Band: One Arrow First Nation
Hometown: Weyburn, SK
Program: Psychiatric Nursing advanced diploma
Campus: Regina
“Find a place that aligns with your beliefs and respects your culture. My experience
at Sask Polytech was nothing but positive.”
“If I could go back to my first month of classes, I would reassure myself that I would
find support and a place of acceptance,” says Mikayla Edy-Lizuck. Enrolled in the
Psychiatric Nursing advanced diploma program, the First Nations student says it was
that welcoming spirit and “seeing Saskatchewan Polytechnic’s value of Indigenous heritage”
that drew her to the polytechnic.
“Every month, we receive a calendar, via email, with events, education, courses and
gatherings offered to Indigenous students. It includes smudge ceremonies, traditional
food, beading, Cree language courses and more.” Mikayla says she appreciates that
these activities “show the effort in continuing our teachings, culture and our vocal
histories.”
Mikayla says her biggest challenge was juggling her studies and a complicated pregnancy
in her first year. “My program faculty worked with me to guide and support me successfully
through year one.” With the assistance of the Indigenous student advisor, she also
applied for and received student awards and bursaries to take some of the financial
pressure off.
“Realizing how strong I was, and how much support Sask Polytech offered, I was able
to continue into my second year without taking time off,” she says.
Mikayla was most grateful for the opportunity to do her practicum in a detox centre
which weaved in traditional healing for Indigenous residents. This broadened her knowledge
and affirmed her decision to work “bringing harm reduction and education on addictions/recovery
to reserves within Saskatchewan.” She says, “Saskatchewan is at an all-time high for
overdoses and deaths—my goal is to lessen those numbers, especially within my community.”