Indigenous Student Advisor

Indigenous Student Advising

As treaty people, guided by principles of reconciliation, Student Affairs and Services (SAAS) is committed to repairing relationships, amplifying Indigenous voices and developing strong institutional and community supports for Saint Mary’s Indigenous students.

Indigenous Student Advising, under SAAS, is a hub of resources, supports and services connecting Indigenous students within  Saint Mary's, broadly across Mi'kma'ki and with community partners and the Elder In Residence.

The Indigenous Student Advisor :

  • Acts as community liaison between Indigenous students, Saint Mary’s University and community partners such as the .
  • Supports students as they navigate campus life, academic policies and other aspects of higher education.
  • Provides guidance, support and referrals to campus, Elder in Residence and community resources.
  • Helps to coordinate the development of cultural initiatives, engagements and programming, working within Saint Mary’s to offer Indigenous perspectives and approaches.
  • Furthers academic achievement through collaboration with student success professionals throughout SMU.
  • Supports student-led and community-centric initiatives and programming.
  • Promotes Indigenous bursaries, awards and scholarships.

To make an appointment with the Indigenous Student Advisor, please reach out to Kylar Johnson via Indigenous.Advisor@SMU.ca. 

Meet Kylar Johnson, Indigenous Student Advisor

Indigenous Student Advisor sitting on staircase

Saint Mary’s is pleased to welcome Kylar Johnson, a recent graduate in the Sobey School of Business, back to SMU. He has recently assumed the Indigenous Student Advisor role in Student Affairs and Services.

Kylar brings a unique student perspective, having experienced pre-pandemic, remote learning, and the return to in-person learning during his undergraduate degree. During these varied student experiences, Kylar was very active within the SMU community. In addition to helping to re-establish the Drama Society after the pandemic, Kylar served as President of the Indigenous Student Society and assisted in bringing the Mawio’mi celebration back to SMU with the return of in-person learning.

After his convocation, Kylar secured a role working with Mi’kmaw Kina’matneway as a post-secondary navigator, where he developed cultural events and programming to support Indigenous students transitioning to life in post-secondary education in Mi’kma’ki. “The role helped me gain valuable insight on what students are going through, worrying about or trying to navigate as they first enter university life,” Kylar notes. “I remember feeling lost as a new student at SMU, but the support I received from the Indigenous Student Advisor and President of the Indigenous Student Society really helped me feel comfortable on campus, and I felt like SMU was a place where I could settle down.”

Kylar is from the Mi’kmaw community of Potlotek First Nation in Unama’ki and credits his time working with the Red Road project in his hometown for helping him become more in touch with his culture and broadening his knowledge. He furthered his experience volunteering at the Ottawa Inuit Children’s Centre, gaining new insight into Inuit culture. “These roles sparked my interest in learning more about other Indigenous cultures and opened me up to interactions that I wouldn’t have otherwise experienced,” Kylar describes. “SMU has a vibrant Indigenous community and I look forward to fully immersing in this journey with students and amplifying their narratives within the context of the institution.”

The Indigenous Student Advisor role supports and engages Indigenous students throughout their time at SMU. The Advisor provides guidance, develops community programming and helps to bring culturally respectful perspectives to light through reconciliation initiatives, advocacy and community-centered relationship building. 

“When I saw the Indigenous Advisor Role, I felt compelled to apply,” explains Kylar. “For Indigenous students, this role is one of the first key interactions they’ll have at SMU and will serve as their connection between school and home. Having experienced the benefits of Indigenous mentors when I was a new student, it’s important to me to ensure the advisor role continues to be available to current and future students.”