Aboriginal Student Affairs would like to introduce Ryan Crosschild, a student who has recently graduated from the Faculty of Arts at UBC.
What’s your name and where are you from?
Oki niitaniko Sikapiohkiitopi. My English name is Ryan Crosschild, and my Blackfoot name is Sikapiohkiitopi (Grey Horse Rider). I was born and raised in the heart of Blackfoot territory, Kainaiwa (Blood Tribe). My people are the Mamiaoyiiksi (Fish Eaters Clan). I am grateful to have been given the opportunity to study and live on Coast Salish Territories these past four years.
What did you study while at UBC? How did you decide on your undergraduate specialization?
Choosing my specialization was a combination of having excellent professors and hearing the amazing and inspirational stories from my fellow students. I graduated from UBC earning my Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in Political Science and minor in First Nations and Indigenous Studies (FNIS). I originally came to UBC to attend the Sauder School of Business. At first, this was an opportunity for me to move away from home and gather new knowledge like my ancestors have done before me. However, my first year was a huge struggle because my heart was not in the course material. My intentions have always stayed constant throughout my education, which was to pursue a post-secondary degree so that I could contribute back to my community.
After taking a couple of courses in FNIS and Political Science it became very clear that I would be more successful in the Faculty of Arts. And I’m glad I made that decision to move. There are those few teachers that have touched our lives so immensely that have inspired us to become more inquisitive to the world around us and to pursue that love of learning and my experiences in both FNIS and Political Science provided me with that.
Throughout the school year, there is an ever-present need to find the perfect balance between academics, family, having a social life, and personal health. Can you speak to some of the challenges you experienced trying to find this balance throughout your undergrad at UBC?
The challenge of creating balance amongst academics, family, social life and personal health is ever present while being a university student. What was especially difficult for me was that I was an Indigenous student from outside my traditional territory. Luckily for me, I was able to find other students that gave me that support.
My weekly phone calls home (sometimes daily) to my family reminded me of the reason I was sacrificing my time away from home…to achieve academic merit. To go away, such as my ancestors did long ago, to experience the hardships away from clan and nation to bring out the best in me. My time away from home allowed me to learn how to balance my life without having anyone policing my time and actions. This was the greatest test but also equipped me with the greatest gift of self-discipline, perseverance and the ability to push my limits, at the same time, becoming more grounded by the people that helped me on my journey.
How did you cope with the mid-term and final stress? Any tips for new students at UBC?
Navigating through exams can be stressful and overwhelming most of the time, especially if you’re having to deal with other life obligations simultaneously like I had to. The best advice I could give would be to make a connection to a place on campus. The Longhouse was my go to place. It was really the perfect place to be during exams. The smell of cedar helped me relax, the staff and students were great supports, and when I needed a break the Nitobe Japanese gardens were just across the street.
Trying to sprint your way through university will overwhelm you, so I tried to avoid cramming sessions as much as possible. I found that if I treated studying like a job it wasn’t as overwhelming. I would study during the day and in the evenings, give myself the time to exercise and relax. I could retain more information when I took care of myself. That’s why self-care and sticking to a routine can make a huge difference in stress levels and academic performance.
A lot of students are far from home, do you have any advice for them?
It’s a very difficult transition at first, especially if you’re a great distance away from home like I was. The best advice I could give to new students would be to go visit the Longhouse. I keep referring to it because it’s helped me out in so many ways. The Longhouse became my anchor for a lot of things. That’s where I studied, smudged, and where I got my first job on campus. It was also where I made a lot of my close friends. It can easily become your home away from home.
What was the most challenging experience you had at UBC and how did you overcome it?
It was very intimidating at first coming from a small community. I came from a family that was very involved in ceremony, community events, and volunteering, so moving away really disoriented me. Being absent from my relations back home was a very hard adjustment, but what made it extremely difficult at times was trying to continue with my studies whilst dealing with community deaths. There were many times when I felt that I might quit at any moment. Having to juggle assignment deadlines and exams during a time of bereavement was suffocating. What gave me strength was ceremony. When events like this happen, we don’t have control over what happened but we maintain our control over how we decide to react. For me, I would light my smudge and then make an appointment to see a counsellor on campus. It helped in the interim, at least until I had an opportunity to go home and be with my family. Everything always worked out in the end despite how impossible it might’ve seemed at the time.
Whenever you feel like you’re faced with an impossible challenge remind yourself of where you come from. For a lot of Indigenous students, we are the result of our ancestors’ resolve to continue moving forward despite the odds against us.
Where are you currently working? Do you enjoy it?
Currently, I have two jobs. My primary job is working as the FNMI Program Specialist at the University of Lethbridge. Throughout my time here I have worked on building the cultural profile on campus through planning and organizing FNMI events, cultural acumen training, and working to support FNMI students by providing referrals to other support services. My secondary job is working with Kainaiwa Children’s Services Corporation as the policy development researcher. I assist the organization with ensuring best practice matches provincial standards, as well as providing research on ways to decolonize the operations of the organization. I’ve really enjoyed my time in both positions. It’s great to be back in my home territory working to implement the knowledge I acquired in FNIS and Political Science.
Do you have plans for graduate school?
Yes. I would like to pursue a Master’s degree, and eventually my PhD, looking at the intersections of Indigenous Masculinities, particularly Two-Spirit individuals, and the role that plays in governance and cultural revitalization for the Blackfoot peoples.
ASA Tip: If you feel like you could use some professional support to help you with stress occurring with your academics or your personal well-being, then you may wish to speak with a counsellor. Aboriginal students can request to meet with a counsellor that operates out of the Longhouse, you can mention this when you book an appointment. Learn more about Mental Wellness Support provided at UBC through Counselling Services here.
