McGill’s First Peoples’ House opened in 1997.
It began under the leadership of Linda Arkwright (Kanien’kehá:ka, Kahnawà:ke) and later Tracey Diabo (Kanien’kehá:ka, Kahnawà:ke). The project was proposed at a meeting of the Joint Board Senate Committee on Equity by Professor Martha Crago, who is today McGill’s Vice-Principal (Research and Innovation), and Eddie Cross (MA’71, Kanien’kehá:ka, Kahnawà:ke).
First Peoples’ House provides Indigenous students with a community to represent and meet their needs and help them adapt to life at McGill. It hosts diverse programming and events such as the annual Pow Wow, and Soup and Bannock lunches. The House also serves as a residence for Indigenous students.