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Indigenous student embraces and shares his culture at Durham College

To reach Durham College (DC), Jakob Henry Olive travels 10 hours south from his home in Michipicoten First Nation near Wawa, Ontario. While Oshawa may be far away, the Anishinabek/Ojibwe student has made DC his destination twice now, graduating from the Electrical Techniques program before entering his current Computer Programming program that he is set to graduate from in 2025.

Olive said he originally decided to come to DC because Oshawa seemed like the right-sized city for someone who had previously lived in a town of 3,000.

“Growing up, I was always up north, so I came to the conclusion that I needed to venture out and expand my mindset, and I knew I didn’t have it in me to live in downtown Toronto. I felt Durham and Oshawa was the perfect middle ground,” he said. While he plans to stay down south for a while, eventually Olive plans to return up north and work in IT.

At DC, Olive is a regular at the First People’s Indigenous Centre (FPIC), meeting with other members of the Indigenous community and occasionally attending events such as the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and the Fall Feast. He says it’s a great quiet place on campus to do homework as well. He also recently connected with the DC Indigenous Education Circle and the Indigenization Council as a student member to share his experiences.

“I look at almost everything daily through an Indigenous perspective. Quite often it’s in conversation with other people, sharing stories, sharing experiences, and communicating almost nonverbally and verbally at the same time. Indigenous people have such a connection that it’s difficult to explain,” he said. “It’s a very close-knit group of people, almost like a family, a miniature Indigenous community within Durham College.”

Asked how he brings his Indigenous self to campus personally, Olive muses that he tries to do so daily. “Being raised up north and in a community, I bring my identity into everything, even into my computer programming. I feel like there’s lots of opportunity for me to bring up the inequalities that northerners have compared to people who live in the GTA, and the technological divide that’s evident, even more so since the pandemic,” he said, noting that his community only got high-speed internet about three years ago. 

Olive said he is eager to help others at DC learn more about the north and help build stronger relationships with nearby nations. “I’m hoping I can come forward with good recommendations for the Indigenization Council.”

Besides his studies, Olive is also an avid bead worker, a passion that started during the pandemic and now brings joy to his life. His first project was a simple pair of earrings with sky blue and fire colours along the sides.

Three years later, Olive still beads every day, in the morning as he drinks his coffee and, in the evening, after he finishes his studies. Creating new work regularly from earrings to dreamcatchers to wristlets, he sells his work through his brand Niished Out Beadwork at pow-wows, conferences, and cultural events.

Olive is planning to explore the offerings through FastStartDC, an extracurricular program that helps DC students develop and launch their businesses.

He’ll also continue to find community at FPIC, which he describes as a good place to facilitate conversations, (sometimes hard conversations) about the reality of First Nations life. “The conversations that arise from the events are what I enjoy most. To my knowledge, there is no other place in North Oshawa to have these conversations in safe, ‘community-based’ surroundings, which First Nations students would be familiar with.”

The First Peoples Indigenous Centre welcomes all at Durham College

Nestled within the Centre for Collaborative Education is an inclusive space dedicated to supporting Indigenous students at Durham College (DC).

First opened in 2011, the First Peoples Indigenous Centre (FPIC) was given the Anishinaabemowin name Suswaaning Endaajig, “a nest away from home,” by Elder and Traditional Knowledge Keeper Gerard Sagassige. Since then, its mission has centred on reconciliation, cultural awareness, and creating opportunities for Indigenous students to succeed while staying connected to their heritage.

It also plays a crucial role in raising awareness of Indigenous cultures and histories among DC students, faculty members and employees, bridging the gap between communities and promoting healing and inclusivity.

“FPIC is a resource for anyone interested in learning about Indigenous cultures, histories, and ways of knowing. We offer a range of programs and events that promote cultural understanding and reconciliation, and we encourage everyone to get involved,” explained Dr. Kayla Murphy, Director of Indigenous Initiatives and a member of Walpole Island First Nation. “We provide cultural resources, academic support, and a sense of community. FPIC is a place where students can come together to learn, grow, and build mutual respect.”

When FPIC’s doors are open between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., all are welcome to stop in for a visit. Whether exploring their Indigenous identities or finding a quiet spot to study, it’s a great place to escape from the hustle and bustle of campus life. The coffee is always on and Sherry Miller, Indigenous Student Success Coordinator and a member of Wasauksing First Nation, is always ready to greet visitors with a smile.

“We’re a strong support system for Indigenous students. We offer a sense of home and a strong sense of community,” said Miller, who is passionate about providing a warm and safe environment for those who need it.

“I know there are certain places where Indigenous youth don’t feel safe or they don’t feel welcome. When they come in here, there’s no judgment. Having a space dedicated to them where they can feel safe is important.”

One such space within FPIC is the Elder’s Room. It’s a place for quiet reflection as well as smudging, a sacred ceremony in which traditional medicines like sage, cedar and sweetgrass are burned to purify body, mind, heart and Spirit.

For Kiana Cress, Indigenous Communities Outreach Coordinator and a member of Garden River First Nation, joining the FPIC team feels like a natural extension of the time she spent in similar facilities during her own post-secondary journey. Much of it was spent researching the influence of the education system on Indigenous identities, cultures and languages, making her ideally suited for the task of building new relationships and communities at DC.

“Working directly with Indigenous people is very fulfilling professionally, but also personally,” she said. “Places like FPIC show that Indigenous folks are still here. We’re learners and we’re academics.”

With its commitment to building relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities at DC, FPIC is supporting the cause of reconciliation. Students and employees can do the same by educating themselves on the resiliency of Indigenous people, their histories and current issues, and by building respectful and reciprocal relationships with their communities.

“My experience at FPIC and DC has been incredibly fulfilling,” said Dr. Murphy. “Whether it’s planning cultural celebrations or providing educational workshops, we’re making a real difference.”

Durham College is dedicated to advancing truth and reconciliation by weaving Indigenous knowledge and perspectives into the fabric of our campus. Explore this content collection to learn about the resources, supports and opportunities that are available on campus.