Elders and Cultural Supports
The Indigenous Student Centre (ISC) is proud to be able to offer various forms of cultural counselling, teachings, and guidance for our Indigenous students. These supports through community members, Elders, and counsellors are available through various ISC programming as well as through one-on-one meetings with students. Currently meetings are held virtually through zoom.
Elders
Our Elders are here to support students during their university journey. Indigenous Elders bring vitally missing Indigenous ways of knowing, languages, and cultural practices into the university learning and work context. You can book an appointment by phone, email, or stop in with Mandy Bragg at the Indigenous Student Centre.
Biindigegizhig (he/him)
Cultural Knowledge Keeper
Biindigegizhig otherwise known as Daniel Deleary is an Ojibway/Potawatomi/Algonquin Anishinabe from the Loon Clan. Biindigegizhig is a 3rd Degree Mide person and recognized leader within the Three Fires Midewiwin Lodge. Being engaged since birth in the learning and understanding of our Anishinabe Spiritual and cultural practices, Biindigegizhig is tasked with ensuring the rejuvenation of Anishinabe ways of being and doing. Recognized by many Anishinabek communities within Canada and the United States as a spiritual and cultural knowledge practitioner.
Biindigegizhig will be available this academic year as a Student Support. Students can book one-on-one meetings to talk with Biindigegizhig by emailing isc.advising@uwo.ca. Meetings can take place in-person in room 2100, WSSB or virtually.
Myrna Kicknosway (she/her)
Elder
Boozhoo, Aanii, Shekon, Greetings. My name is Myrna Kicknosway and I am from Walpole Island, Bkejwanong Territory. I have been invited to The University of Western Ontario to assist students and staff in the area of Cultural awareness, consultation and counseling. I will be available at the Indigenous Student Centre on a regular basis for one on one, group sessions and/or Indigenous workshop sessions. You are more than welcome to drop by to talk, have tea or make an appointment to visit. My life journey and personal healing has provided me with an ever-expanding appreciation of the knowledge of Indigenous Cultures, Traditions, and our growth as Human Beings and unique members of our kind Creator’s family. Looking forward to meeting you.
Barry (he/him) & Debbie (she/her) Milliken
Elders
Barry
Boozhoo, hello, my Spirit name is ‘Zhaawanoo Binesii’ (Southern Eagle); I am Wolf Clan, from the Kettle and Stoney Point First Nation. My English name is Barry Milliken. We are honoured to be asked to share what we know of our culture and traditional teachings as a way of assisting both students and staff at Western. We know that the qualities of Kindness and Empathy are strong in our teachings, so don’t hesitate to reach out. We look forward to meeting and working with you.
Debbie
Boozhoo, hello, my Spirit name is “Bimose Binesii Kwe” (Walking Thunderbird Woman); I am Turtle Clan, from the Kettle and Stoney Point First Nation. My English name is Debbie Milliken. Humbly, we are honoured to share the beautiful gifts the Creator has given us. My husband, Barry, and I share the same values and we are willing to share the knowledge that has been given to us. Looking forward to meeting with you.
Debbie and Barry work as a pair when visiting with students. Book with them and you meet with both!
Arbor Morris (they/them/he/him)
Indigenous Mental Health Counsellor
Arbor Morris (They/Them/He/Him) is a Two-Spirit graduate of George Brown College’s Social Service Worker program (Class of 2022). Arbor is the new Wellness Coordinator here at ISC. Arbor is here to offer free unlimited counseling to the Indigenous Community of Western University and supports. Arbor is located in our back office, which used to be the quite study room. Their drop-in hours are typically Monday-Friday 10am-3:30pm unless stated otherwise on the office white board. They also book appointments via the Jane App @ https://iscuwo.janeapp.com/
Arbor is from a small-town 20 minutes west of Barrie Ontario that is built on the land of traditional territory of the Anishinaabeg people, which include the Wendat, Odawa, Ojibwe, and Pottawatomi Nations collectively known as the Three Fires Confederacy. This area of Ontario is also Treaty 18 territory. Arbor is Oji-Cree Nation but due to adoption within their family, death, and estrangement, they are in the middle of the journey of learning what being Oji-Cree means and where they belong and navigating spaces as a Oji-Cree and Welsh/Irish settler. Arbor’s (non-blood related) grandparents who adopted them early in life are from Alderville First Nation Territory, and this is the community that Arbor has known for most of their earliest memories as home to them. Come say hi!
Gloria Thomson (she/her)
Elder
Hello Everyone, Tawnshee Kiawow, a greeting in the Métis (Michif) language. My name is Gloria Thomson, and I am both delighted and humbled to be referred to as the Metis Elder for the Indigenous Student's Centre. Delighted, because I am so looking forward to connecting with you, and getting to know you. Humbled, because I am fairly new to the title "Elder" or "Knowledge Keeper". Like many people of our culture, I only discovered my Métis heritage as an adult, and we are all struggling to reconnect with our roots and our stories. So I invite you to struggle along with me, and I promise you, I will do all I can to support and encourage you on your journey. Please feel welcome to contact me.
