b'RIVERS TO SUCCESSGATHERINGON THE COUCH How Rivers to Success is creating a communityof care through Indigenous mentorshipF or Mentorship Officers GregI always heard the Cree language,I had learned into those spaces. Monias and Julia Stoneman,and I was surrounded by IndigenousMy life mentor would be Julia! I creating a nurturing environ- values. But as I grew up, I startedhave lots of Elder and community ment for Indigenous studentsto see more of what Indigenoussupport but seeing how Julia and is based on strong Indigenouspeople were going through; Iher friends were working in those mentorship: mutual respect, astarted to see that there was aspaces set a fire for me. You dont willingness to listen and learn, andreally big racial divide, especiallyneed to be white to succeed; you a strong community founded onwhen I went away to university. just need to be proud of your Indigenous values. In their roles asAs a coping mechanism, membersculture and use what you have.Mentorship Officers with Rivers toof my community told me: You Success (R2S), Indspires Indigenousneed to hide who you are. AlwaysJulia:I grew up in Lynn Lake, mentorship program, they arehave a white voice for whiteManitoba, and attended school responsible for making participantspeople to take you seriously. I tookthere from the time I was in kinder-feel welcome, creating culturalthat advice with me. Classical musicgarten until I was 18. I never really and customized resources, andwas a very white area of study. Ihad only one mentor, but I was delivering engaging events. was the only status person, oftenalways very aware of the impor-Strong Indigenous mentorshipthe only visible Indigenous persontance of community and everyones has also been essential to theirI often felt frightened and alone. role in it, our responsibilities in own respective academic andOne day, I was walking to the librarythat community. My friends, peers, career journeys. In this insightfulfrom the School of Music, and IElders: we all mentored each other. conversation, Julia and Greg speakheard laughter coming from a roomIt was rough at times growing up about the ways in which their ownon the way. I didnt realize howwith things that we had to deal journeys have brought them to thismuch I missed that until I heardwith, but you know that your pivotal place. it and walked into the room. Ivecommunity is always there with never before felt so welcomed in ayou: laughing, supporting you, ON THE PERSONALplace where I didnt know anybody.giving you the grace to be who IMPORTANCE OFJulia was sitting in a couch in thatyou are and do what you want to INDIGENOUS MENTORSHIP roomthe Indigenous Peoplesdo. There was always such respect Centre (IPC). In that place, I knew Iin the relationships that people Greg:When I was growing upneeded community to survive.had for one another; they would in Northern Manitoba, I didntencourage you to say what you understand what being IndigenousI hadnt known it, but I was reallywant to say because theyre here to meant until I went to what was thensearching for community there allhear it, and what you say matters! I called National Aboriginal Day. I wasalong. It was through that IPC thatalways felt that growth and empow-thinking: why do people want toI found my community; it really seterment were what I was getting celebrate us as we are? I didnt everme up to take Indigenous leader- from that community. We had little see the difficulties because I was inship. From then on, I always tried toin terms of material things, but we my bubble of Indigenous people;sit in white spaces and inject whathad lots in and of each other.78indspiration2021'