Conestoga's Indigenous Education Council (IEC) is a joint advisory committee and decision-making body that centres the success of Indigenous students and employees at the college. The IEC is an essential collaborative space for strategizing methods to increase Indigenous student success. The IEC is one pathway for Conestoga to build community with Indigenous communities and to directly engage with Indigenous students and employees.
The council champions the needs of Indigenous students and employees and provides advice and support to the college on all Indigenous matters. It is the primary body responsible for promoting and advocating for the advancement of Indigenous education.
The Indigenous Education Council is mandated by the Ministry of Colleges and Universities (MCU) to ensure that Indigenous Peoples are consistently and regularly engaged in decision-making within the institution.
The Indigenous Education Council provides recommendations to the director of Indigenous Initiatives, including guidance and recommendations that inform:
- Indigenization of academic programming: how to integrate Indigenous knowledge into academic programming, how to value Indigenous-led educational opportunities
- Enhancement of Indigenous student and employee experience
- Opportunities to collaborate and community build through Indigenous-led professional development opportunities, committees, arts and events
For more information, contact
bedahbingamik@conestogac.on.ca.
Indigenous Education Council membership
Current membership
|
Name | Membership representation | Community / Professional role |
|---|---|---|
| Luane Roberts (Co-chair) | External Indigenous Services Agency | Waterloo Region Community Legal Services - Indigenous Justice Program - Indigenous Justice Coordinator |
| Christina Restoule (Co-chair) | Manager, Indigenous Services, Conestoga College | Manager, Indigenous Services, Conestoga College |
| Raven Morand | Conestoga alumni | Indigenous Services Coordinator, Be-Dah-Bin-Gamik (Indigenous Services), Conestoga College |
| Nicole Robinson | Waterloo Region District School Board | Equity and Inclusion Officer – Indigenous Focus, Waterloo Region District School Board |
| Roxane Shawana | Indigenous student recruiter / Marketing, Conestoga College | Indigenous Student Recruiter, Marketing, Conestoga College |
| Alexandra Oestreicher | President, Conestoga Students Inc. (CSI), Conestoga College | President, Conestoga Students Inc. (CSI), Conestoga College |
| Adam Miller | Chair, GNED & Liberal Studies, Conestoga College | Academics - non-Indigenous Faculty, Conestoga College |
| Trish Weigel-Green | Vice President, Students, Conestoga College | Vice President, Students, Conestoga College |
| John Tibbits | President, Conestoga College | President, Conestoga College |
| Zandra Bear-Lowen | Faculty, Conestoga College | Faculty, Conestoga College |
Meeting agendas and minutes
| Date | Agenda | Minutes |
|---|---|---|
| June 26, 2025 | | Minutes - June 2025 (pdf) |
| December 13, 2024 | Agenda - December 2024 (pdf) | Minutes - December 2024 (pdf) |
| September 13, 2024 | Agenda - September 2024 (pdf) | Minutes - September 2024 (pdf) |
| March 22, 2024 | Agenda - March 2024 (pdf) | Minutes - March 2024 (pdf) |
| December 7, 2023 |
Agenda - December 2023 (pdf) | |
| June 28, 2023 |
Agenda - June 2023 (pdf) | Minutes - June 2023 (pdf) |
| April 26, 2023 |
Agenda - April 2023 (pdf) | Minutes - April 2023 (pdf) |
| October 25, 2022 |
Agenda - October 2022 (pdf) |
Minutes - October 2022 (pdf) |
| November 5, 2021 | Agenda - November 2021 (pdf) | Minutes - November 2021 (pdf) |