Aboriginal Advisor

Four Directions Aboriginal Student Centre seeks to use a holistic approach to meet the emotional, mental, physical and spiritual well-being of the Aboriginal Students at Queen's University. It is important to create a supportive environment for our diverse First Nations/Inuit/Metis /Status/Non-Status/Two Spirited/On- Reserve/Off-Reserve/ Mixed Ancestry students on campus.

Culturally supportive advising is offered to both undergraduate and graduate students. Information, advocacy, and workshops enhance student success.

Duties of an Aboriginal Advisor include:

• Provide personal support to Aboriginal students
• Liaise with other departments & services on campus
• Support QNSA & SAGE
• Assist with cultural & social programming
• Assist with first year orientation & programming
• Develop, implement & support strategies and initiatives ie. group support circles, peer mentor program

 

Our current Aboriginal Advisor is Vanessa McCourt

 

Vanessa is Haudenosaunee from Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory. She has two children, Victoria and Jonas. She graduated from Queen’s in 2002 with a medial in Sociology and Health Studies. She began her work here at FDASC in 2007 as the Recruitment Representative. She is currently working on her Masters of Education in Sociology and Equity Studies in Education through OISE, UofT.

For fun, Vanessa enjoys playing beach volleyball and lounging outside with a good book.