Supporting Indigenous success through Career Mentorship: The Indigenous Career Mentor Program

The Indigenous Career Mentor Program launched in the fall of 2022 as an extension of Career Services already established Carer Mentor Program. This year, the Indigenous Career Mentor Program will profile the story of one  mentor each month from September to April. Interviews from our mentors will provide insight into Indigenous success, as well as how students can best prepare for navigating the transition from university to employment.

The Indigenous Career Mentor Program is an informational interviewing program that supports Indigenous students in gathering industry information. Indigenous mentors that meet with Indigenous students provide advice on how to navigate career opportunities and challenges, mentors may also share their personal experiences navigating their own career journeys.

Indigenous students can choose their mentors from the following fields of practice: Business & Administration, Health Care, Social Services & Education, Government Services, Science & Technology, Arts & Culture, and Recreation & Sports. To learn more about the Indigenous Career Mentor Program and register, please follow this hyperlink to the program home page.

April’s mentor of the month is Desiree Morrisseau.

What is your position title and where do you currently work?

Director; Indigenous Student Recruitment and Community Relations, within the Office of the Vice-President (Indigenous)

Briefly describe what you do in your current occupation:

The Indigenous Student Recruitment and Community Relations (ISRCR) team is a unit that works with all prospective Indigenous students interested in studying at the University of Manitoba at the undergraduate level. Our main priority is to ensure that prospective students are supported as they navigate the admissions and application process. We assist students with anything from application and documentation support, one on one student advising, campus tours, navigating funding applications, finding housing, daycare, really anything they need set up prior to starting school.

We also work very closely with high schools, adult learning centers and community organizations in which we facilitate presentations, career fairs and workshops, tours etc.

Our recruitment efforts have grown to include the Post-Secondary Club programming which is an Indigenous Student Recruitment initiative that runs community, academic and culturally based programming in 12 high schools here in Winnipeg. We have also expanded to Norway House First Nation. Another initiative we oversee, and run is the Where we First Stand Transitions camp meant for rural and northern Indigenous students who are looking for transitional supports before starting their post-secondary journey. A camp in which they come and live on campus for a week in July and have programming that will assist in their transition to not just post-secondary but also living in an urban setting such as Winnipeg.

We are the first point of contact for prospective students and their loved ones. We ensure warm hand off’s to the proper units and help students navigate everything that comes with becoming a University student.

What initially sparked your interest in the career you have chosen for yourself?

I started off as an Indigenous Student Recruitment Officer in July 2015 and moved into a leadership position as Director of ISRCR in May 2022.

I have always had a love for being a helper, whether that be in ceremony, within my family and friends or in my community. It brings me immense joy to be a main point of contact for someone and to provide step by step care and love as they navigate the start of their post-secondary journey. It can be an overwhelming experience applying to post-secondary because there is so much to consider and take care of: the application itself, ensuring you meet the admission requirements, upgrading with an Adult Learning centre if you need, getting set up with support units and an advisor, finding housing, applying for funding, submitting documentation, arranging transportation etc. To be able to provide students with a safe place to land and come back to through each step is truly rewarding.

What are some lesser-known duties or work outcomes your role is responsible for that people may not be aware of?

• Meeting with faculty and programs to ensure to assist with their own recruitment efforts or strategies
• overseeing a massive calendar with many different community requests for a team of 6 people
• knowing everything and anything that affects undergraduate students – the recruitment team is known as generalists and we have to make sure we are constantly staying up to date with new deadlines, admissions criteria, faculty changes, support units, etc.

What do you enjoy most about your job?

The flexibility of the role, it’s the perfect mix of administrative work, networking/building relationships and being in community. And also, my team, they make coming into work so enjoyable. Every single one of them has such a deep passion for the work we do and it’s very inspiring.

What are some changes you’ve experienced in your field, or changes you anticipate happening in the near future?

I anticipate the portfolio of ISRCR to change in the coming years to incorporate more transitional supports for prospective students.

What are some strengths, specialties, and characteristics that are considered assets in your field?

• Public speaking is a huge part of the work we do – having experience with public speaking and speaking confidently to groups upwards of 500 people is a must.
• Ability to create strong, meaningful relationships with community members
• Empathetic and a careful listener
• Reliable and self-motivated
• Flexibility, able to pivot last minute and not let it get you worked up
• Understanding culture protocol and working in community in good ways
• Organized and able to manage multiple projects on the go
• Strong oral and written communication skills are super important

What is a piece of advice you would offer to Indigenous students interested entering your field?

A big part of the work we do in Indigenous student recruitment is being a helper. My advice to you would be to get involved, spend time with the Elders on campus and offer to be a helper at community or ceremonial events.

Are there any resources you feel could support Indigenous students interested in this career path?

I find that UM alumni make the best Indigenous Student Recruitment officer positions because they know our institution so well and each individual brings their own gifts and strengths to the work we do because of their own academic journey. The biggest resource is your own community – if you haven’t already, immerse yourself in the Indigenous campus programming.

Within your industry or field, what are some related occupations that you interact with and/or find interesting?

• High school staff like principals, teachers and guidance counsellors
• Staff at Adult Learning Centres
• Deans and Faculty members
• Education counsellors
• Social workers
• Community support people
• Recruitment staff from other institutions
• Government officials

During your career journey what support(s), resource(s), and/or event(s) influenced your decision-making process?

Mentors on campus, people in the community who I admired and wanted to learn from really helped propel me forward in my career. I made time to debrief with people whom I trusted and had built strong relationships with – they were incredible resources for me and helped give me confidence to see my full potential.

To meet with mentors like Desiree Morrisseau, register for the Indigenous Career Mentor Program. Explore, connect and build confidence as you proceed in your career journey!

If you are an Indigenous professional interested in sharing your story and connecting with students, consider volunteering as a mentor in the Indigenous Career Mentor Program.

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