SAGE UCalgary strives to support and nurture the recruitment, retention, and graduation of Indigenous graduate students
At SAGE UCalgary, we intend to build relations with fellow Indigenous graduate students to help evolve their professional, academic and personal selves. Our team's lived experiences, and cultural teachings have informed the foundation from which SAGE grows. Through intentional practices of care within SAGE, we aim to adapt and grow to the needs of our fellow Indigenous graduate students, including connection with Elders, participating in ceremonies, and learning through land-based teachings and workshops.
Continuous learning - We cannot be on our own, we are all related and we all help each other's growth, not just in the moment but always.
SAGE UCalgary Logo Development Meeting, December 2018
The development of our imagery began with students and was guided by Elder Florence Kelly. The conversation was centred around reflecting on the journey of Indigenous graduate education and how might SAGE support the journey. These points of reflection were shared with a local artist and over the course of a year various connections occurred, many meals shared, as well as visiting with our plant medicines. This process created a trusting space and newly formed friendships.
The design for this logo took time and intention during the process of its creation. I am grateful for the collaboration with students who are a part of SAGE UCalgary for their feedback and contribution in the beginning stages of this logo. I am also grateful for their patience in completing this work as an emerging artist. This logo has seven sage plants growing together with their roots connected, representing the Seven Generations teaching of learning from our ancestors and making good choices to help our future generations. Many Indigenous students choose graduate studies to better themselves, give back to their communities, and to help create meaningful societal changes. The SAGE UCalgary chapter was birthed with the intention of creating a community space for Indigenous graduate students, which is why there is a family of seven sage plants to remind us as human beings that plant relatives are our original teachers on how to have healthy relationships and communities.
Sage is a powerful cleansing medicine, so with the design, I hope it gives graduates a sense of good medicine throughout their educational journey. I chose to include Miistukskoowa (Castle Mountain) behind the Sage plants to acknowledge being on traditional Blackfoot territory and Treaty 7 lands, as well as a symbol of strength for Indigenous graduate students who are climbing mountains of institutional barriers and challenges in post-secondary. Lastly, I included the night sky and stars as a reminder to remember that we come from the cosmos and are connected to our ancestors. Our ancestors are there to guide us through our journeys and adversities just as Grandmother Moon shines a light to help guide us through the darkness of the night.
Shared by Kayla Bellerose (October 2021)
"I am a Cree-Métis emerging artist originally from Slave Lake in Treaty 8 territory, with family ties to Bigstone Cree Nation and Sawridge Cree Nation. My artist name is bb iskwew symbolizing my traditional Cree name gifted to me by nokum (my grandmother) when I was born, which was Baby Woman. My art practice reflects my connection to the matriarch of my family, nokum, who gave me that name with the intention that I would become a healer and share medicine to help People.
Today, my art practice is a way to share my healing journey with people, specifically with younger generations. The work I do is my own healing journey of building healthy communal relationships with the land, culture, nehiyawewin (cree language), younger generations, and to my matriarchal roots."