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The program is one of many across the U of S that answer the Calls to Action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, which demand changes that will help to provide equal and culturally appropriate educational opportunities for indigenous people.

Smith said Arnault-Pelletier provides vital personal support, meeting the students, being available to them at any time and connecting them to indigenous mentors and community.

When third-year medical student Kate Elliott was applying to medical schools, a meeting with Arnault-Pelletier drew her to the U of S.

Elliott, a Metis registered nurse from Victoria, B.C., recalls experiencing such hurtful racism during her nursing education that she sometimes broke down.

“I remember days I was so scared to go to nursing school, I would just cry. I had a couple teachers, where I was just so disempowered, so disenfranchised,” she said.

The experience “lit a fire” under her, she said. She graduated and went on to a Master’s degree with a focus on systemic, institutionalized racism and violence and its effects on youth health. Then she worked for six years as an operating room nurse before setting out for medical school.

It was hard to leave her home community, but she’d heard about the Native Law Program at the U of S and was intrigued, she said.

“I knew that creating indigenous space is really important for the U of S and I didn’t really get that feeling from (other schools.) It’s definitely been a lifeline,” she said.

“Being able to connect with other indigenous students is really important. I think it’s because we’re going through the same struggles.”

Arnault-Pelletier said the university’s efforts are significant and important because reconciliation is not the job of indigenous people.

“Who has to do the reconciling? Is it the indigenous people? I don’t think so,” she said.

“Aboriginal people are here. We’re not going away and we need to work together and respectfully collaborate with each other.”

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