February 13, 2006 Source: Laurentian University of Sudbury:
http://www.laurentian.ca/?file=newsrelease/2006/february/feb13_gkendasswin_e.php February Gkendasswin Trail lecture series Sudbury - Laurentian University Native Programs and Services, in co-operation with the Native Studies department; are presenting Cara Wehkamp as the lecturer for the February Gkendasswin Trail lecture series, on Tuesday, February 14 at 7:00 p.m. in the University of Sudbury's Canisius Hall. Wehkamp is a featured National Aboriginal Health Organization (NAHO) role-model and an advocate for Aboriginal Youth. She will be speaking on "The Importance of Aboriginal Youth Involvement". The 28-year-old from Hanmer, Ontario, completed her Bachelor of Science in Plant Biology at the University of Guelph in 2001 and her Master's of Science in Environmental Biology in 2004. Cara is currently working on her doctoral research in Environmental Biology. Her research explores how to harness natural plant processes for use in a biological life support system for long-term space exploration, such as a journey to the planet Mars. Aside from her academics, Wehkamp assisted in the formation of the first Aboriginal Students' Association at the University of Guelph. The mandate of the Aboriginal Student Association (ASA) is to promote academic excellence and Aboriginal culture. With the growth of the ASA, she was involved with the hiring of an Aboriginal Student Advisor and the opening of the Aboriginal Resource Centre (ARC). The ARC hopes to provide Aboriginal students with a space to come together to share their experiences and maintain their cultural heritage while working toward their education. Wehkamp continues to sit on the ASA Executive and is the Chair of the Aboriginal Advisory Committee, a group which was created to inform the university of Aboriginal student needs. She is also involved with the "Science at Guelph Experience", an experiential learning program designed to introduce an alternative view of science to grade 7 and 8 students. This past year, Cara co-developed and facilitated a session using Aboriginal drumming to teach the science of sound. Wehkamp has received the Andre Auger Citizenship Award for her commitment to the advancement of Aboriginal student experiences and was chosen by her peers to be one of the National Aboriginal Health Organization's 12 national Aboriginal role models in 2004. In 2005-2006, she was nominated for a YWCA Women of Distinction Award for her work with Aboriginal youth and voluntary service to her community. For more information concerning the Gkendasswin Trail lecture series, please contact Laurentian University's Native Programs and Services at 675.1151 ext. 1051. Admission is free, and non-perishable food items will be accepted and donated to the Laurentian University food bank. -30- Reference:
Taylor Paxton
Public Affairs, Laurentian University
Sudbury, Ontario
(705) 675 1151, ext. 3959
tpaxton@laurentian.ca
www.laurentian.ca
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