Contact Indigenous Student Services

Additional supports are available for prospective and current Indigenous students.

Indigenous Counsellor

Indigenous counselling offers a safe and caring place that honours Indigenous knowledge, experience and healing. The Indigenous Counsellor treats mental health and life issues from Indigenous perspectives to relate to the diverse cultural backgrounds of Indigenous students. 

Lauralee Archibald is the Indigenous Counsellor at Douglas College. Learn more about Lauralee on the Counsellor bio page. To book an appointment with Lauralee, contact Counselling Services.

Indigenous Recruiter Advisor

Are you an Indigenous prospective student with questions about our academic programs, support services, application process or financial aid? Please contact our Indigenous Recruiter Advisor, Destiny Sanderson, at destiny.sanderson@douglascollege.ca or 236-428-4853.

Indigenous CAF Advisor

If you are looking for a credential that centres on Indigenous culture, research and knowledge, we recommend the Certificate in Academic Foundations (CAF) – Indigenous Studies. You’ll engage with the histories of Indigenous peoples and territories while developing your active learning and critical-thinking skills in a setting that honours traditional knowledge. Learn more from Michelle Sound, Indigenous CAF Advisor, at soundm@douglascollege.ca. 

Elder June

Elder June is a Nehiyaw iskwew (Cree Woman) and a proud member of the Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation from Sandy Bay, Saskatchewan. Her Cree name is Muskwa Iskwew and she is rooted in the Red Nation. Elder June attended UBC and did her undergraduate studies in Political Science which taught her to read and write but also to think for herself.

She has worked for several organizations at various levels of responsibility and has found her true passion which is working with people. She was the elected National representative for the Aboriginal Friendship Centres of British Columbia for four years and assisted in negotiating a $800 Million budget for Friendship Centres throughout Canada. An experience she cherishes. 

For the last 20 years she was the owner of a successful real estate company in Bangkok, Thailand and she truly loved the challenge. She is an avid traveller and has been blessed to have visited 26 countries where she cherished the rich and diverse cultures of many nations. While she has travelled the world she always longed for home. She feels home now. 

New Westminster Campus, room S4830 

This centre sits on the traditional territory of the qiqéyt (Qayqayt) First Nation. The qiqéyt is one of the smallest First Nations in Canada and the only one without a land base. 
 
The qiqéyt reserve used to exist on the banks of the Fraser River, around New Westminster. The qiqéyt people historically spoke the Halq'eméylem (Upriver dialect), of Halkomelem (also Hul’q’umi’num’/Henqeminem), a Coast Salish language. 
 
Here are some resources for more information about the qiqéyt:  

A Tribe of One – a National Film Board film documentary (available in our Library) 

"We Are the Qayqayt” – Chief Rhonda Larrabee’s Story 

Coquitlam Campus, room B3131 

This centre sits on the traditional territory of the kʷikʷəƛ̓əm (Kwikwetlem)  First Nation. The kʷikʷəƛ̓əm are a Sto:lo people with reserves in the Coquitlam River watershed. They traditionally speak the Downriver dialect of Halkomelem (also Hul’q’umi’num’/Henqeminem). The name “kʷikʷəƛ̓əm”means “red fish up the river.”