First Nations House Indigenous Academic Peer Mentorship Group Program 

The Indigenous Peer Group Mentorship program at First Nations House is designed for undergraduate students who identify as Indigenous to Turtle Island (First Nation/Metis/Inuit), on all three campuses of The University of Toronto. The program examines how mental health, community care, physical care and cultural care are critical to building a solid foundation for academic success for Indigenous students.  

The program ran for 12 weeks from mid-January to early April 2025. During this time, the group met bi-weekly for a two-hour group session. Sessions were an opportunity to connect with the group, share a communal meal and engage in workshops led by First Nations House-Indigenous Student Services staff. Each session was structured by a theme.  

Themes of the weekly meetings: 

• Week 1: Welcome and setting our intentions  
• Week 2: Navigating the system  
• Week 3: Academic success  
• Week 4: Mental health and community care  
• Week 5: Cultural connections  
• Week 6: Next steps/career navigation  
• Week 7: Reflections/celebrations of our work