The Heart of the Indigenous Student Community

Students of the Transition Year Program offered through First Peoples’ House (L to R): Charles Blondin, Austin Kaduk, Roberta Alook, Brynn Klym, Tamara Belly, Teigan Harvey, Marc Doire.

Dorothy Sutton, ’72 BEd, will never forget the day she and her husband, Darrel, met a University of Alberta staff member who told them about the challenges Indigenous students face. This meeting transformed the Suttons’ lives. It led to them making an enormous difference for hundreds of First Nation, Métis and Inuit (FNMI) students at the U of A.

Darrel died in 2018, but before his passing, he and Dorothy created the Dorothy & Darrel Sutton First Nations, Métis, and Inuit Support Endowment. Their endowment has helped First Peoples’ House — a student centre for FNMI students — reduce barriers to post-secondary education and create a community of support for Indigenous students studying at the U of A.

Over the years, the Suttons have gifted First Peoples’ House a total of $500,000, including the endowment fund, which directly supports Indigenous students’ living costs, a full-time learning specialist at First Peoples’ House and activities. The endowment also gives students access to programs that enrich their university experience, like art therapy, powwow practice, yoga, financial management, mentorship and more.

On June 24, 2022, the University of Alberta launched the Indigenous Strategic Plan as an important step in the university’s commitment to reconciliation in post-secondary education. First Peoples’ House is a pillar of this initiative, as a safe space and a home away from home for many FNMI students. Their programs and services help Indigenous students achieve academic success and personal growth, thanks to the support of donors like Dorothy and Darrel Sutton.

Corporations like EPCOR also recognize the value of the programs offered by First Peoples’ House. They’ve generously committed to $310,000 of funding over six years for the Transition Year Program — specifically for those facing barriers to pursuing post-secondary degrees in STEM-related fields. The program aims to make the transition easier for those in their first year of university by offering classes with reduced sizes and increased resources.

Kelsey McCallum, who started in the Transition Year Program before transferring into nursing, says learning in smaller groups enabled her to connect with professors on a personal level. This made a big difference in her academic success, as she was able to build the confidence and skills to help carry her through the rest of her post-secondary experiences.

“I was able to get support when I was struggling. Without this programming I would not have been able to move forward in my degree.” — Kelsey McCallum, Nursing Student

Student success is about more than just academics. The generosity of donors like the Suttons and EPCOR enables First Peoples’ House to provide multi-faceted support, including social, cultural and financial resources. It means more students will graduate, get better careers and become leaders in the community. The support also means that a more diverse, engaged and talented group of graduates enters the workforce.