Full-time Indigenous Support Staff at Trent Durham
The First Peoples House of Learning has a new role building Indigenous supports and community in Durham
Trent’s First Peoples House of Learning (FPHL) is excited to announce that Bobbie-Ann McCulloch ‘19 will be joining Trent University Durham GTA as a full-time Indigenous community and student engagement assistant, building programming for Trent Durham students, and building relationships with the Indigenous communities and organizations in our area.
A new graduate of Trent’s Social Work program, McCulloch will support FPHL in her new role, where she will work to grow Trent Durham’s supports and programming not only for First Nations, Métis and Inuit students but will also build opportunities for non-Indigenous students to engage in learning and reconciliation.
“I am thrilled that Bobbie-Ann has moved into this role. As a student she was a strong advocate for student supports, deeply engaged in campus activities and supporting Indigenous students,” said Jenifer Richardson, director of Student Affairs at Trent Durham. “This new role is an important step to support the long-term health of this campus and foster an atmosphere of respect and understanding as we grow. Dedicating resources and expertise to this initiative not only supports our Indigenous students but continues to put conversations around Indigenous cultures, ways of knowing, history, and tradition at the forefront of campus life at Trent Durham.”
Trent has long been a leader in Indigenous education, supporting Indigenous ways of knowing and traditional teachings. All students are required to take an Indigenous credit, regardless of their degree program. Making space for and celebrating Indigenous knowledge, traditions and resurgence are priorities at Trent University and growing our community and supports for Indigenous students at Trent Durham is enabling this work.
As the Indigenous community & student engagement assistant, McCulloch will support the work of FPHL with a focus on Trent Durham students. She will be working with the broader Durham community to create opportunities for learning and dialogue to support Indigenous students, build on Trent’s commitment to reconciliation, and facilitate collaboration with other Trent Durham departments as well as with other Indigenous student support centres at Ontario Tech University, Durham College, and Fleming College.
Through sustained partnerships with Indigenous communities and organizations, Trent is actively working towards building and maintaining spaces where all Indigenous students feel included and appreciated, and where all students can participate and share in Indigenous culture, ways of knowing, histories, and traditions. The University recognizes the vital role that Indigenous knowledge and perspectives play in all aspects of life for Indigenous students, both on and off campus. McCulloch’s support in this new role at Trent Durham will be instrumental in supporting Indigenous student success.