Aahwaatkamooksi peer mentorship program

Aahwaatkamooksi is a mentorship program for Indigenous students that offers access to older students and Elders in the community to support their academic, personal and cultural growth. 

 A cozy lounge area with a group of four individuals engaged in conversation. The room features modern green seating, circular wooden tables, and a bright atmosphere with natural and artificial lighting. On the walls, there's artwork, including a quilt and a painting of bison. The setting conveys warmth, inclusivity, and collaboration.

The Blackfoot-Siksika word Aahwaatkamooksi translates in English to "creating friendships".

About

The Aahwaatkamooksi Peer Mentorship Program provides specialized, holistic support to Indigenous students to reduce attrition rates and create leadership opportunities while increasing overall educational attainment in art, craft and design education.

 An outdoor scene featuring two individuals engaged in a pleasant conversation. One person wears a vibrant pink floral dress and carries a walking aid, while the other sports a colorful headscarf, a paint-splattered denim shirt, and casual pants. The background shows a sunlit garden with blurred figures at a table, creating a warm, community-oriented atmosphere.

This program encourages making strong friendships with other Indigenous students to help navigate programs, resources and supports on and off campus. It also provides academic, personal, and cultural support between Indigenous students, with facilitators and Elders, and encourages well-being spiritually, physically, mentally, and emotionally.

In partnership with the Lodgepole Center, Peer Mentors are passionate about building community and creating brave spaces for Indigenous students to share their work and be successful at AUArts. 

Senior Indigenous students (Mentors) support their peers and help newer students transition into post-secondary by working with elders, the Lodgepole Center, and other Indigenous students.

Contact the Lodgepole Center at lodgepolecenter@auarts.ca for more information or learn more on the Student Success Centre