Whether you are a new or returning student, we are excited for you to join our community! While COVID-19 has us learning, studying and working online, there are still ways to connect to the Indigenous community at Ryerson!
The Ryerson Aboriginal Student Services (RASS) team endeavors to provide a culturally supportive environment to promote academic excellence and serve as a place to balance academic learning with traditional teachings and culture.
We understand that the transition to online learning and news of the pandemic overall may lead you to feel anxious, fearful and frustrated. As well, it must be raising questions about what to do and how you will complete the semester.
Even though we cannot meet in person, our staff are still available to our Indigenous students to answer any questions they may have. Please contact a member of our team.
How we support the Indigenous students
At RASS we use circle of support, web-based models. Our aim is to support students in a way that is fluid and connected from the moment of their application to their graduation. This means that instead of seeing one person for one matter, and another person for another, the RASS team works with one other to assist students in a wholistic way, both within our space and in relationship with other resources on campus.
All of our Indigenous students have access to the services we provide such as academic advising and referral, bursary and scholarship information, writing support, tutor assistance, financial planning and more.
Indigenous Traditional Counselling
Indigenous students can connect with RASS’s Traditional Counsellor who provides traditional counselling and “wholistic” support inclusive of one’s physical, emotional, spiritual and mental well-being. Students can also get in touch to learn more about talking circles, workshops and ceremonies.
Get in touch with Sloan (Traditional Counsellor)
Phone: 416-979-5000, ext. 552423
Email: joanne.miller@ryerson.ca
Room: KHW-389-F
Availability: Monday to Friday | 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Counselling support in collaboration with the Centre for Student Development and Counselling (CSDC)
Starting in fall 2021, counselling support provided by an Indigenous counsellor is available for Indigenous students and is being offered as part of the university’s response to the ongoing uncovering of undocumented burial sites at Indian Residential Schools. The continued uncovering of undocumented burial sites adds further layers to the intergenerational/historical trauma experienced collectively by the Indigenous community. It is the collective responsibility of the campus community to create spaces that centre Indigenous students, faculty and staff and to attend to the community's grief and anger with healing and action.
The CSDC is working in collaboration with Aboriginal Initiatives and RASS to offer counselling support to Indigenous students. Lisa Lafreniere (Indigenous trauma counsellor, nutritionist, and social worker) is available and can connect with students.
Get in touch with Sloan and Jean to make an appointment
Indigenous students looking to learn more or book an appointment can contact both Sloan (Jo) Miller (Traditional Counsellor, RASS) at joanne.miller@ryerson.ca and Jean Tsai (Co-Coordinator, CSDC) at j.tsai@ryerson.ca.
Academic referrals
RASS is available to support Indigenous students who need assistance with course selection, to discuss course load or to talk about their academic goals.
Get in touch with Sam (Aboriginal Academic Support Advisor)
Phone: 416-979-5000, ext. 552609
Email: smandamin@ryerson.ca
Room: KHW-389-F
Availability: Monday to Friday | 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Tutoring and academic support
RASS can support Indigenous students who are struggling with their academic courses, we can also set you up with an academic tutor.
Get in touch with Sam (Aboriginal Academic Support Advisor)
Phone: 416-979-5000, ext. 552609
Email: smandamin@ryerson.ca
Room: KHW-389-F
Availability: Monday to Friday | 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Admissions support and advocacy
Through our partnership with the Ryerson Admissions Office, RASS’s provides a unique, "wrap around" admissions process for Aboriginal learners. The RASS team works closely with the Aboriginal Academic Support Advisor to provide seamless support to Aboriginal peoples interested in applying to Ryerson's academic programs. If you are looking to submit an application to Ryerson, please contact us.
Financial planning
Our team can assist Indigenous students in identifying available financial resources information and assistance in applying for Aboriginal sponsorship. They can also help you understand how to complete bursary and scholarship applications. Contact one of two members of our team:
Get in touch with Sam (Aboriginal Academic Support Advisor)
Phone: 416-979-5000, ext. 552609
Email: smandamin@ryerson.ca
Room: KHW-389-F
Availability: Monday to Friday | 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Get in touch with Diane (Aboriginal Learning Support Facilitator)
Phone: 416-979-5000, ext. 553326
Email: dsimone@ryerson.ca
Room: KHW-389-B
Availability: Monday to Friday | 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Orientation to the university
Planned in partnership with our Aboriginal Peer Supporters, the RASS team can provide Indigenous students with an orientation to Ryerson. You’ll have the opportunity to meet other Indigenous students and staff, learn about our programs and services and support to help you attain your personal and academic goals.
