Reducing Barriers for Indigenous Student Success in Academia | Sideny Leggett | TEDxMaplesMetSchool

In this talk, Sidney Leggett speaks to her experience navigating academia and what is truly needed for Indigenous learners to feel they belong. Sidney is finishing her final year of undergraduate studies in a student-designed major in Applied Computer Science and Data Analysis at the University of Winnipeg. She has worked as a Junior Epidemiologist for over three years and has worked as a research assistant at the University of Winnipeg, University of Manitoba, and Queens University. She also works for Waterways recreation and is passionate about Indigenous youth involvement in learning traditional knowledge through canoeing and being on the land. Sidney is Métis and believes in the importance of inclusion of Indigenous peoples in STEM fields, and the importance of having diverse views within the STEM world. She hopes to break barriers in academia to be inclusive to Indigenous People to pursue higher education. Sidney will be discussing the barriers that exist in academia for Indigenous people, and the steps that can be put in place to better the academic world. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at www.ted.com/tedx