When Dana Wesley was pursuing her two post-secondary degrees, the Truth and Reconciliation Committee had not yet completed their work. As a member of the Moose Cree First Nation in Northern Ontario, she rarely saw herself reflected in the classroom and had to actively seek out support for Indigenous students. In the end, it was those supports that helped her find a sense of belonging, and fueled her passion for ensuring future Indigenous students feel at home in post-secondary education as well.
After a decade of work in education and reconciliation, Dana joined College of the Rockies as Executive Director, Indigenous Strategy and Reconciliation in 2022. Following a period of relationship-building within the College and with Indigenous partners, she led the launch of the College’s first Indigenous Advisory Committee in 2024.
“Created in partnership with four Ktunaxa Nations, the Ktunaxa Nation Council, Shuswap Band, and the Rocky Mountain Metis Association, the Advisory Committee was formed as part of the College’s ongoing commitment to genuine reconciliation with Indigenous communities in our region,” she said. “The Committee provides a strategic platform for our Indigenous partners to advocate for their educational needs.”
In October 2025, Dana was excited to launch the College’s first Indigenization Strategy, a milestone she sees as a key step toward creating the same sense of belonging for Indigenous students that she once sought.
“Indigenization means we’re making space for Indigenous voices and Indigenous knowledge in everything we do as a college” she said. “It opens the door for Indigenous people to engage in cultural resurgence, language revitalization, and reclaiming who they are as Indigenous people. This is especially important given the history of how Indigenous people experienced education in residential schools. It is our responsibility to work to right the wrongs of the past, including creating a space where Indigenous students can thrive. This strategy provides a coordinated, clear path forward.”
When asked by CBC’s Chris Walker how she responds to criticisms that initiatives like this reflect “the politicization of education”, Dana emphasized the College’s consistent commitment to reconciliation.
“This is a commitment the College has remained steadfast in,” she said. “Through the Truth and Reconciliation Committee’s Calls to Action, the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), our signing of Colleges and Institutes Canada’s Indigenous Education Protocol in 2019, and our own strategic plan, we have made it clear: this is a priority for us.
“The post-secondary sector has also made it clear; it is up to us to lead this work. There’s always resistance when you’re leading something new, but we continue to move forward, to listen to our Indigenous employees, students, and communities, and to be guided by them.”
Still, Dana stresses that the process of Indigenization is inherently collaborative. “We have diverse voices in post-secondary,” she said. “It’s always important to hear all of them while continuing our commitment to reconciliation and the priorities that define us as an institution.”
View College of the Rockies’ Indigenization Strategy and listen to Dana’s full interview with Chris Walker on CBC’s Daybreak South.