More than 90 Indigenous youth from 91原创, Surrey, Delta, Maple Ridge and North Vancouver were welcomed to Kwantlen Polytechnic University鈥檚 91原创 campus on Thursday, April 28, for a special event.

Open Doors, Open Minds gave Indigenous high school students a taste of the post-secondary learning opportunities available to them at the university.

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They were greeted by Lekeyten, KPU鈥檚 elder in residence, and Sqwayeten Cheryl Gabriel, an education coordinator with Kwantlen First Nation, who encouraged a sense of belonging and talked about the importance of education.

鈥淲hen I looked at each student sitting there, I saw five generations,鈥� says Lekeyton . 鈥淭his person is going to create the next five generations. It鈥檚 their turn to teach the hearts and minds. If you stop education you鈥檙e going to stop life; there鈥檚 nothing left to learn, nothing left to fight for, nothing left to live for. If they keep learning, they鈥檙e going to be in a very good place.鈥�

The keynote speaker for the day was award-winning journalist Angela Sterritt, of the Gitxsan Nation, who shared with the guests her struggles as a youth with bullying and violence in schools.

鈥淚 was encouraging Indigenous youth to reflect on the limitless possibilities of their lives despite any barrier,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 important to know you have options at an educational level.鈥�

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Between the keynote speaker and a closing performance by dancers and drummers of the Pil鈥檃lt Warrior Canoe Family, the students attended classes in topics like horticulture, physics, biology, journalism, nursing, math, and computer aided design and drafting.

鈥淭he workshops were hands-on experiential learning opportunities that truly reflect KPU鈥檚 motto of 鈥榳here thought meets action鈥�,鈥� said Steve Cardwell, KPU鈥檚 student vice president. 鈥淲e hope this experience shows high school students what is possible at KPU.鈥�

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