A significant crowd attended the opening ceremony for the new Iikaisskini Gathering Centre at the University of Lethbridge, September 22, 2022. (Photo: LNN)

By Drew Stremick

U of L officially opens Iikaisskini Gathering Centre

Sep 22, 2022 | 4:07 PM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – The University of Lethbridge (U of L) officially opened the Iikaisskini (Low Horn) Gathering Centre on Thursday, September 22, 2022.

The centre is named in honour of Dr. Leroy Little Bear and his Blackfoot name to recognize the many contributions he has made to the U of L, as well as his work to further advocate for Indigenous knowledge in higher education.

U of L president and vice-chancellor Dr. Mike Mahon told the crowd that the gathering centre is a place for all students to learn and grow.

“Creating opportunity and an inclusive campus environment for all students is integral to our university and the experience of our students,” Dr. Mahon explained. “This is a welcoming space in the heart of campus, and one which I invite everyone to visit to engage with one another and to learn from each other.”

Dr. Leroy Little Bear spoke to the crowd during the opening ceremony of the Iikaisskini Gathering Centre at the University of Lethbridge, September 22, 2022. (Photo: LNN)

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Dr. Little Bear said when he attended the U of L, places like the Iikassskini Gathering Centre did not exist.

“When I came to university, there was no such thing as a gathering centre. Had there been a centre, I would have really enjoyed the place and I’d probably be running from one computer to another,” said Little Bear. “A centre like the Iikaisskini Gathering Centre starts to bring about an atmosphere of inclusion, and notions of diversity and equity all start to come into the picture. The Iikaisskini Gathering Centre serves that purpose.”

The centre is expected to be a place where students can meet with elders in order to share stories, wisdom, and where students can explore new knowledge.

Little Bear explained the significance behind the name Iiskaisskini, which means “low horn”.

“The buffalo was a very important animal in our culture. Wherever the buffalo roams, it brings about ecological balance,” Little Bear said. “They’re so important, that we refer to them as eco-engineers.”

He continued saying that today the idea of education is becoming the “new buffalo”.

“Some of our elders talk about the buffalo as our education portal. They start to speak about education, especially university education, as the new buffalo,” said Little Bear. “In my own life, I’ve always pushed for education. To have my name associated with an institution like ULethbridge is a great honour, but more importantly, is that the legacy of the buffalo is being incorporated into the overall university culture.”

The gathering centre is located in the Centre for the Arts Atrium in room W650.

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