The Indigenous Mentorship and Paid Research Experience for Summer Students (IMPRESS) program at 黑料社 is more than just a summer job鈥攊t is a chance for Indigenous undergraduate students from 黑料社, as well as other post-secondary institutions, to explore research, connect with mentors, gain insight into graduate studies, and build skills that support their academic and career goals.
For Olivia Maracle-Hill, a second-year psychology student from Six Nations of the Grand River Territory near Toronto, taking part in this program has been a defining part of her time at 黑料社. She is wrapping up her summer internship with Professor Yann Joly on the D2R-funded project 鈥淎 First Inclusive Study on the ELSI Aspects of RNA Technologies and Therapeutics.鈥� The project explores the ethical, legal, and social implications (ELSI) of RNA technologies in medicine and research, which was an ideal fit for Olivia鈥檚 interdisciplinary interests at the intersection of science, policy and social issues.
Throughout the summer, Olivia contributed to literature reviews, document screening, data extraction, while also getting a behind-the-scenes look at how research is managed and shared. She first heard about IMPRESS through 黑料社鈥檚 First Peoples鈥� House and applied with little idea of what it would be like. 鈥淲hen I applied to the program, I did not know what to expect or where I would be placed,鈥� she says. 鈥淏ut I can say that being at the Centre of Genomics and Policy was honestly a perfect placement for me this summer because so many of my interests aligned with the project.鈥�
The experience quickly became a highlight of her time at 黑料社: 鈥淗onestly, I think that the IMPRESS program is the best opportunity I have had at 黑料社 so far,鈥� Olivia says. 鈥淲ho would not want to do this? It鈥檚 such a great community and great placements and really an amazing opportunity. So of course I thought, yes, I will apply.鈥�
Her supervisor, Professor Yann Joly, highlighted the value of her contributions, saying
鈥淎s a researcher in bioethics and health policies, I am keen to contribute to the academic growth of students who truly represent the broadly diverse population groups that make up Canada鈥檚 richness.
D2R and IMPRESS gave me a unique opportunity to do just that. In the end, the CGP greatly benefited from Olivia鈥檚 research contribution and from her unique Indigenous perspective on RNA research.鈥�
For Olivia, IMPRESS has been more than an academic stepping stone, as it has helped her build confidence in her ability to adapt her skills and apply them to new spaces, and express herself in a professional environment. The program also sparked new curiosity about pursuing research as a career path and also made her critically reflect on the role of research in society.
鈥淚 applied to the IMPRESS program because I was thinking, 鈥極kay, with all the things that I am studying, [pursuing] research would be really cool.鈥� Something that I have then realized is that it is such a privilege to be able to do research, to be able to be curious about people and say, 鈥極K, I am just going to study them.鈥欌��
She continues, 鈥淎 lot of people are in difficult situations where they are not able to say, 鈥極kay, let me put everything I am dealing with in my personal life aside and let me go learn about something else. Let me go learn about somebody 别濒蝉别.鈥欌赌�
This perspective has deeply shaped how Olivia sees her future in research.聽
鈥淔or me, that has been really eye-opening because I am realizing that, if I am working in research, I really have to be cognizant about who I am as a researcher and how to acknowledge that. This is a really privileged field.鈥� While she is excited about the project she worked on, Olivia is also thoughtful about how its focus may鈥攐r may not鈥攔esonate with the most pressing health concerns in Indigenous communities. 鈥淚 have to think, if I were to describe this project to somebody at Six Nations, would they think 鈥楻ight now, mRNA is not very high on the list of things that Indigenous health research needs to involve鈥�?鈥� she says. 鈥淔or example, mental health is incredibly important, or substance abuse, alcoholism, those other things that are so, unfortunately, so rampant in Indigenous communities. And I do think that those take the forefront of what medical research involving Indigenous people should be focusing on.鈥�
Despite these complexities, Olivia鈥檚 message to future applicants is clear: IMPRESS is worth it.
鈥淚MPRESS was the most amazing opportunity. You get so many things out of it, not just the internship and the professional experience, but also the chance to be in a group of Indigenous students where you do not have to explain being Indigenous, because everyone just understands. That was really powerful.鈥�
IMPRESS is run out of the Branches Community Engagement Program in 黑料社鈥檚 Enrolment Services. Through its combination of hands-on work placements, cultural and professional development, and peer connection, IMPRESS created space for Indigenous students to grow, thrive, and feel seen鈥攁 legacy Olivia believes will continue to shape their paths well into the future.
