Some university students spend a semester abroad and keep to themselves. It can be intimidating, stressful and, at times, lonely. They might gravitate towards other international students and keep securely within their comfort zones or just stay in their room and study. Aidan Downey decided to get involved.
He joined societies, attended events and community lunches, and spent time getting to know others in the First Nations Longhouse and šxʷta:təχʷəm student space. To learn more about Indigenous culture during his time on the UBC Vancouver campus, Aidan attended beading and drumming workshops run by Indigenous students that he found pretty amazing.
An Indigenous exchange student from Sydney, Australia’s Macquarie University, Aidan is a Wiradjuri man, who has grown up on Kuringgai country, and says that at UBC he found “some of my closest friends that I’ll welcome for life.” We spoke to Aidan about his experience.
UBC exchange student Aidan Downey on the Vancouver campus: Says Aidan, "On the first snow day of the year, I decided wholeheartedly to take full advantage of the snow. I eventually convinced my roommate to come out and we both learned how to make snowmen and roll snowball to an impossible size. I truly enjoyed this time since I found very quickly how cool two of my roommates were, but also the different shapes I could make out of snow." (photo: Aidan Downey)
Why did you choose UBC for exchange?
For a few reasons: First, a couple of years back in my second year of university, we had two Indigenous students come on exchange to Macquarie University from the University of Victoria (in BC). In meeting them, it got me hooked on the idea of an exchange in Canada: living in an unfamiliar environment, but also in space where most students were in a similar situation on exchange.
Second, going forward, I want to pursue further education in Critical Indigenous Studies. Through research into universities, UBC’s status as a top 50 university, and its diverse offerings in Critical Indigenous Studies units, drew me towards Vancouver. Lastly, I was truly drawn in by UBC’s international credibility as an exchange space—with very diverse and broad social and cultural offerings for exchange students, and specifically, the Indigenous spaces which throughout my exchange I felt welcomed into.
Says Aidan: "I took this picture during Hoobiyee at the Vancouver PNE Forum on March 1 when I went with a bunch of friends. Hoobiyee is a cultural and spiritual festival that marks the arrival of the first crescent moon in February. It features dancing, drumming, feasting and crafts, and helps Nisga'a people connect with their identity and heritage. I attended to experience and immerse myself in the event—seeing all the markets and dances performed by First Nations from across the province. I also got to pick up some presents for home to hand out and hang out with friends the whole day. I truly appreciated the time spent learning and watching an event where First Nations gather similar to events back home such as a Corroboree or the Koori Knockout. (photo: Aidan Downey)
What was it like?
Throughout the term, I found studying at UBC has been one of the most enriching experiences in my degree. Through my studies, I found the freedom to explore my passions and interests, which were embedded into the learning outcomes. I found that the professors advocated for a sense of freedom through empowering students’ desire to critically think outside of assignments and exams, enabling students to explore critically, openly discuss and freely create questions that both challenged and developed upon topics and ideas.
This didn’t feel contained within classrooms, either, but also spread across the campus, where I’d find students actualizing their interests and passions through clubs, chats at cafés and even sitting on the grass in front of the AMS Nest.
Throughout my exchange, UBC also provided me the flexibility and space in my studies to expand my social connection with students at UBC. There was time and flexibility in my academics to explore and engage in cultural and social activities across Vancouver: from attending events, such as Hoobiyee and Powwows at UBC and Edmonton, to weekday hanging out with mates studying, and on the weekends heading out with friends to Granville Island and downtown Vancouver.
From left: Friends Toryn, Bianca, Owen and Aidan Downey at the last Canucks home game of the season for fan appreciation night April 16. Says Aidan, "We decided to go as a group to go see Bianca's first Canucks game, but also my second, and most likely last, in-person hockey game for a while." (photo: Bianca Mckay)
What’s different compared to your home uni?
I found that UBC truly encourage students to pursue freedom—not as a way of expression, but self-empowerment of themselves and the communities they interact with—by equipping them with the tools to create social networks and groups empowered to change the world. I’ve seen this through the Sauder School of Business students who wear business suits to class; Arts students who critically analyze the colonial structures of institutions and discourses; but also the general population, organizing student activities across the campus to create genuine connections and spaces of comfort for incoming students. One of the biggest examples comes from the Longhouse, šxʷta:təχʷəm student space and also the Indigenous Student society, whose members welcomed me into their community.
