Purpose and discovery; education amid tradition and culture
Getting an education isn’t always about learning the things you don’t know. Rediscovering yourself is also an incredibly satisfying accomplishment.
Justin Bruno of the Samson Cree First Nation knows this; the 26-year-old is eager to learn new things, but that’s not to say he lacks belief in himself. “I think I am a smart young man,” says the academic upgrading student at NorQuest’s Wetaskiwin campus.
Here’s the thing: Bruno’s educational journey isn’t entirely based on where he can go – although, believe it, future success is on his mind – but rather it’s strongly focused on where he came from. And NorQuest Wetaskiwin is one of the best-positioned post-secondary institutions in Alberta to deliver that. Fifty per cent of students at the campus self-identify as Indigenous.
“One of the things that inspired me to come back to school is my heritage.”
Diverse, welcoming, spiritual; the campus offers a great educational journey for people of all backgrounds. Part of Bruno’s rediscovery is taking on new responsibilities outside of the classroom, one of which is directly related to his culture. In December of 2018, he became the campus’s RBC Indigenous Mentorship Program’s student liaison.
As liaison, his job is to mentor to fellow students; bringing forth ideas on enhancing campus life, especially from a traditional standpoint; and to help organize student events. One of his first tasks was to help organize a hoop dancing and Q&A session with former student Leroy Bull, whose time at NorQuest helped him take the leap into Indigenous politics.
“It’s really neat being a part of the decision making,” says Bruno. “The people here always appreciate my input. Having that student point-of-view is very important. The experience is building my confidence as a person.”
Bruno’s future plans are to finish upgrading, continue learning about his background, and to one day enter a native studies program and/or perhaps psychology. This way he will be able to help others from in and beyond his community.
“Coming back to school helped me see all the things I was good at,” he says.
One of the things that inspired me to come back to school is my heritage. Coming back to school helped me see all the things I was good at. The experience is building my confidence as a person.