Case Study: Pain, Perseverance and Resilience - the cost and benefits of a Canadian Post-Secondary Education


Kerry Bailey, McMaster University and University of Saskatchewan

Research has established that anti-Indigenous racism persists within Canadian society. This racism can present through overt, covert, and systemic avenues and has distinct and serious impacts for Indigenous peoples. Within the space of post-secondary education Indigenous students continue to experience barriers to success. These barriers can take multiple forms - whether interpersonal/social or within the academic/classroom sphere. Throughout my time working with Indigenous post-secondary students, many experiences and impacts have been shared. Alongside the negative experiences, many students also express experiences of strength within community, resistance, perseverance and success. There is obvious and persistent drive and a rallying call for justice amongst Indigenous university students. The question that remains is - what can be done from the side of the university (administration and faculty) to increase support, engagement and empowerment for Indigenous students. Their continuous determination and resistance to ongoing colonial powers within the post-secondary environment is admirable. That said, these students should not be required to expend this level of energy and personal sacrifice to achieve their goals of a university degree. To further understanding, rather than combining their perspectives in a more general presentation, I am going to share with you a case-study of one Indigenous student who I interviewed. This student described their circumstance at great lengths. They did not hide from the depth of their experiences and the pain they caused, while simultaneously demonstrating ongoing resilience. This case study exemplifies how systemic racism within Canadian universities persists and potentially de-rails talented and determined young adults seeking higher education. By focusing deeply at this individual level, the shared life-experiences of this Indigenous student will deepen your understandings of the post-secondary environment and where change is necessary. Two of the key areas that will be addressed throughout this discussion are communication and connection. Why is the communication between, and connection with, Indigenous students so lacking from the university side. Discussion of this case study will look at how, during our interview, the Indigenous student outlined how it was the first time that they had felt prepared and safe enough to share their experiences. This was due to necessary time for healing, as well as an going questioning of how could he return to the university to discuss the issues, when it was the university institution itself that had been the source of the wounds. In this one detail, the concerning, systemic issues are already evident. Although this case study discussion will necessarily attend to some very serious experiences and personal truths, they are not to be the sole focus. The pain this individual experienced advises us on how immediate and necessary changes must occur. There is also a deeper learning here about self-empowerment, social justice and critical changes that are required.

This paper will be presented at the following session: