Lakehead University’s Gichi Kendaasiwin initiative is receiving a boost from a $100,000 donation by Canada Life. The funding will help create Indigenous-led spaces and programs that preserve cultural traditions, strengthen connections between communities, and share Indigenous perspectives across three campuses.
“Canada Life’s investment reflects a shared belief in the importance of creating spaces where Indigenous students can thrive – spaces that honour their identities, languages, and traditions,” said Dr. Gillian Siddall, president and vice-chancellor of Lakehead University. “This gift supports an Indigenous vision for education that strengthens relationships, builds community, and prepares students to lead with confidence and cultural pride.”
“Right now, (with) this project we’re looking at building various spaces across all of our three campuses that allow for cultural learning to happen … in a more appropriate way,” said Denise Baxter, vice provost of Indigenous initiatives at Lakehead, in an interview with Newswatch.
“Supporting student success is obviously really at the heart of all this and why we’re doing this, and then connecting our work with outreach to communities,” she added.
Approximately 13% of Lakehead’s students identify as First Nation, Métis, or Inuit. The Gichi Kendaasiwin initiative aims to enrich their academic experience while advancing Truth and Reconciliation through culturally grounded learning opportunities.
Earlier this year, Lakehead received $1 million from BMO to support a new indoor-outdoor learning space as part of the reimagined initiative. The university said in a media release that Gichi Kendaasiwin now “encompasses a constellation of programs and spaces across Lakehead’s campuses, reflecting the university’s long-term commitment to reconciliation and Indigenous student success.”
More than a decade ago, Lakehead planned to build the Gichi Kendaasiwin Centre as a stand-alone building dedicated to Indigenous-led learning. Over time, the project evolved into a broader vision that spans multiple campuses. Gichi Kendaasiwin, an Anishinaabemowin term meaning “higher knowledge,” now represents both a concept and a framework for reconciliation and Indigenous education at the university.
Baxter said the university is exploring several locations for the new indoor-outdoor facility. “We’ve been meeting with the Elders council – we’ve been meeting with them for several months – and we also had meetings across the region with Indigenous people, faculty, staff and students to find out what it was that they were looking for in some kind of a space that would allow them to learn in a more culturally relatable way,” she said.
Based on community feedback, the envisioned space will include a large circular room that can hold up to 70 people, featuring natural light and proximity to water to connect students with the outdoors. Improvements are also planned for the Faculty of Education, the law school, and outdoor learning areas.
“This gift affirms the importance of creating spaces led by Indigenous voices where students feel a true sense of belonging,” said Precious Anderson, chair of Ogimaawin Indigenous Education Council. “Gichi Kendaasiwin is about more than buildings – it is about relationships, reconciliation, and ensuring that Indigenous students see themselves reflected and respected in every part of the university experience.”
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