Waterloo Indigenous Student Centre joins the Office of Indigenous Relations
In a move designed to enhance support and foster a cohesive environment for Indigenous students across campus, the Office of Indigenous Relations (OIR) and the Waterloo Indigenous Student Centre (WISC) would like to jointly announce the unification of our offices.
“We are delighted to welcome WISC into the broader campus network within OIR,” said Jean Becker, Associate Vice-President, Indigenous Relations. “This integration will enable collaborative planning and co-creation of programs with Indigenous students and will aid in eliminating disconnects between services and improving advocacy alignment.”
Making this change enhances Waterloo’s ability to address specific student needs and support WISC’s development while strengthening our commitment to an inclusive environment that acknowledges and celebrates Indigenous identities and perspectives.
“With a dedicated team that includes experienced Indigenous leaders, OIR can better support Indigenous students in a holistic and culturally relevant way, ensuring that the services provided are inclusive and readily available,” said Becker.
The transition to integrate allows for improved coordination of resources and support for Indigenous students and the potential for expanded funding through university and donor channels. The aim is to centralize resources, improve accountability, and provide Indigenous students with improved access to services under a unified, Indigenous-led framework.
“While we recognize the 20 years of hard work from WISC, we are excited to see the potential for further support and wrap-around care that can directly impact and uplift Indigenous students,” said Emma Rain Smith, interim director, WISC.
“This transition is more than just structural; it represents a long-term commitment to creating a nexus of inclusive spaces, where Indigenous students feel supported and valued,” said James Rush, Vice-President, Academic and Provost. “The University recognizes that Indigenous students are vital to its diverse campus community and is committed to providing the resources, oversight, and culturally relevant support needed for their success.”
Moving forward OIR will now oversee and support Indigenous student initiatives effectively and provide more transparent accountability for their impact.
As the University moves forward with this change, the OIR will engage students, faculty, and community members to ensure that services align with their evolving needs. The university will soon announce a new centralized space on campus to house WISC and will be launching a survey geared to Indigenous students to help co-create and guide future programming and space needs.
OIR and WISC will be offering circles to hear from students about the impacts of this change and to hear feedback around the coming changes.