Brock University Graduates Forge Stronger Indigenous Identities through Bonds of Friendship
Kaitlyn Austin (BSc ’24) and Evelyn Dilworth (BA ’24, BEd ’24) became instant friends when they met in residence in 2018.
Both have First Nations ancestry, but neither had extensive knowledge of their Indigenous culture at the time. Six years later, their understanding has grown significantly, and they have each other to thank for it.
The pair learned about the Hadiya’dagénhahs First Nations, Métis and Inuit Student Centre during Welcome Week. They discovered a mutual interest in becoming involved and agreed to lean on each other for support.
“Looking back, I’m so glad we did this together,” says Austin. “A lot of my fondest memories are at Hadiya’dagénhahs, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic when we connected online regularly to talk with the staff, Elders and other students.”
Austin, a member of Six Nations of the Grand River, came to Brock for medical sciences. But, her first year took a rough turn when she experienced a concussion shortly before mid-terms that resulted in her withdrawing from classes for the remainder of the year.
Despite not being enrolled, Austin stayed in residence because her care team of doctors and therapists were on campus.
“I would not have had the same access to care at home,” says Austin. “I was seen by all Brock doctors and accessed the Sports Medicine clinic on campus.”
When Austin restarted the next fall, she was advised to come back at a slower pace and register with Student Accessibility Services (SAS). This enabled her to get support with exams, note taking and reaching out to professors.
“The support I received from SAS was so important because the accommodations provided me with extra time to comprehend questions,” she says. “Gaining access to the Glean App helped make note taking easier and I didn’t have to struggle to keep up in lectures.”
That same year, Austin began volunteering more at Hadiya’dagénhahs. This led to several professional development opportunities including, an internship with the Office of the Vice-Provost, Indigenous Engagement, followed by jobs at Hadiya’dagénhahs as a Peer Educator and as an Advisor and Recruiter, her current role.
“Through these roles, I’ve had a lot of opportunities to connect with my culture and learn new things like crafting,” says Austin. “I also completed a minor in Indigenous studies that deepened my understanding of residential schools.”
Dilworth, a Mohawk connected to Tyendinaga and Six Nations, came to Brock for the Concurrent Teacher Education program and also minored in Indigenous Studies.
“I was encouraged to become a teacher by my Nana,” says Dilworth, a Peer Educator with Hadiya’dagénhahs. “She was thrilled when I chose Brock because it meant I would be able to stay close to my family in Burlington.”
By her second year, Dilworth was actively involved in Hadiya’dagénhahs and was taking an Indigenous Studies course. When the instructor gave the class an assignment that required attendance at a local event of their choice, Dilworth seized the opportunity to engage with the local Indigenous community. Joined by Austin, the pair saw the traditional women’s hand drum group Strong Water Singers perform. The two went on to become members of the group.
To meet her degree requirements, Dilworth completed two practicum placements within the Six Nations School Board, where she worked with grades six through eight, and was inspired to enroll in Mohawk language classes.
“Exploring my Indigeneity at university was a fun journey,” she says. “I didn’t focus on my Indigenous culture growing up and was nervous to go into community alone. I’m grateful Kaitlyn and I went to things together. We met many likeminded people and grew together.”