Dr. Giselle Dias

June 25, 2024

What Courses Did You Take?

I took the Indigenous Peoples' Certificate and the Decolonizing Education Certificate. I am currently in the process of taking the Indigenous Research Series. 

How Has Your Learning Changed You?

I wouldn't be exaggerating to say that the Decolonizing Education Certificate (DEC) and Indigenous Peoples Certificate (IPC) changed my life. As a Métis person, I came to see that we are all colonized - Indigenous and non-Indigenous people. There is a lot of work I needed to do to understand how colonization separated me from my Indigenous identity, knowledges and community. I started to uproot this 'unexplained' shame I had in not knowing who I was and started to see the role that colonization played in that separation. This new understanding started to create a pride in my identity that was deepened through my experience in the Indigenous Peoples Certificate.

The IPC provided me an opportunity to be with other Indigenous people as we journeyed through building our bundles, taking my place up in Creation and engaging in my life wholistically. Experiencing Indigegogy is such a powerful way of engaging in learning and relationships. Ceremony, circle work and having Indigenous facilitators and non-Indigenous facilitator allies made this experience much deeper, richer and wholistic.

How Has the Centre Impacted You?

I was the Program Coordinator at the Centre for Indigegogy from 2017-2022 and helped launch the programs that I was taking. I loved being engaged in my own journey through the Certificates while watching other participants grow and learn in their journeys. We shared a lot of tears and laughter, and I created lifelong friendships. Working with Dr. Kathy Absolon was such a powerful learning experience. I learned so much from her mentorship and friendship. I loved working with Raven and building a lifelong friendship.