"The Indigenous Studies minor will enrich you personally and professionally."

Meet Bella, third-year Political Science and Indigenous Studies student

Dec 11, 2024 | UPEI Viewbook 2025

What brought you to UPEI? Why did you choose to study here?

I'm originally from Port Perry, Ontario, which is on the traditional territory of the Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation. I grew up spending my summers on the Island, and have always considered PEI to be my “happy place”. A family member got me a UPEI sweater for Christmas when I was a kid (circa 2012–I still have it!) and that’s what got me thinking about going to UPEI. Plus, I think it's pretty unique to be able to study Political Science in the “Birthplace of Confederation”!

What do you find unique and interesting about the Indigenous Studies Minor program and its classes?

The Indigenous Studies minor is truly a unique program. It provides students of all backgrounds the special opportunity to respectfully engage with and learn from Indigenous knowledge and ways of knowing and being. The classes offered in the faculty are one of a kind, and are fantastic ways for students to appropriately engage with numerous aspects of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis culture and history. I also like that no matter your interests, the Indigenous Studies minor will offer a class related to them, providing students with a potentially new conceptualization and understanding of the topic. Overall, it has been a privilege for me to participate in this minor, and I look forward to continuing this part of my academic journey.

UPEI student Bella speaking with another student

What kinds of support have you received during your time here from UPEI students, staff, and faculty members?

One of my favourite things about UPEI is its teacher-to-student ratio. There is something to be said about forming genuine connections with your instructors and peers. Knowing that you are more than just a number to the faculty members and staff makes a world of difference, and has truly made me feel supported in my academic journey.

UPEI also has great academic advisors who can help with scheduling to ensure you are able to make the most out of the learning opportunities available to you. I fully committed to taking the Indigenous Studies minor at the start of my third year when I discovered I had just enough elective credits left to take it, after meeting with an academic advisor!

What kinds of opportunities have you experienced because you're studying at UPEI, or because of the Island location?

The coolest opportunity that I have had as a student at UPEI was attending the first annual Commonwealth Women Parliamentarian Twinning Program at the Legislative Assembly of PEI. Because I am a student, I was able to participate in this one-of-a-kind experience, and job shadow a female MLA. I was able to chat with her and the party staffers about what a career in politics might look like and the various roles available in that setting.

Another unique experience I had was being able to sit in on a question period with the American Ambassador to Canada, David Cohen. One of my professors was able to have the Ambassador speak to our class, and I certainly will not forget that experience, either.

What's unique about UPEI, and Prince Edward Island, in your experience?

Like I said, it truly does feel like you are a part of a community at UPEI. I also alluded to the fact that many faculty members have unique connections within the Island community and across the world, which in turn provides students with connections. Not only can I say that I shook hands with the American Ambassador to Canada, but I’ve listened to a lecture from a Doctor specializing in Nuclear Weapons proliferation, and learned what it takes to get a spot on the United Nations Security Council from a foreign policy expert of the smallest country to ever do so.

PEI is a unique place to study in that it offers a combination of historical preservation and social progress. It is the perfect place to learn from the lessons of our past to inform our collective future; whether that has to do with economics, politics, sustainability and climate change or healthcare.

What would you tell a high school student considering the Indigenous Studies Minor program at UPEI?

I would tell them to go for it! Like I said, no matter what your personal or academic interests are, UPEI's Faculty of Indigenous Knowledge, Education, Research, and Applied Studies (IKERAS) will have a class connected to them. Approaching topics of interest from a potentially new perspective can only enrich your understanding of it. Pay attention in your IKE 1040 (the first-year required Indigenous Knowledge class) to any topics that interest you, and I can almost guarantee there will be a higher-year IKERAS class fully dedicated to that topic. I would also stress the importance of viewing university as an opportunity to explore new interests. You have elective credits for a reason–to try new things!

I would also say that the Indigenous Studies minor as a whole will enrich you personally and professionally. On a more personal note, the minor has given me the opportunity to reflect on my position as a person of settler descent in present-day Canada. I have grown in my understanding of not just Canada’s history, but of my responsibilities as someone of settler descent on this land.

Professionally, the Indigenous Studies minor augments your interpersonal skills, and underscores unique aspects of your major. For example, I believe that anyone in politics should have an understanding of Canada's history with Indigenous people, and knowledge of the issues facing Indigenous people in contemporary Canada to inform policy. Whether your major is nursing, engineering, English, or computer science, the Indigenous Studies minor is a tool to complement your major, and augment your understanding of it.

What are your general plans after graduation?

I ultimately would like to be involved in public policy design. Both my major and minor have highlighted the importance of well-researched policy to shape and inform the lives of everyone in Canada.

UPEI is also one of the only universities in the world that offers a Master of Arts in Island Studies with a stream in Island Public Policy, and I am considering taking this program after completing my undergrad as well.