Get in touch with the Aboriginal Peer Support team
Phone: 416-979-5000, ext. 556660
Email: abpeers@ryerson.ca
Availability: Monday to Friday | 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Room: KHW-372
Welcome
Hello! N’it! Wachiya! Ahnee! Tansi! She:gon! Kwe!
Toronto is in the “Dish With One Spoon Territory”. The Dish With One Spoon is a treaty between the Anishinaabe, Mississaugas and Haudenosaunee that bound them to share the territory and protect the land. Subsequent Indigenous Nations and Peoples, Europeans and all newcomers have been invited into this treaty in the spirit of peace, friendship and respect.
Learn more about Ryerson University’s Land Acknowledgement.
Greetings from Aboriginal Initiatives
Ryerson University strives to develop positive relationships with the Aboriginal community through initiatives such as the Aboriginal Education Council (AEC), Ryerson Aboriginal Student Services (RASS), and the Aboriginal Initiatives unit in the Office of the Vice-President, Equity and Community Inclusion (OVPECI).
N'it and hello! I am Monica McKay, Director of Aboriginal Initiatives. On behalf of my team, I would like to welcome you to Ryerson University! I feel Ryerson continues to support Aboriginal students in many different ways and hope you will find the resources on our website to be a helpful aid in your journey.
T'ooyaksiy' N'iin, Miigwetch, thank you!
Monica McKay, Director of Aboriginal Initiatives
Mission statement
RASS provides a culturally supportive environment for students that promotes academic excellence, offering a space to balance academic learning with traditional teaching and culture.
RASS provides specialized services to First Nations, Inuit, Métis, and Canadian Indigenous students (or those who identify by nation or community) at Ryerson, all while developing a mutually productive relationship between Ryerson and the Indigenous community.
RASS is part of the Aboriginal Initiatives unit in the Office of the Vice-President, Equity and Community Inclusion (OVPECI).
Scholarships, Awards & Bursaries
Rabbi Abraham Silverstein Aboriginal Student Award
The award is open to a Status, Non-Status, Métis or Inuit student entering the first year of a full-time undergraduate degree program, with final high school grades of 80% or better and who demonstrate a financial need. The award is renewable.
Mature students entering their first year of a four-year program will be considered for this award if no suitable qualifying direct-entry students apply.
Ann and Bill Mackay Entrance Award for Aboriginal Students in Recognition of Joanne Dallaire (Ryerson’s First Elder)
This award is open to students who are registered as full-time or part-time undergraduate students at Ryerson. They must be in the first year of their program and have a clear academic standing. In addition, they must be a mature student (21 years of age or older by December 31 of the year in which you begin studies and have been away from formal education for at least two years).
To apply, the student must submit a statement (up to 1,000 words) on why they entered into their current program at Ryerson and what they hope to accomplish from it.
Ann and Bill Mackay Entrance Scholarship for Aboriginal Students in Recognition of Monica McKay (Founding Director of Ryerson Aboriginal Student Services)
The scholarship is open to high school students with clear academic standing, entering as full-time or part-time undergraduate students at Ryerson University. They must be of Indigenous ancestry (First Nations, Inuit, Métis, non-Status or Status). The scholarship is granted to the Aboriginal student with the highest incoming grade 12 average.
Frank H. Hori Award for Aboriginal Students
This award is open to students who are officially enrolled and attending classes in any full-time undergraduate degree program or graduate studies program, or post-graduate program. They must be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident or a protected person, and must self-identify as an Aboriginal person (including First Nations, Status or Non-Status, Métis, or Inuit cultural and/or ancestral background). They must have a minimum Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 2.00 or higher and a clear academic standing. They must demonstrate financial need through completion of detailed budget submission and must provide a written statement (1,200-word maximum) describing their connection to their Aboriginal community.
Indigenous Student Bursary
This bursary is open to Indigenous students with financial need who are attending postsecondary programs and/or training programs at either Ontario publicly-assisted colleges and universities or approved Indigenous postsecondary education and training institutions.
Métis Nation of Ontario Bursary
This bursary is open to students who self-identify as Métis and are residents of Ontario. They must be Canadian citizens or permanent residents, demonstrate financial need and satisfactory academic performance. Students may apply for and receive the bursary on an annual basis until they have completed their studies.
Ryerson Faculty Association’s Aboriginal Student Award
This award is open to students who self-identify as Aboriginal, Inuit or Métis, are residents of Ontario. They must be Canadian citizens or permanent residents, demonstrate financial need and satisfactory academic performance. Students may apply for and receive the bursary on an annual basis until they have completed their studies.
Learn more
Learn more about the award and scholarship opportunities for Indigenous students at Ryerson.
Questions?
For more information, please contact Samantha Mandamin at smandamin@ryerson.ca
