By HEIDI GRZESINA

Staff Writer

From left, Sandra Wong, Sean Hoogterp, both of Brock University, and Arlene Bannister, of Niagara College, at the Canadian Aboriginal Festival.

A faint smell of sweetgrass beckons from the doorway of Room S103 in the Simcoe building at Niagara College's Welland campus.

A few computer stations, comfortably placed lounge areas and walls adorned with dynamic, original art greet you.

This is home to Niagara College's First Nations, Métis and Inuit Student Services and home-away-from-home for Arlene Bannister, office administrator and liaison.

Bannister's job takes her out of this office as well, as recently as Nov. 27 to Nov. 29 to the Canadian Aboriginal Festival held in Hamilton. She manned a booth that weekend displaying the services offered to Niagara College students in a side-by-side display partnership with Brock University's Sandra Wong, Sean Hoogterp and Amanda Longboat. 

Reaching out to aboriginals with educational information and guidance was the mandate of the booth. The excitement was unmistakable as throngs of people passing by stopped to have a look and to talk.

"Instead of forming a line, we should form a circle. The circle is stronger than the line. We are alone in a line, but we are together when we form a circle," says an excerpt from the website, www.niagaracollege.ca/firstnations. "We are here to provide resources to the aboriginal community within the college and we have many resources to offer," says Bannister, with obvious pride on her face.

The computer lab and lounge or study areas are two of many resources offered. The rest include bursaries, libraries of periodicals, manuals and videos, student advocacy and "guidance, advice and support" in areas of programs, courses or services.

"The Aboriginal staff help me if I have a question. They are there for me, and the school has helped by letting me do some of the things I want to do for next year," says Amanda Hill, in a brochure issued by this department.

"The supportive staff in the First Nations Student Services offered me a safe place to discover my heritage and was a home away from home," says Edna J. Gooder in that same publication.

The website says, "Native students have a voice at Niagara College - our goal is empowerment."

"The staff at the First Nations office work with you, and the college is a great way to start your future," says student Bryan Waindubence.