Russell Nesbitt is from Calgary Alberta. His background is Métis from Red River Valley Manitoba on his mother’s side, and Scottish on his father’s side. He is currently majoring in Psychology, and minoring in First Nations and Indigenous Studies.
Do you have any advice for new Aboriginal students at UBC? Especially those living away from home?
Moving to a new city can be very stressful, so I like to engage in physical activity to help give my brain a rest. Friends are also an important thing to have during school, and if need be talking to one of the many psychologists on campus can be a big help.
You’re an active First Nations House of Learning Longhouse community member! Could you tell us more about the Longhouse space and what you are able to do there?
The First Nations Longhouse is a great place to meet new people, it also has a great study space, where you can study with other aboriginal students from across Canada. There are lots of great events held here such as movie nights, cooking classes, and many more, so meeting new people is no problem. I, myself, am a huge fan of the Longhouse lunches that happen every Tuesday during the semester. The lunches offer students the opportunity to meet new people while having a nice lunch, plus you get to learn about the many different programs and faculties throughout UBC.
While studying at UBC, were you a member of a club/ organization and can you tell us about your involvement? Do you have any suggestions for how students can get involved on campus?
I have volunteered at the UBC Food Bank for 3 years and am currently part of the Indigenous student committee with the AMS. It is super easy to find volunteer opportunities throughout UBC, there are lots of positions open, which is great for finding something you are interested in. There are also a lot of clubs at UBC, I have joined a few clubs while I have been here such as pilates, botany, and yoga to name just a few. If you are interested in something, it’s probably on campus and if not, you can get funding to create your own club.
How do you stay connected to your culture while at UBC? What is your advice for aboriginal students at UBC to stay connected to their roots or work on discovering their heritage while studying?
I stay connected at UBC by coming to the many events at the longhouse. Also there are many different groups for learning about traditional languages, or dances throughout Vancouver. When it comes to learning about culture the X̱wi7x̱wa library has so many great indigenous books, from cultural practices to scholarly writings. So, if you are wanting to get more information about your culture, they are a great resource.
If you had one super power what would it be?
If I could have any super power I would want to be able to teleport.
