b'LEADERSHIP SPOTLIGHTbold like that, he says, his tone bothwe all do the same thing. We needHe pauses for a moment before pragmatic and hopeful. diversity of thought and talent. Butcontinuing. I realized my eyes are you have to stand up. ready to see that landscapefamiliar, But that boldness isnt just an institu- comforting. When you go somewhere tional responsibility; its a call to actionFor DeGagn, thats the essencenew, your eyes arent accustomed to for the next generation. Your work isof Indspires mission: not just towhat theyre seeing; it feels surreal. going to be important, DeGagn saysopen doors, but to inspire courage,But back home, everything feels to the future leaders of tomorrow.purpose, and vision. At the heart ofexactly where its supposed to be.While we hate to leave you with anIndspire, thats what we do, foster additional burden, we as a communitythe next generation and let themIts a fitting reflection for a man whose cannot afford not to demand thisknow their potential is limitless. lifes work has been about helping of you. others find their way home: not just THE ROAD HOME to a place, but to a sense of belonging. His message is both a challenge andAs the conversation draws to a close,For the residential school survivors encouragement: You need to stepDr. Mike DeGagn, a man who hashe worked with, for the Indigenous up. You need to stand up and say,carried his work across continents,students he has helped through Its not enough that Ive only gonecommunities, and classrooms,Indspire, all of these efforts have been this far. I need to go to the end. Andreflects on what home means to himmade in the attempt to bring our remember that your moving forwardafter a lifetime of travel and service. people home: to place, community, carries our community. Its not justculture, identity, language, and about you. Home is a feeling, he begins,relationships.describing an old friend from DeGagn reminds young people thatNorthwestern Ontario, a survivor ofFrom the young boy who learned excellence is not measured by titles,a residential school who developedcommunity care in small Northern but by commitment: Take your talentsa degenerative illness that eventuallytowns to the leader who helped shape and apply them. Were not demandingconfined him to a wheelchair, then anational conversations around healing success of you; were demandinghospital bed. Id visit him every sixand education, Dr. Mike DeGagn has effort, integrity, and courage. Do whatweeks, flying out west, driving back you think will help the community, notinto the area where I grew up. walked the long road of reconciliation just what others expect. with humility and purpose.Those drives, DeGagn says, became And finally, DeGagn urges them topilgrimages. Theres somethingAs his time at Indspire approaches think expansively, to imagine theirabout the place: the trees, the rockits close, his journey reminds us that impact beyond limits: We need acuts, the highways, the lakes. Thehome is not merely where we come wide variety of people with a widekind of scenery that makes you pullfrom, but what we return to: a place variety of skills to help move us fromover, have your lunch, and just lookwhere our eyes, our hearts, and our the margins of Canadian society intoat the water. Thats Northwesterncommunities recognizethis is the centre. That wont happen ifOntario for me. Thats home. where I belong. Become Purple and ProudAt Westerns Indigenous Student Centre, we offer:Access pathways and admissions supportsAcademic, personal and financial aid advisingVisiting Elders and cultural programmingPeer mentoring and leadership opportunitiesWork study and job opportunitiesindigenous.admissions@uwo.caindigenous.uwo.ca22indspiration2025'