Community, Culture and Research with IMPRESS 2024

The 2024 edition of IMPRESS kicked off last month, welcoming 19 students to McGill for the summer.

IMPRESS aims to create a unique space for Indigenous youth, empowering them to overcome barriers and thrive academically while fostering Indigenous perspectives and knowledge in the research community. Each summer, IMPRESS pairs undergraduate Indigenous students from across the country with McGill professors and graduate students for hands-on, paid research experience, professional skill-building and Indigenous-focused community engagement.

In addition to their academic and research endeavours, IMPRESS also offers its student-interns a wide variety of activities and workshops, such as self-reflection exercises, beading, hoop dancing and attending the annual Pow Wow in Kahnawake, Quebec. 

On Thursday, June 13, students enjoyed the morning in Kahnawake with Iontionhnhéhkwen Wilderness Skills, where they learned new techniques for reflecting in nature, starting fires, tying knots and building shelters.

On Thursday, July 4, IMPRESS hosted a gardening workshop titled “Decolonizing your Garden,” where the students prepared seeds of Canada Goldenrod, New England Aster and Hoary Vervain for fall germination. This hands-on experience was guided by Bogs, the founder of Good Native Plants, who shared insights on revitalizing the land with native species.

HBHL is proud to support the STEM-track of the IMPRESS program, a unique experiential learning opportunity that connects Indigenous undergraduate students with McGill professors to gain research experience—all while being paid. Beyond that, it is also an opportunity for students to find an Indigenous community on campus. To learn more about IMPRESS, read the full article in the McGill Reporter.