Indigenous Studies Students’ Association Reflection

Words by Summer Tyance

The Indigenous Studies Students’ Association (ISSA) is a student-led collective partnered with the Institute for Critical Indigenous Studies that fosters healthy community, discussion, and engagement amongst students within First Nations and Indigenous Studies and First Nations and Endangered Languages. It is with hopes that this collective allows Indigenous and non-Indigenous students to connect outside of just the classroom and continue to have reciprocal dialogues around key issues or ideas brought up in course materials, or within other communities and spaces around campus. Safety, transparency, and the health of Indigenous and non-Indigenous kin is key for adequate events and operation. Some of ISSA’s first meetings centered discussion on how to make safer spaces, include diversity and a wide range of voices, and work toward decolonizing structures of such committees and collectives. A key priority of ISSA this year has been health in all forms such as physical, spiritual, emotional, and intellectual.

With unprecedented events surrounding the pandemic, collective members have had to adapt and reconsider what their needs and wants are, as well as what their capacity to take on other initiatives outside of academia is. That being said, some of the events run this year have been low-barrier, such as art builds, craft & chat circles, tea, talks, walks, and Timbits. A goal has been to allow students a moment to breathe and connect with other FNIS and FNEL alumni, as well. Another goal has been to hold space with open arms to community, and allowing those to voice and take action on initiatives they wish to see for the future of ISSA.

In one of the initial meetings, bannock and a salmon spread from Salishan Catering was provided, and everyone enjoyed it as they sipped their warm beverage, met like-minded folk, and brought up amazing ideas that they wish for ISSA to address and engage with.

The future is bright with time for dreams and aspirations that this collective holds. I have full faith that members, organizers, CIS, and others can make these dreams come true when it comes to community, allyship, dialogue, reciprocity, and support.