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Family, Cultural, Social,
and Spiritual Wellness

  • Values and Wellness

    Family, whether immediate, extended, or within the community, serves as the primary support system for Indigenous peoples, providing a sense of security, belonging, and sustenance.

    Cultural well-being includes the preservation and celebration of language, ceremonies, traditional foods and medicines, creative artwork, teachings, and a profound sense of belonging.

    Social well-being includes various elements such as access to education, awareness, and support from both family and community members, all of which are essential to the student’s well-being.

    Spiritual, inherent in Indigenous cultures, contributes to the holistic well-being of individuals by connecting them to their cultural roots and guiding their sense of purpose and identity.

    At Eeyou Istchee College of Science and Technology, our commitment extends to actively involving families and incorporating cultural traditions into every aspect of our educational institution. This includes incorporating our cultural ceremonies, honoring our elders and Knowledge Holders, showcasing creative artwork, and prominently featuring Indigenous symbols and representations, both artistic and written, throughout our physical and virtual spaces. Through these efforts, we aim to create an inclusive and culturally rich environment that honors and celebrates Indigenous heritage and traditions.

    Services to students that support and embrace Family, Culture, Social and Spirituality include the following:

    • Student Family, Cultural, and Spirituality Coordinator.
    • Community day care centers.
    • Dedicating a space on campus for students.
    • Elder in Residence.

    • The Student, Family, Cultural, and Spiritual Coordinator fosters the development of student leadership skills by supporting student-led activities. Through community partnerships, the coordinator organizes a diverse range of extracurricular activities aimed at facilitating interactions among students and staff, fostering a sense of belonging, and strengthening students’ cultural identity. In Addition, the Coordinator will host on-campus events to encourage participation by faculty, staff, family members, and the broader community.

    • There are four (4) daycare centers in the community of Chisasibi and they have agreed to partner with the College and provide daycare services for parenting students, faculty, and staff. Financial assistance for childcare expenses is available for eligible students through:

    • The creation of a designated space for students to gather and access culturally adapted services plays a crucial role in helping students familiarize themselves with the organizational and pedagogical structure of the College, facilitating their adjustment to the new environment (Dufour, 2019, p.17-18). The dedicated space for student services serves as a hub for students to build networks, offering opportunities for social interaction and collaboration. It can function as a versatile area where students can both work and socialize, and it may also be utilized by staff or students themselves to organize various academic, cultural, or extracurricular activities. Ultimately, this space fosters the development of a vibrant student community within the college.

    • An Elder in residence will be available to provide guidance to students, faculty, and staff on mental, spiritual, emotional, and physical health needs, rooted in a holistic Indigenous perspective.

    • Dufour, Emmanuelle (2019). Cultural securitization of Aboriginal students: A promising avenue for the entire college community. Revue de l’Association québécoise de pédagogie collégiale, 32(3), 14-21.

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