Welcome to Indigenous Futures in Engineering, Queen's University
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Kaitlyn Brant
Nation:
Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte
School attending:
Program of study:
Geological
Graduation:
2016
When I first heard about engineering:
I first heard about engineering in my grade 7 technology class. There was a bridge-building unit, so engineering was talked about in passing, but it wasn’t until grade 10 that engineering was talked about on a regular basis by my physics teacher. She was always speaking about the real-life applications of the material we were learning.
Why I chose my school and program:
I chose Queen’s not only because of its reputation – I chose Queen’s because of the strong support for indigenous students, the beautiful campus, the infinite school spirit, and the tight-knit community that the engineering program offered.
What I like most about engineering:
I truly enjoy that engineering is multi-disciplinary. Engineering includes not only technical math and science aspects of a project, but also stakeholder engagement, economic considerations, and creative problem-solving. I also enjoy that the engineering program at Queen’s allowed me to surround myself with people that can be relaxed and fun but are still serious about their success.
Where you will find me outside of classes:
When I wasn’t studying, I could be found spending time with my friends, enjoying Queen’s events, volunteering with on-campus organizations, and coordinating cultural events with AISES, the American Indian Science and Engineering Society.
My inspiration:
My inspiration to challenge myself and pursue engineering came largely from my parents. I have always had an interest in the sciences, and my parents have continuously encouraged me over the years to take on the science courses I enjoyed, join design teams, and take full advantage of learning opportunities. They set an example for me to work hard, persevere, and have fun while doing it. Their love, support, and abundance of household projects to “engineer” inspired me to pursue the education that I did!
2022 Update
Kaitlyn graduated in 2016, and worked for a year at a geological engineering firm. She returned to school in 2017 to pursue a graduate degree, and in 2019 received a Master's of Engineering (M.Eng) from the mining department at Queen's University.