
obstacles, so they are successful within the academy” (Gaudry & Lorenz, 2018).
I plan to achieve these initiatives by engaging with the Indigenous demographic
internally within the uLethbridge community, and externally through the advice,
guidance and support of community Elders, professionals, and academics.
Email: nathan.crow@uleth.ca
GA Reports 2021-2022 - Indigenous Rep - Nathan
