Indigenous student advisor one of many giving support during COVID-19 pandemic

Carl Stone is a student advisor and cultural coordinator at UM, based in Migizii Agamik – Bald Eagle Lodge – on the UM Fort Garry Campus. Stone, along with other advisors at the Indigenous Student Centre and across campus, continue to provide support to Indigenous students during the COVID-19 pandemic by phone and email.

He was recently interviewed on CBC Unreserved, a program highlighting Indigenous community, culture, and conversation, with host Rosanna Deerchild. The episode was about how Indigenous people are making connections and finding support during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Stone explained:

“There are a lot of teachings that Indigenous people have that get us through things. One of the ones that I respond to weekly is the belief in spirit, and to trust in the spirit that we will get through this. We have teachings for both spirituality and physicality, and that there is a balance between them.”

Stone noted also that it’s in the simple things that give him encouragement:

“It’s become more apparent to me how that the water we take for granted but water is life supporting and it gives us life. When I shower in the morning, I look at the water and say thank you to the water for giving me life.”

Listen to the entire episode as a podcast here.

For more information on resources for Indigenous students during the COVID-19 pandemic, visit the UM COVID-19 student resources page.