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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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Brenda Blondeau
Writing Instructor
email: blondeau@yorku.ca
Brenda is Métis (Cree and European), originally from Saskatchewan. She was the Writing Instructor working with Indigenous students from 2011 to 2022, then again since Winter 2025. Brenda is available Mondays and Wednesdays in person at CISS or via Zoom to help students strengthen their academic work by discussing assignments at any stage of the writing process. Do not hesitate to reach out, or drop in, during her office hours! Brenda is also available on Thursdays and Fridays in the Writing Centre (https://www.yorku.ca/laps/writing-centre/).
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Sophie Chrisjohn
Keele Student Success Mentor (Work/Study)
Sophie is Haudenosaunee from Oneida Nation of the Thames. She is an undergraduate student at York University pursuing a degree in English. Sophie is passionate about serving the Indigenous community and brings that passion into her role as the Student Success Mentor for the Centre of Indigenous Student Services. She tends to the needs of current and incoming students, while also supporting staff. Her family has a history of working within Indigenous communities, whether that be on-reserve or in urban spaces. Sophie is eager to follow in the footsteps of her relatives to create a safe and welcoming environment for Indigenous students attending York University.
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Katie Williams
Markham Student Success Mentor (Work/Study)
Katie is between her third and fourth year of Indigenous Studies with a certificate in Public Administration and Law. She was born and raised in the east end of Toronto. She is English on her dad’s side as well as Anishnaabe from Georgina Island FN on her mom’s side. Katie has been involved in a couple of different student groups while at York in the Indigenous community, environmental advocacy, and now CISS! She's looking forward to meeting everyone around campus, at events and gatherings, both at Keele and Markham. If you ever see her walking around, she’d love it if you said hi so you can learn more about each other. Good luck to everyone with the upcoming school year, and reach out if you have any questions or want to get away from school stress!
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Matthew Johns
Glendon Student Success Mentor (Work/Study)
Born of Native and French-Canadian descent, Matthew belongs to the Turtle Clan, part Inuit, part Mohawk, raised in a 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 Financial & Business Economics (FBEC) with an overloaded course timeline. When not in class, Matt represents CISS as the Indigenous Student Success Mentor for the Glendon Campus. They aspire to attend as many events as possible while still succeeding in the world of academia.
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Alberta Crysler-Hill
Events and Promotions Assistant (Work/Study)
Alberta is Métis-Cree and European, and her family is from the Michel First Nation in Alberta. She grew up in Vancouver and is currently studying Indigenous Studies at York. This is Alberta’s second year as the Event’s and Promotions assistant at CISS, and she is honoured to have the opportunity to work with, and for, her community. Alberta manages the CISS newsletter and social media, organizes events, and supports the work of other CISS staff. This year, Alberta hopes to create fun and engaging events for CISS students and build further connections across the York Indigenous community. She looks forward to meeting you all if she has not already and is eager to hear what events and opportunities CISS students are interested in!
