Indigenous youth explore UCalgary campus

This past summer, the University of Calgary’s Writing Symbols Lodge (WSL) hosted their first-ever Indigenous youth summer camp on the UCalgary main campus. The event was organized and facilitated by the student Wayfinders (UCalgary Indigenous Student Ambassadors) working for the Indigenous youth outreach program Ótáp ímisskaan. The program is designed to empower Indigenous youth and foster leadership skills.

The summer camp was supported by internal offices at UCalgary, including the Office of Indigenous Engagement (OIE), Active Living, Risk Management, and The Writing Symbols Lodge.In addition, several Mohkinstsis community members offered their time and teachings to the youth campers.

According to Karen MacDonald, Manager of the Writing Symbols Lodge, four Indigenous undergraduate students, Gaelin MacDonald (Social Work), Matthew Antonius (Geography & Architectural Studies), Connor Bates (Psychology), and Amira Twoyoungmen (Law & Society), worked hard to prepare and facilitate the week-long camp. 

Campers met local Elders like Casey Eagle Speaker and Cindy Daniels, made medicine bags with Teena Starlight, drummed and sang with Tobias Ear, competed in an Indigenized UCalgary Campus Amazing Race, and attended a face-painting ceremony with Elder Herman Many Guns.  Campers were also engaged in training modules; developing leadership skills like communication, public speaking, and locating their personal values. All these activities were made possible by the Office of Indigenous Engagement's ii' taa'poh'to'p Intercultural Capacity Building grant.

Ótáp ímisskaan secured funding for this summer camp last fall, during the 2025 semester. This grant supports important projects that elevate ii' taa'poh'to'p (the UCalgary Indigenous Strategy) and strengthen intercultural capacity building across the UCalgary campus. Ótáp ímisskaan's goal for this grant, was to create an opportunity for Indigenous high school students to explore the University's main campus, learn Indigenous leadership skills, and ultimately see themselves as a prospective UCalgary student. 

The Ótáp ímisskaan Summer Camp was successful enough to receive another year of funding for a 2027 installment. The Office of Indigenous Engagement hosted a pipe ceremony on October 7 to review the work done by the grant recipients. Antonius, Twoyoungmen, and Bates provided an oral report to Elders and attendees, where they shared their experiences, reflections, and goals for the future., 

“A big congratulations to these young leaders, as they work hard to find new ways to build intercultural capacity at UCalgary and support the development of young Indigenous leaders in Treaty 7 Territory,” says MacDonald

Those interested in learning more about Ótáp ímisskaan and its programming can reach out to otapimisskaan@ucalgary.ca or contact Tiana Bone, the Writing Symbols Lodge’s Cultural Events and Program Coordinator.