Brock second-year Dramatic Arts student Abbey Keays (left), fourth-year Psychology student Rhaya Clyne and first-year Concurrent Education student Bailey Clyne are among the first cohort of students to participate in the University’s new Indigenous Plus program.
originally published in The Brock News | Friday, November 07, 2025 | by Sarah Ackles
When Brock students Abbey Keays, Bailey Clyne and Rhaya Clyne reflect on what they’ve gained from the University’s Indigenous Plus program, two words immediately come to mind: culture and community.
“There’s so much value in building community and connecting with a group of people over academics, career and culture,” says Rhaya, a fourth-year Psychology student. “A big part of my journey over the past few years has been connecting to my culture, and the Indigenous Plus program has been a good way to integrate that within my educational journey.”
Rhaya, her sister and first-year Concurrent Education student, Bailey, and Keays, a second-year Dramatic Arts student, are among the first cohort to participate in Indigenous Plus.
Open to Indigenous students, the free, four-year co-curricular program focuses on cultural insights, connection and career readiness. Students participate in two to four hours of programming per week that incorporates Indigenous perspectives, cultural teachings and knowledge.
Cindilee Ecker-Flagg (Nokomis Migizinz), who is of Indigenous ancestry of Anishinaabe, Maliseet and settler French/English and resides in the Niagara community, recently gave a workshop on the four sacred medicines to Indigenous Plus students.
“Indigenous Plus offers students a supportive space to explore their culture, build and connect with community, and prepare for their future careers,” said Indigenous Plus Consultant Michelle Root.
For the Clyne sisters, the program has allowed them to deepen their relationship through a shared interest in learning more about their background.
While they always knew they were Indigenous, the intergenerational impacts of colonialization made it challenging to get a clear picture of their lineage. They believe their family likely originated from the Six Nations of the Grand River or another nearby reserve, and most of their teachings have been from Anishinaabe Elders and Knowledge Keepers.
“I was never supposed to know about my culture — that was the way it was intended — and because of that I’m really trying to work towards reconnecting with it in whatever ways I can,” said Rhaya.
Bailey added that experiencing diverse ways of knowing and learning directly from Indigenous people will allow her to provide a more holistic learning experience as a future teacher.
“I’ve really enjoyed learning from different Knowledge Keepers and Elders; it’s beneficial to have that knowledge to go along with the Western way of learning,” she said. “I want to give future students those same learning opportunities.”
Keays, of the Upper Mohawk Turtle Clan, was also drawn to the program to build connections with Indigenous students and deepen her ancestral knowledge.
“Indigenous culture isn’t always taught in classrooms, so it’s like getting to know about different pieces of ourselves,” she said. “I’m also helping my mom and grandmother to learn more, so we get to go on this learning journey together.”
The program also “opened my eyes about how to add my culture to my art,” she said, pointing to her role as a performer in the upcoming Métis Nutcracker as an example.
Presented by Brock’s Department of Dramatic Arts, the production is written by Assistant Professor Matthew MacKenzie and directed and choreographed by theatre artist Monica Dottor.
“I get the opportunity to speak my native Mohawk language and tell the creation story in the show, so connecting my culture to my artistic practice has already fuelled my passion for performing even more,” Keays said.
Root is encouraged by the success of the Indigenous Plus program so far and is “thrilled to soon welcome the Fall 2026 cohort to continue the journey together.”
Registration for the next cohort runs from Monday, Jan. 19 to Friday, May 1.
All First Nations, Métis and Inuit students interested in learning about the program are invited to attend an information session on Monday, Nov. 10 from noon to 1 p.m. in ST 108.
For additional information, contact [email protected], visit @indigenousplus.brocku on Instagram or join the email list for updates.