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Centre for Indigenous Student Services
246 York Lanes
4700 Keele Street
Toronto, ON
M3J 1P3
cissinfo@yorku.ca
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Randy Pitawanakwat
Manager, Indigenous Student Services
email: rpitawan@yorku.ca
Randy, an Anishinabe with the Anishinabek Nation, is from the Wikwemikong Unceded Indian Reserve located on Manitoulin Island. He draws on his Political Science and Native Studies background, as well as over 20 years of experience in Aboriginal student services at the post-secondary level. Randy was appointed York University’s first Aboriginal Counsellor in October 2002. Currently, as manager of Indigenous Student Services, Randy oversees University support services to the Indigenous student population and provides help, guidance, and advice to the Indigenous community at York.
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Nancy Johnson
Cultural Programs
email: nancyj9@yorku.ca
Nancy is Ojibwe from Nipissing First Nation, Ontario. She is a graduate of the Image Arts New Media Program at Ryerson University. Nancy is happy to be part of the Centre for Indigenous Student Services as having had access to a culturally supportive environment has been integral to her academic success. She acknowledges and advocates that an educational journey should be inclusive of traditional values and teachings; which CISS strives to provide to the Indigenous community at York. She coordinates the Cultural Programs throughout the year as well she oversees the use of Skennen'kó:wa Gamig and CISS/Gamig card access program.
Nancy Louit-Gonzalez, RSSW
Traditional Counselor
email: nancygon@yorku.ca
Aanii/ Kwe/ Tansi/ Sago/ Saqarik,
Nancy's spirit name is Flint Knife. A mother, daughter, sister, and aunt. A 2-Spirited Mayan Woman whose roots run deep to the highlands of Guatemala, a descendant of the Maya Ki'che original people. Nancy has held many roles within the community over the past 15 years and they all required Nancy to be an advocate, mentor, and helper. Practicing Traditional Indigenous Counselling since 2015. Nancy is registered with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Services Workers and a member of the Ontario Association of Social Service Workers.
Graduated from FNTI, Nancy's field of study has been from a World Indigenous Knowledge-based Wholistic Healing Social Work Practice.
Nancy believes that our culture and ceremonies are the heart of our communities and reclaiming them is to seek justice and truth.
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Rebecca Lazarenko
Writing Instructor
email: rlazaren@yorku.ca
Rebecca Lazarenko (she/elle/iskwêw) is Franco-Métis and a citizen of the Métis Nation of Alberta. One important lesson Rebecca has learned is about reciprocity and how important is to maintain a balance of give and take. As such, she is committed to making academic (and also non-academic) spaces safer and more open to Indigenous peoples and cultures.
Her doctoral research looks at Prairie Francophone and Indigenous colonial relationship, with a concentration on Métis peoples, through a comprehensive examination of the francophone newspaper of the time. The purpose of her research is to illustrate the colonial project of the francophone communities of Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba - which was to colonize the lands and peoples to ensure the implantation and supremacy of the French people, the French language, and the Roman Catholic religion to the detriment of the "sauvages" - Indigenous Peoples.
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Leo Manning
Student Success Mentor (Work/Study)
email: leomann@yorku.ca
Leo is of Cree and Settler descent, a member of Saddle Lake Cree Nation but grew up in amiskwaciwâskahikan (Edmonton). He briefly attended Emily Carr University for Film + Media Arts. Deciding to switch career paths, he’s currently a Psychology student at York University. He wants to be able to provide support to both urban and rural Indigenous communities with his education. Currently, Leo is the Student Success Mentor at CISS. He is excited to be able to connect with those around him and have the opportunity to help/facilitate future events.
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Matthew Johns
Learning Skills Peer (Work/Study)
email: matjohns@yorku.com
Born of Native and French-Canadian descent, Matthew belongs to the Turtle Clan, part Inuit part Mohawk, raised diaspora, and seeks roots through family. A graduate from Conestoga College's Computer Engineering Technology program, they have worked in private industry, federal public service, and have founded a corporation. They are now a mature transfer student at York University majoring in Business Economics with an overloaded course timeline. When not in class, Matt conducts learning skills workshops with the LSS as an indigenous representative. They aspire to attend as many events as possible while still succeeding in the world of academia.
