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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 TMU. 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 is currently enrolled in the MEd Urban Indigenous Education Cohort at York U.
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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Student Success Mentor (Work/Study)
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