Indigenous Student Services at McMaster

Congratulations to our 2026 graduates 🦅✨🍓 Here are some of our favourite moments from yesterdays Indigenous Graduation Ceremony ❤️

We are so proud of you all 🪶

Congratulations to our Indigenous graduates and our non-Indigenous graduates of the Indigenous Studies program and minor!

Thank you to the families and loved ones of our graduates,as well as many friends from across the McMaster community who joined us to send our grads off to their upcoming convocation ceremonies in a good way.

Thank you to our friends in ISD, IHLL, MIRI, and the Office of the VPI for your presence and support.

Thank you to Kindred Spirits for the powerful and inspiring performances throughout the evening that brought good medicine to each us. 🍓

We had so much to celebrate with graduates from undergrad and graduate programs within the Faculty of Health Sciences, Faculty of Engineering, Faculty of Humanities, and Faculty of Social Sciences. It was truly an honor!

We have been lucky to laugh with you, cry with you, share meals with you, learn from you, believe in you, advocate for you, and cheer you on every step of the way.

Thank you for allowing us to be part of your story.

Remember to enjoy every moment during this incredible milestone. When you cross the stage at your McMaster Convocation Ceremony, wear your Indigenous Grad Celebration stole and be proud of who you are and all that you've achieved. As you begin the next steps on your journey, remember that you will always have a home and a family within ISS and McMaster. This is not a goodbye. We will continue to stand by you and cheer you on in everything you do. We will see you again soon 💜

Congratulations to each of you, you did it! 🎉

With today being the Indigenous Graduation Celebration, the ISS Team would like to wish our 2026 Indigenous and Indigenous Studies Graduates a major congratulations on their incredible achievements!

You have made all of us (and your ancestors!) extremely proud - your dedication and hard work have paid off, and we cannot be more happy for you as you celebrate this wonderful time with us.

We wish you all the best of luck moving forward, and know that you will continue to make us proud wherever you may go.

Baamaapii! We know this isn’t goodbye, just a see you later! 💜

Calling all Incoming FNMI Students to Mac! 📣

Be sure to check out our Gaǫdadęihwahni:ya:s
Transition Program! 🛶

Offered as both a 2 Week End-Of-Summer Program and a Fall Elective Course, incoming Indigenous students are welcome to apply to participate in one - or both - options! ✨

For info on the Summer Program, see slide two! For info on the Fall Elective Course INDIGST 1G03, see slide three! 🖼️

Both are fantastic at helping students connect with supports and services, the McMaster and Local Indigenous Communities, and culture!

📝 APPLY NOW to participate at the link in our Linktree (available in our Bio) or by visiting: tr.ee/3f07smQZBS

We can’t wait to have you join us as you begin to start this next chapter with us at Mac! ☺️

Are you Indigenous? Incoming to McMaster?

📝 REGISTER NOW at the Link in our Linktree (available in our bio!) for the VIRTUAL Incoming FNMI Student Info Session happening on Wednesday May 27th from 7pm - 8pm! ✨

Get all the details about our available Supports and Services, and have all your questions answered in advance! 🤔

Don’t miss out! Bring your loved ones, bring a friend! We can’t wait to connect with you!

May 5th is the National Day of Action for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two-Spirit People (MMJWG2S+), also known as Red Dress Day.

Swipe for several Red Dress Supports available to folks in need!

It all began with the REDress Project, created by Métis Artist Jamie Black in 2010, an art installation consisting of placing red dresses in public spaces as a call for justice.

To show your support, you can:
❤️Wear red on May 5 to show solidarity.
❤️Listen to the stories of survivors and families and amplify the voices with consent.
❤️Write to elected officials demanding full implementation of the 231 Calls for Justice and Indigenous led oversight body and solutions.
❤️Attend local vigils, walks, and events.
❤️Donate to Indigenous-led organizations and support land defenders.
❤️Educate yourself and your community about MMIWG2S+ issues.

And to read the Final Report of the National Inquiry into MMIWG, visit: https://www.mmiwg-ffada.ca/final-report/

Calling on all returning Indigenous (FNMI) Students and Allies! 📣
 
APPLY NOW to volunteer as a Welcome Week Rep for Indigenous Student Services, Indigenous Studies, and the Indigenous Health Learning Lodge to welcome incoming students to McMaster for the 2026 - 2027 Academic School Year! ✨
 
🔗 To apply, visit the link in our Linktree, available in our bio, or by visiting: forms.cloud.microsoft/r/h8CfPDrVJ3

Register NOW for the fourth annual STEM Workshop to Indigenous Girls+! 🧬🧪

Happening Monday May 25th to Friday May 29th, participants will be able to experience STEM Learning, Cultural Connections, and mentorship. 🔬🥼

Fully funded, and open to Indigenous girls, trans girls, and gender non conforming youth (grades 9-12)! 🧑‍🔬👩‍🔬

Applications are open NOW until Monday May 4th 2026 - and spots are limited! 📝

More information can be found here: https://nuclear.mcmaster.ca/indigenous-girls-camp/

Indigenous Student Services, in partnership with the McMaster Campus Store, is now seeking local Indigenous student artists, or recent Mac grads, to create a design for our 2026 Orange Shirt Campaign!

This design will be featured on garments in the McMaster Campus Store. Proceeds from the sale of these goods will be donated to support the Survivors’ Secretariat.

Artwork Submission Details are as follows - the artwork must be:
- Scalable
- Limited to Two Colours Max (one is fine)
- In a Vector File Format (either AI or EPS)
- High Resolution

Remember it should work on an orange background!

Submit your Design by Friday June 5th 2026 to Indigenous Student Services ([email protected]), along with a brief description of your thinking behind the design, and your connection to the Indigenous community and McMaster university. An honorarium will be paid to the student whose design is chosen for this year’s campaign!

We look forward to seeing your artistry!

Need some mid week fuel for that exam brain? 🧠

All Indigenous (FNMI) students are welcome to join us TOMORROW in the ISS Ceremonial for Lunch starting at 12pm! 🍽️

The ISS Team will be serving up meat lasagna, pierogis, and have limited baking and snacks to grab and go for our hungry study buddies! 📚

So be sure to stop in before it’s all gone! First come first serve! See you then! ✨