51社区黑料

鈥淚 am the first in my family to go to university, and now I am the first in my family to complete a bachelor's degree,鈥� says 51社区黑料 (SFU) Indigenous Studies alumnus Akira Iahtail (BA and Research Certificate, 2026), who hopes to inspire her younger siblings and cousins to follow the same path. 鈥淢y advice to Indigenous students is not to limit yourself because we deserve to be here.鈥�

After starting her degree virtually during the pandemic, when classes transitioned from online to on campus, Iahtail took a break from school and worked as a housing coordinator. 鈥淭hrough my work advocating for Indigenous families, I could see the ways that harmful policies have affected Indigenous people intergenerationally and have led to so many people being unhoused,鈥� she reflects. This experience motivated Iahtail to make the move to British Columbia to finish her degree at SFU, with the goal of developing skills and knowledge she can use to make a difference.

鈥淚 was born and raised in amiskwaciw芒skahikan, also known as Edmonton, Alberta; but, ancestrally, both sides of my family are not from there,鈥� says Iahtail, who is Cree-M茅tis and a member of Attawapiskat First Nation. 鈥淚 grew up very urbanized, displaced, and not very connected to my culture,鈥� she explains of how her family history 鈥� which includes survivors of the Sixties Scoop and Indian Day School 鈥� has influenced her own experiences. Iahtail says that pursuing her education has helped her to embrace and reconnect with her Indigeneity.

鈥淚ndigenous studies opened my eyes to everything that we've been through for hundreds of years,鈥� she explains. 鈥淗aving a space to learn about Indigenous history throughout Turtle Island intrigued me. My courses have also supported me to learn about where my family comes from, and our connection to Attawapiskat.鈥�

In 2026, Iahtail was selected as one of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASS) Dean's Undergraduate Fellows 鈥� one of the faculty's highest honours for an undergraduate student. 鈥淚 really enjoyed learning from different leaders in the Vancouver arts community,鈥� she recalls. 鈥淗earing from Hilary Atleo from Iron Dog Books was an amazing way to start the fellowship.鈥�

Meeting students with shared interests in a supportive learning environment made Iahtail feel welcome, as did finding an outlet for her creativity. 鈥淕oing to the Indigenous Student Centre really helped me,鈥� she recalls. 鈥淚 met the elders there, and I participated in so many cool workshops 鈥� I did lots of beading.鈥� Iahtail was also involved in the and was the head lady dancer for the Honouring Indigenous Students Traditional Powwow in 2026, 鈥淚 also researched powwows for one of my Indigenous Studies courses, and it made me realize how important gathering spaces and dancing itself are as a part of culture.鈥�

While pursuing her degree, Iahtail brought awareness to Indigenous storytellers and leaders as a film programmer. 鈥淲hatever I was going through at school, it was usually reflected in the monthly series that I program with The Cinematheque,鈥� says Iahtail of the educational power of film. 鈥淔or example, writing a paper about Haida artist Bill Reid inspired me to organize a documentary screening with my instructor, Bryan Myles, as one of the commentators.鈥�

Along with expressing herself, Iahtail鈥檚 academic growth has helped to build her self-confidence. 鈥淭hroughout school, writing was always challenging for me,鈥� she reflects. 鈥淟ast year, I took INDG 410: Indigenous Editing Practices and I found that learning about copyediting and Indigenous publishers helped me to become a stronger writer. My professor, Deanna Reder, encouraged me to write about my love of Indigenous film.鈥� In the future, Iahtail hopes to expand this project to develop an Indigenous film programming guide, potentially through a master鈥檚 program.

In her next chapter, Iahtail aspires to work with a non-profit or arts organization supporting Indigenous communities. 鈥淲orking with Indigenous people, that is what lights me up,鈥� says Iahtail. 鈥淚 would love to uplift Indigenous youth and show them how the arts can help us to love ourselves and our culture.鈥