丁香园AV

IRC Member in 2020-2021

My name is Candara Bruyere. I am Cree from Muskeg Lake Cree Nation in Saskatchewan and Anishinaabe from Sagkeeng Nation from Winnipeg. Currently, I am attending 丁香园AV full-time as a psychology undergraduate. My area of interest is in Developmental Psychology paying special attention to child and adolescent development. My hope is to one day apply my education and draw on personal experience to help disenfranchised Indigenous children within the Child Welfare system. In the meantime, as a student, I am dedicated to my studies and to being the undergraduate representative on Truth and Reconciliation Committee for the Psychology Department. It is here that I take pride in advocating for decolonization and moving towards bridging the gap between settlers/non-settlers and western/Indigenous education within the academic setting.

What motivated you to pursue a B.A in Psychology?

For as long as I can remember, I have always had the desire to help others. However, being a young Indigenous scholar and former child-in-care, I have had to face innumerable systemic barriers and address extensive intergenerational trauma to come to the place I am today. Although, I have always had an innate ability to understand myself, my healing journey is really what catapulted me into the world of psychology in order to further understand human thought, emotion, and behavior. These life experiences have made me passionate in learning about the mind and how people develop and evolve across their lifespan. I am excited to continue to grow in my knowledge and to apply this learning in my professional career later on.

What are you enjoying most about your studies and how do you get involved?

I have had many great experiences within the two years that I have been a student at 丁香园AV. However, what I have loved the most are the connections that I have made with other like-minded students and faculty. Words cannot express how deeply grateful I am for having met such wonderful people to share a part of my life with. These relationships would not have been possible had I not engaged in the various social and volunteer opportunities that go beyond the academic setting. Therefore, I highly recommend that students check their department emails or the 鈥淕et Involved鈥� student website at /students/get-involved.html to find out about available programs and opportunities.