The newest residents of Peter Gzowski College have spent the first few weeks of the school year getting acquainted with their unique college and all that is has to offer, including the First Peoples House of Learning (FPHL) traditional tipi.

All new first-year students living in residence and off-campus were invited to attend hour-long sessions in the tipi as a way to provide them with an opportunity to come together in an informal, intimate, and culturally unique setting, for the purpose of meeting and engaging in meaningful conversation with their new college head and FPHL representatives.

“I really enjoy spending time with students in the tipi,” said Lindy Garneau, head of Gzowski College. “Getting together in small groups is a good way for us to really get to know one another. I want Trent students to know we have a tipi on campus and for all students to feel welcome to respectfully enjoy it. This is how we build strong community at Gzowski College.”

She added: “Inviting students to experience the tipi also helps to make them feel at home in their space, while supporting cultural awareness. Gzowski College and FPHL share the same building, Enweying, which means ‘the way we speak together’. This initiative models for students how we all belong.”

The timing of this community-building initiative also corresponds well with the Curve Lake Pow Wow, and the annual bus trip Gzowski College has organized so Trent students may attend the September 20-21 event. At this year’s Pow Wow, a special ceremony is planned to celebrate the fifty year friendship between the University and Curve Lake First Nation.