Indigenous Student Gathering Centres

Indigenous Student Gathering Centres

Did you know NBCC has Indigenous student gathering centres on some of our campuses? These centres are peaceful gathering places for Indigenous students, located centrally on campus and a valuable resource for the student population to learn about Indigenous people, culture and lifeways. The centres are safe, welcoming spaces for all students and we encourage all students to come by for a visit.

Miramichi Campus

The Mawiomi Place, a gathering centre for Indigenous students, is located at NBCC’s Miramichi Campus. The Mawiomi Place allows for a permanent gathering place, where students can develop friendships and receive guidance.

The Meaning of Mawiomi

“Mawiomi” is actually the word for “gathering.” As a result, Miramichi’s Mawiomi Place is a place of gathering and often used by many different committees. The centre in Miramichi is welcoming and beautiful. There you’ll find Constance Sewell, the Indigenous Student Advisor for the campus. She spends her time between Student Services and the Mawiomi Place.

Moncton Campus

The Wabanaki Student Centre is a gathering place for Indigenous students in Moncton.

The Meaning of Wabanaki

Wabanaki Student Centre is dedicated to expressing indigenous culture and history. The Wabanaki people are First Nations that are demographically located in the Eastern part of North America. Wabanaki also refers to the people of the dawn because they are the first to see the sun when it rises. The term is primarily known from the Wabanaki Confederacy, which is a traditional alliance to protect each other and an agreement of safe trade and travel. Wabanaki is a cultural and spiritual bond that grows from respect.

Saint John Campus

At the Saint John campus, Indigenous and non-Indigenous learners alike can drop in, connect, study and relax in the Menahqesk Centre. The Wolastoqey word “Menahqesk”, meaning “the place of the sea taking the land”, is brought to life through a mural created by Robin Paul of Oromocto First Nation. Designed to help promote and preserve Indigenous culture and history, the mural depicts Saint John's geography and integrates braided sweetgrass, traditionally picked by Indigenous people in New Brunswick.

Woodstock Campus

At the Woodstock campus students can drop in, connect, study and relax in the “Kilun” Lounge. “Kilun” is the Maliseet word for “All of us together”. A mural by artist Roche Sappier is made up of symbols representing the culture mix of the Upper Saint John River Valley. The Centre is a safe place of higher learning where possibilities are endless and all culture and peoples are welcome.