Lakehead University Reveals Title for Newly Established Indigenous Cultural and Resource Hub

On Wednesday, Lakehead University introduced the new designation for a section within its library.

Local residents were welcomed to participate in the christening of the fresh Indigenous cultural and resource center situated on the fifth level of the Chancellor Paterson Library.

“One of the greatest things about the space is the view,” said Denise Baxter, vice-provost, Indigenous Initiatives.

Henceforth, the center will be recognized as Nanda Gikendan Gamik, a term interpreted by Baxter to signify a ‘place to seek knowledge and learn’.

“It looks out over Lake Superior or Gichigami, it looks out over Animikii-wajiw, Fort William First Nation, and it really looks out over the city of Thunder Bay from the east and to the south.”

“This is a major part of the collection where we have a lot of our Indigenous resources. There are fiction, non-fiction books that are authored by First Nations, Métis, and Inuit people,” Baxter said.

Going forward the centre will be known as Nanda Gikendan Gamik, which Baxter said means seek to know, seek to learn place.

The Indigenous Elders council at LU carefully chose the new name, aiming to create an inclusive space for Indigenous students, staff, and faculty. Additionally, the center is envisioned as a platform for the entire university community to delve into Indigenous history, culture, and language.

“This has been quite a lengthy process, probably a year and a half. We met with the Elders council, brought tobacco, explained what the centre is and what our hope was,” said Baxter.

“And the Elders council took all that, and then they went away and then they came back, after ceremonial processes that they engaged in, and they brought the name of the space and so that name was really bestowed upon the centre.”