University of Waterloo store launches products supporting Indigenous students

The University of Waterloo campus store has found a unique way to participate and contribute to the institution’s reconciliation, decolonization and Indigenization efforts while bringing more Indigenous representation to the campus.

In April, the store launched a collection of merchandise, including water bottles, t-shirts and blankets bearing a unique piece of Indigenous artwork created specifically for the project.

“As a department responsible for printing and retail, it was very natural for us to [consider] if there were a way to bring in some Indigenous products that would then be a way for us to participate, but also probably, more importantly, introduce something to the university community that would be meaningful, hopefully for Indigenous students, staff and faculty, but [also to] everyone,” said Ryan Jacobs, director of print and retail solutions at the university.

The store worked in close collaboration with the university’s Office of Indigenous Relations in a “respectful partnership” to create products that had a connection to the land on which the university sits — the Haldimand Tract, which is the traditional land of the Neutral, Anishinaabeg and Haudenosaunee peoples.

Together, they commissioned Indigenous artist Alanah Astehtsi Otsistohkwa Jewell (Bear Clan, Oneida Nation) to create the design applied to various products.

“[The design] is symbolic of the interconnectedness of the environment and of nature, but it also can be representative of just us in our social networks and even how we connect to nature and the land,” said Robin Stadelbauer, Indigenous relations coordinator (Anishinaabe, Otter Clan, from Neyaashiinigmiing on the Saugeen Peninsula.)

In an email to CityNews, Jewell explained the various elements of her design.

“The artwork represents the wildlife and ecosystem of the Grand River. The design depicts herons taking flight, drawing energy from the Great Tree of Peace and florals growing beside the river bed, flowing up towards the moon, which controls the waters and has a deep connection to the Grand River,” she wrote. “The elements come together to signify the cyclical and reciprocal relationships between the wildlife, the moon and the river.”

Jacobs says Jewell has permitted them to use her artwork on orange shirts, available year-round.

“Our intention would be in September for the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, to bring in a large quantity of those for the campus because there’s been so much interest in that in the past,” he said.

Jacobs adds that the orange shirts and all the apparel in the collection are produced by an Indigenous-run company.

They also worked with Emma Rain Smith, an Indigenous student who is a beadwork artist, to create earrings, necklaces and cuffs for the collection, incorporating Jewell’s design.

The products are available to university students and staff on campus as well as the general public via their website.

Beadwork artist Emma Rain Smith’s accessories are displayed at the University of Waterloo store as part of their Indigenous collection. Credit: University of Waterloo.

Concrete contributions

“What’s been important to us in terms of setting up the display in the store is to include photography and some actual messaging about the meaning of the symbolism because we felt that while it’s great for people to appreciate this as beautiful art, there’s value as well in understanding the Indigenous culture behind that art,” said Jacobs.

Jewell, who did not attend Waterloo, says she is grateful to contribute to that education and bring Indigenous representation to campus.

She says she was very involved with the Indigenous student centre at the university she attended, and it was an extraordinary experience. However, she did not see herself represented anywhere else and felt like she did not belong on the main campus.

“It just speaks to how as Indigenous people, not only do we have to think about the ways we connect to our communities, we also have to think about how we are being represented in broader communities,” she said.

“I think I felt like I could make an impact with the University of Waterloo — so Indigenous students can see themselves on the main campus and in mainstream spaces, but also for non-Indigenous people to feel like they have a place to learn about our art and history, and to give a modern perspective about what our communities are capable of.”

In addition to representation and education through cultural understanding, Jacobs added that the project would also make more tangible contributions to the success of Indigenous students.

“Depending on the product, between 20 and 50 per cent of the purchase price will be transferred to the new Indigenous Student Success fund,” he said. “For the orange shirts, a full 50 per cent of the purchase prices will be donated.”

Orange shirts printed with artist Alanah Jewell’s artwork are part of the University of Waterloo’s Indigenous collection. Credit: University of Waterloo.

Stadelbauer explains that accessing financial aid through the established processes at the university can sometimes be a complicated or overwhelming experience for Indigenous students. The Indigenous Student Success fund was set up to remove some of the barriers they face and can be accessed directly through the Office of Indigenous Relations.

“We’ve created this fund to make it all-encompassing and not have so many restrictions on it,” she said.

Students can tap into the fund for other educational and professional needs along with tuition and books.

“[They can access it] to work on projects or to partake in experiences that will enhance their education — things like experiential learning in a different country, or if somebody wants to attend a conference … if they’re coming to the end of their academic career and they want to make that transition into their professional association or their professional realm,” said Stadelbauer.

Jewell says she empathizes with Indigenous students with financial constraints, adding that she relied on an emergency bursary and small grants to make ends meet during her time as an undergrad.

“It’s beautiful that I have a part in helping other students in the same position. It speaks to things coming full circle and to the importance of community, and how we are all related to one another in some way. I always encourage institutions that I work for to donate proceeds to Indigenous-led or Indigenous-centred initiatives,” she said.

A step in the right direction

Of the university’s efforts towards reconciliation and decolonization, Jewell says they are abstract concepts that require much learning and unlearning and “cannot be narrowed down to an act like this artist collaboration.”

“Nonetheless, these relationships are extremely important and will form the foundation for what support and allyship look like. Reconciliation and decolonization are life-long, community-oriented, anti-racist processes. I’m grateful to [the university] for starting these relationships and continuing those that already exist,” she said.

Stadelbauer echoes those sentiments, saying Jacobs and his team were highly considerate in how they approached building a relationship with the Department of Indigenous Relations for this project.

“These kinds of relationships take a lot of time, and they take a lot of trust-building,” she said. “I have full trust in Ryan and his team, given this process and all of the considerations and questions that were asked and the manner in which they approached the project — it was a very collaborative spirit.”

Jewell also said that working with the university was a positive and meaningful experience.

“It was clear that everyone involved in this project had their heart and minds in the right place and made such an effort to make this really special for students, Indigenous staff, and also myself! Everything went perfectly and it was such a beautiful collaboration,” she said.

“This is a prime example of how a department can take a look at the work that they do in the realm that they have and how they can come up with some really meaningful Indigenization strategies and initiatives that have a lasting impact.”