Georgian College

20 GEORGIANVIEW 2021 SPRING INDIGENOUS CONNECTION "I've been at the college for 32 years. I've loved every minute of it and love that I was given so many different opportunities," says Maryann Fifield, who retired from her position as Vice President, Academic Quality at Georgian College on Feb. 1, 2021, after more than three decades of service to higher education. Maryann first joined the Georgian team as a member of the college's nursing faculty, and recalls how different the nursing profession and associated education programs looked at that time. "We were still occasionally wearing nursing caps back then, and I remember having to take out all my extra earrings," she says. "The student population also looked very different. The students were much younger. Hardly anyone past the age of 21 or 22, and today, we see a mix of younger and mature students pursuing their college education." During her time at the college, Maryann held a variety of academic and administrative roles with increasing responsibility. However, she acknowledges that the highlight of her career was working with, and learning from, the Indigenous community. "I always credit some of the best training I had as an administrator as coming from working with Elder Merle Assance-Beedie. She taught me the importance of building relationships with the people I work with, listening carefully and following my heart," she says. When Maryann first came to Georgian, the absence of Indigenous programs and resources was obvious. "I recall it was around 1991 or 1992, when members of the Indigenous community came to Georgian and asked if the college was interested in a partnership, and we were," she recalls. "However, the Indigenous leaders were clear with their expectations at that time. They were looking for a partner that would be committed for the long term." One of the first actions the college undertook was participating in Native Way training, which was 12 days of training undertaken by the college's Board of Governors and senior leadership, and included Indigenous community leaders, as well. "This training became the underpinning of this relationship," says Maryann. INDIGENOUS CONNECTIONS Honouring 30 years of progress Maryann Fifield, retired Vice President, Academic Quality Seated are Wesley Marsden, student in the Mechanical Technician - Precision Skills (Co-op) program, Alexandra (AJ) Ellens Hill, and Warren Corbiere, alumnus of the Indigenous Community and Social Development program (class of 2021)

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