Walter Gage Apartments on the UBC Vancouver campus. Says Aidan: "This was the second-to-last week of university and I had been spending a lot more time with friends in Walter Gage, hanging out and chatting the night away. You can get amazing views from Walter Gage and I always appreciate the memories from staying there for the semester." (photo: Aidan Downey)
What can other Indigenous students expect?
They can expect a safe and welcoming community across the Indigenous spaces that is both passionate and caring towards their studies and relationships. There were a multitude of spaces I could go to—including the Longhouse, Indigenous Student Society, Arts Indigenous Student Advising—across campus that contribute to the Indigenous community as a whole. But also, by engaging in these spaces, I found that the Indigenous students and staff were passionate in creating an inclusive space to revitalize and empower cultural practices: by creating workshops, such as beading night, drum circle or weekly community lunch, to encourage participation and the creation of a strong community. Some of my closest friends that I’ll welcome for life came from these spaces. The random yap sessions that I’ve had with students have positively impacted my life going forward.
Aidan's bead work. He says: "Across the semester, I would always invest my Mondays well in making the best decisions to learn how to bead at the šxʷta:təχʷəm student space with Nenaa'ikiizhikok and Annellie, who were both the first people in the space I interacted with and taught me how to bead in a deadly way. The beading circles meant a lot to me—to both learn through the two amazing people they are, and also from the other deadly individuals who attended weekly and I had the opportunity to talk to. I learned how to bead over the semester, and enjoyed every moment and needle prick through my fingers." (photo: Aidan Downey)
What would you do differently if you could do it over?
Not much, really. One thing I would’ve done differently, though, is understand how time flies so quickly by taking advantage of the good days. Instead of sitting at home “studying,” I should’ve been out exploring Vancouver and engaging with the student clubs to meet new friends. Though it’s provided me a really solid reason to come back, I definitely would’ve tried to make use of weekends and free time a bit more—even if I wasn’t prepared for it yet—by myself exploring Vancouver: trying all of its delicious food and beautiful hikes across the landscape.
What are some activities you recommend?
Across UBC I found so many different ways to interact with students—whether through clubs that would host game nights, or events and workshops. Throughout my time at UBC, I mostly engaged in Indigenous workshops held by the Longhouse, the šxʷta:təχʷəm student space and the Indigenous Student Society. That’s where I met close friends and engaged in cultural activities and spaces of knowledge to learn more.
Musqueam sʔi:ɬqəy̓ qeqən (double-headed serpent post): The Musqueam Post in front of The Nest on the UBC Vancouver campus. Says Aidan: "This picture was taken in February during my first time seeing snow in my life. I spent a lot of time walking around feeling the emotions across the days. I found a couple of spots, but feel most connected to this spot: as a site of cultural significance across UBC, but also I'm fond of it because it's a pretty good picture." (photo: Aidan Downey)
What did you learn about yourself?
I learned a lot at UBC. I found myself actually enjoying the structure of learning, providing me the freedom to explore my interests, but also how much I enjoy hanging out with people. I quickly learned how much I love to yap my friends off, but also what it means to be mates with people just walking together down Wreck Beach or going downtown to explore or party in the city mostly to The Roxy.
Anything else?
I want to emphasize that while on exchange at UBC, I realized that everyone is in a similar situation. At my home university, I found many people come from around the area; in comparison to UBC, where I found people from all across the world living away from home—and wanting friendships and experiences to not only make the most out of the experience, but also to create an environment that feels like home. That has created some of the closest connections I’ve made with people so far along the way.
In April, Aidan saw his first cherry tree in blossom—in a square next to Walter Gage Apartments (photo Aidan Downey)
Find out more about UBC Go Global programs.
Read more about Indigenous student exchange at UBC.
From left: Friends Owen, Niigonii, Aidan, and Toryn on April 26, the second-to-last day of school enjoying "one last night out with the lads to say final good-byes and have a good time to remember" at the Roxy in downtown Vancouver (photo: Aidan Downey)