Program Overview

Neechiwaken Indigenous Peer Mentor Program

The Neechiwaken Indigenous Peer Mentor Program helps first-year students in the Qualico Bridge to Success program transition to university life by promoting student engagement and a sense of belonging on campus. The term Neechiwaken means "friend" in Cree.

Program Description

The program matches Qualico Bridge to Success students with experienced Indigenous students, known as Lead Neechiwaken (mentors) who provide academic and social support and ongoing advice. Mentors are Indigenous students in any year of study, faculty or program. The program provides all members with social, academic and cultural learning opportunities, peer-to-peer support, activities to support community building and the opportunity to be a Neechiwaken/friend to one another.

Lead Neechiwaken (Our Mentors)

A Lead Neechiwaken is the experienced student in the peer-mentoring relationship who is willing to participate in the reciprocal process of sharing their knowledge and skills to facilitate a new student's transition into university life and is a role that helps develop leadership skills.

• To become a Lead Neechiwaken, you must:
  • be an Indigenous (First Nations, Inuit or Métis) UM student in good standing (a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 is required)
  • have completed a minimum of 24 credit hours
  • be available for monthly meetings
  • be willing to commit to communicating regularly with your assigned student
  • attend a training session

Neechiwaken (Our New Students)

A Neechiwaken is the less-experienced student in the peer-mentoring relationship. Willingness to participate and assist in the reciprocal process of sharing knowledge and skills is required. This will aide in developing academic and leadership skills with the opportunity to become a Lead Neechiwaken in the future.

• To become a Neechiwaken, you must:
  • be an Indigenous (First Nations, Inuit or Métis) UM student interested in having a peer mentor for the year (September to April)
  • be available for monthly meetings
  • be willing to commit to communicating regularly with their peer mentor
  • be a student in the Qualico Bridge to Success Program

Supporting First Year Indigenous Student Success

The Qualico Bridge to Success program nurtures the spiritual, physical, mental and emotional strengths of Indigenous students so they can be as successful as possible in their first year of study. New Indigenous students are welcome to consider any of the program's opportunities. There is no cost to participate.

Student Testimonials

• "Being a mentee through the Neechiwaken program gave me connection to the Indigenous community on campus, and provided me with a net of support through my first year. Having a direct line to someone that has lived the University experience was invaluable as a new student."
• "I became involved as a mentor with the Neechiwaken Indigenous Peer Mentor Program to help guide Indigenous students through their first year of university. Being a first-gen university graduate, I understand how scary it can be to navigate a post-secondary institution as big as the U of M."
• "I became involved with Neechiwaken Indigenous Peer Mentor Program to get involved more with the Indigenous community on campus. As a first year Métis student, I didn't know about a lot of the opportunities that were available for Indigenous students on campus."