b'RIVERS TO SUCCESSSUCCESS We want to build that is built in feeling. the Grandmas couch feelingGreg Monias Mentorship Officer, Indspireand truthful like you felt whenJulia:Yes, weve really tried to you were going to eat at Grandmasdo that during our events. We house, where you know everyonealways invite folks to share where around you. This kind of feeling istheyre from, say something in their what I want in our online RiversIndigenous language, that kind of to Success Portal for folks who arething. We want to make it the oppo-missing it or who have never had it. site of our experiences at univer-When we were starting out, wesity, feeling like the odd one out. knew we needed to amplify theDoing this with easy questions, like need for Indigenous role modelsicebreakers, really opens up peoples and mentors to be the heart of thecomfort levels and helps to build program, building the program incommunity in an easy way.People this non-hierarchical way. The moststart feeling: Ive already spoken successful relationships weve seenhere, so I can do it again. People in the program have been with thestart to recognize each others names Indigenous mentor really helping theat events, and its so great. You can menteewhat youre supposed tofeel the community spirit in the way do with the people around you. Thepeople interact with each other.survey that Indspire did back in 2018Were very excited about developing showed us the same thing on paper. 1 our Indigenous Advisory Committee! This followed from our recognition Julia:We know that we are beingthat we dont have all the knowl-authentic to ourselves and whereedge ourselves, so well have people we come from. from different spaces to share With a wide variety ofthat knowledge with us: a range of BUILDING THE RIVERS TOpeople from different backgrounds programs for you to chooseSUCCESS COMMUNITY who can advise us and also help us from, cultural supports toconnect to different communities. help you feel at home, andGreg:We want to build thatFor example, were looking at having feeling as well as the community,an Afro-Indigenous Chair, a Youth work-integrated learning tothe Grandmas couch feeling Chair, and so on. This will also help get you career-ready, youllsmelling bannock cooking, listeningus plan events more effectivelyfind everything you need atto the aunties gossiping, kidsfor example, during Pride Week, Brandon University. playingthat level of comfort issomeone who sits as our LGBTQ2+ important to us. And were doingChair can help us reach out. Theyll it in creative ways though groupbecome part of our community and Join us at mentorship, finding ways to makethe students will look to them. the online Portal more accessible BrandonU.ca and user-friendly.Were alwaysWe need perspective on making opportunities for people toGreg: share their voices as well: commentcommunity, too, because the sections, sharing & liking posts,Indigenous community across Turtle coming together for online events. Island is so large; we dont know everything despite our common 1Truth and Reconciliation in Post-Secondarylens. If Afro-Indigenous youth Settings: Student Experience (Indspire, 2018). come into the program and know 80indspiration2021'