Indigenous Education Council

Conestoga's Indigenous Education Council (IEC) is a joint advisory committee and decision-making body that centres the success of Indigenous students and employees at the college. The IEC is an essential collaborative space for strategizing methods to increase Indigenous student success. The IEC is one pathway for Conestoga to build community with Indigenous communities and to directly engage with Indigenous students and employees.

The council champions the needs of Indigenous students and employees and provides advice and support to the college on all Indigenous matters. It is the primary body responsible for promoting and advocating for the advancement of Indigenous education.

The Indigenous Education Council is mandated by the Ministry of Colleges and Universities (MCU) to ensure that Indigenous Peoples are consistently and regularly engaged in decision-making within the institution.

The Indigenous Education Council provides recommendations to the director of Indigenous Initiatives, including guidance and recommendations that inform:

  • Indigenization of academic programming: how to integrate Indigenous knowledge into academic programming, how to value Indigenous-led educational opportunities
  • Enhancement of Indigenous student and employee experience
  • Opportunities to collaborate and community build through Indigenous-led professional development opportunities, committees, arts and events

For more information, contact bedahbingamik@conestogac.on.ca.

Indigenous Education Council membership

Current membership
Name​
Membership representation
Community / Professional role
​Luane Roberts
(Co-chair)
External Indigenous Services Agency
Waterloo Region Community Legal Services - Indigenous Justice Program - Indigenous Justice Coordinator
​Christina Restoule (Co-chair)Manager, Indigenous Services, ÌÇÐÄvlog¾«Æ·Manager, Indigenous Services, ÌÇÐÄvlog¾«Æ·
Raven MorandConestoga alumni
Indigenous Services Coordinator, Be-Dah-Bin-Gamik (Indigenous Services), ÌÇÐÄvlog¾«Æ·
​Nicole RobinsonWaterloo Region District School Board
Equity and Inclusion Officer – Indigenous Focus, Waterloo Region District School Board
​Roxane ShawanaIndigenous student recruiter / Marketing, ÌÇÐÄvlog¾«Æ·Indigenous Student Recruiter, Marketing, ÌÇÐÄvlog¾«Æ·
​Alexandra OestreicherPresident, Conestoga Students Inc. (CSI), ÌÇÐÄvlog¾«Æ·
President, Conestoga Students Inc. (CSI), ÌÇÐÄvlog¾«Æ·
​Adam MillerChair, GNED & Liberal Studies, ÌÇÐÄvlog¾«Æ·
Academics - non-Indigenous Faculty, ÌÇÐÄvlog¾«Æ·
​Trish Weigel-GreenVice President, Students, ÌÇÐÄvlog¾«Æ·Vice President, Students, ÌÇÐÄvlog¾«Æ·
​John TibbitsPresident, ÌÇÐÄvlog¾«Æ·President, ÌÇÐÄvlog¾«Æ·
​Zandra Bear-LowenFaculty, ÌÇÐÄvlog¾«Æ·Faculty, ÌÇÐÄvlog¾«Æ·

Meeting agendas and minutes

DateAgendaMinutes
​June 26, 2025
​
​Minutes - June 2025 (pdf)
​December 13, 2024 ​Agenda - December 2024 (pdf)​Minutes - December 2024 (pdf)
​September 13, 2024​Agenda - September 2024 (pdf)​Minutes - September 2024 (pdf)
​March 22, 2024​Agenda - March 2024 (pdf)​Minutes - March 2024 (pdf)
December 7, 2023 Agenda - December 2023 (pdf)
​
June 28, 2023 Agenda - June 2023 (pdf)
​Minutes - June 2023 (pdf)
April 26, 2023 Agenda - April 2023 (pdf)
​Minutes - April 2023 (pdf)
​October 25, 2022 ​Agenda - October 2022 (pdf)
​Minutes - October 2022 (pdf)
November 5, 2021​Agenda - November 2021 (pdf)
Minutes - November 2021 (pdf)