Indigenous

How do I find my place here?

Through the Blankstein Momentum Program, returning Indigenous undergraduate students find support in navigating university.

Students gather around tables during a Blankstein Momentum Program sharing circle, talking, eating and participating in a group activity.
Estimated Read Time:
4 minutes
Blankstein Momentum Olympics — a BMP community-building activity bringing students together through connection, teamwork and fun.
Left: Korey Whiteway. Right: Tee Bourré.
Blankstein Momentum Olympics — a BMP community-building activity bringing students together through connection, teamwork and fun.
Left: Korey Whiteway. Right: Tee Bourré.
Estimated Read Time:
4 minutes
By

Sue Wang

At a recent study retreat hosted by the Blankstein Momentum Program (BMP) at FortWhyte Alive, textbooks, lecture notes and coffee mugs filled tables as students balanced readings with the realities of work, family and personal life. 

A few weeks later, at another gathering, studying gave way to leather, needles and laughter. While making leather mitts, students shared stories about coursework, career transitions and returning to school. Though some discovered sewing was not their strongest skill, no one seemed eager to leave. 

These moments do not happen in lecture halls or exam rooms, yet they are an important part of university life. 

For many Indigenous students, university is about more than classes, grades and deadlines. It is also about finding support, building confidence and knowing change does not need to be navigated alone. 

That is the heart of BMP. Offered through the Indigenous Student Centre (ISC), the program supports Indigenous undergraduate students navigating different stages of university life, including students continuing their studies, returning after time away or adapting to major life transitions. Through academic support, cultural activities, mentorship, peer connection and workshops, it helps students build momentum, sustainable study habits and a strong sense of connection and belonging. 

Shelby Sanderson pictured during her aircraft maintenance training and receiving a certificate beside an aircraft display.
Tee Bourré pictured alongside a handmade smudge kit created during an Elder-led cultural workshop.
Shelby Sanderson pictured during her aircraft maintenance training and receiving a certificate beside an aircraft display.
Left: Shelby Sanderson. Centre: Tee Bourré. Right: Items included in the BMP Orientation Welcome Package.
A university journey is rarely a straight line

Students join BMP from very different backgrounds, yet many arrive with a similar question: How do I find my place here? 

For Shelby Sanderson, a Swampy Cree student from Wuskwi Sipihk First Nation, entering the Faculty of Arts followed a career as an aircraft maintenance technician. Returning to university meant starting over . 

"Being a mature student, I want to do this right," Sanderson says. "I want to get as much as I can out of my time here." 

Others faced different transitions. Tee Bourré, a psychology and Indigenous studies student from Wasauksing First Nation, found moving to Manitoba overwhelming after leaving behind their home community and familiar support systems. 

Leaving home also meant leaving support system and community, which made the transition feel overwhelming at times.

Tee Bourré, psychology student from Wasauksing First Nation

Similarly, Jean-Ashley Monkman from Lake Manitoba First Nation spent her early days figuring out how to adapt and build confidence, while Korey Whiteway from Matheson Island joined BMP specifically to find a shared learning community. 

Seeking help is part of success

For these students, support goes far beyond academic advising. It is about discovering how they learn best, developing sustainable habits and building a version of university success that works for them. 

Whiteway says biweekly goal setting transformed how he manages his time and balances school with personal life. For Bourré, one of the most important shifts was learning to study in ways that aligned with their needs rather than forcing methods that did not fit. 

Sanderson used the program to bridge the gap between a hands-on technical background and university expectations. For Monkman, growth showed up in something simpler but equally important: confidence. 

"My biggest takeaway was the positive impact it had on my confidence and mindset," she says. "I feel much more comfortable reaching out for support now." 

My biggest takeaway was the positive impact it had on my confidence and mindset. I feel much more comfortable reaching out for support now.

Jean-Ashley Monkman, Lake Manitoba First Nation

For many Indigenous students, succeeding at university is not only about mastering coursework. It also means learning to navigate institutional systems, building long-term habits and recognizing that seeking help is part of success, not a sign of weakness. 

Belonging transforms the university experience

Academic skills help students succeed, but community is what keeps them grounded. 

Many of the students' most meaningful memories happen outside the classroom — during study nights, retreats, shared meals, leather mitt-making workshops and Elder-led cultural gatherings such as Maintaining Balance: Medicine Wheel and Smudge Teachings. 

"Building relationships with peers makes the university experience less lonely," Bourré says. 

Whiteway believes the friendships formed through the program will last well beyond graduation, while Monkman describes her own transformation simply: 

"I feel like I'm part of something now." 

Programs like BMP create vital space for Indigenous students balancing academics, identity and personal growth. They also send a clear message to future students and families: at the University of Manitoba, success does not have to happen alone.

As Monkman advises students who may still be hesitant to apply: 

"Taking that first step can open up new opportunities and support systems that will have a profound and lasting impact." 

Ready to build momentum? 

Watch Korey Whiteway’s interview video to learn how he found community and connection through BMP — available after June 8.

Interested in joining BMP for the upcoming academic year? Learn more and apply.

Korey Whiteway is sitting on a sofa.
Korey Whiteway
Korey Whiteway
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