Grand River Post Secondary Education Office — Fall 2026, Issue 88
My name is Clayton Maracle and I am Mohawk Bear Clan.
I started my post-secondary journey in the fall of 2023 at Mohawk College in the Applied Music program for guitar and earned an advanced diploma, graduating in June of 2026. During my time at Mohawk College, I took part in the Musical Sharing Initiative. This project focused on reciprocity and respect; it aimed to create a forum to decolonize, raise awareness of Indigenous teachings and their inseparable connection to music, and integrate them into our Western framework of what we consider music. During the project, we collaborated with Indigenous artists Joe Alex Shawana and Nicole Joy-Fraser, as well as students from other departments within Mohawk College to share perspectives and make music together. During my studies at Mohawk, I was honoured to receive their Indigenous Student Award for Inspiring Youth for the 2023/2024 school year. I was also given a unique opportunity to be part of an Indigenous Global Citizenship Experience with the college, a trip to Hawaii during the spring of 2024, where I immersed myself in Indigenous Hawaiian cultures and values. My success there inspired me to continue my post-secondary education, and I just started this September at the University of Toronto, studying in the Bachelor of Music program, Interdisciplinary Studies in Jazz guitar. As I start at the University of Toronto, I plan to uphold my Haudenosaunee values- integrity, reciprocity, and respect- that I have learned so far, not only to make the best music I can but also, as an aspiring educator and performer, to treat my current and future students with respect for the best possible growth. I hope to bring a more collectivist framework to others’ lives and musical experiences. Ultimately, my Haudenosaunee teachings have not only made me a better musician and student, but a better person; and as I’ve stated, values are integral to music and my future success within it.
Academically, I have won several awards; I graduated from Mohawk with honours and maintained an 87% GPA. I was a guest on Jazzology on Jazzfm 91, and this past spring I competed in the Niagara Jazz Festival Jazz 4 the Ages competition and won first place with my jazz trio. This gave me many opportunities to play this summer during the Niagara Jazz Festival, most notably opening for the Nancy Walker Trio.
At first, transitioning from a small town, having never lived away from home before, and moving to a city was challenging. Feeling like a little fish in a big pond, out of my element, was hard. I was playing with other musicians who had been studying their instruments since childhood, and I was a late bloomer, only beginning about a year and a half before entering post-secondary but I worked hard and built confidence in myself and my abilities.
My educational path has been guided by many core principles of my Haudenosaunee culture. The Good Mind, Strength and Peace reminds me to approach my studies with positivity, clarity and peace; inspires me with strength to persevere through tough times; and reminds me to try to keep a peaceful mind and body to focus on growth.
I see myself contributing to my community and society as a teacher and performer. I have seen how music transcends cultural disparities; how it has always been and will be the great unifier of people through traditional call and response within song. Music is a reciprocal art of understanding, and respect is an essential part of its creation and, for lack of a better word, its magic. I plan to maintain this integrity: not only to make the best music I can, but also, as an aspiring educator and performer, to treat my current and future students with respect to foster the best growth possible. I think the big challenge for the next generation is environmental destruction and climate change. It is easy for people to feel disconnected from nature because we spend so much time looking at screens and living in concrete spaces. Music and sound can be used to heal that broken connection. Our people have always used songs to honour the land, the waters and the animals. I think music and storytelling through music can be used to remind people of the natural world we are destroying. Music can bring people back to the earth and inspire the next generation to protect our environment before it’s too late.
My best advice is to just take the leap and try, even if you are scared of failing. When looking at post-secondary education or trying to figure out the future, it is easy to get overwhelmed and doubt yourself. But the truth is, you will never know what you are truly capable of if you don’t give it a shot. Perseverance is everything. There will definitely be days when classes get tough, life stress piles up, and you feel like it may not be possible. In those moments, remind yourself why you started and keep pushing forward. Mistakes and setbacks are just part of the learning process, not a sign that you don’t belong. Trust yourself, stay dedicated, and don’t give up on goals and dreams. You might surprise yourself with how far you can go.
I just want to say how grateful I am for the support. Pursuing higher education can be a long and challenging journey, but knowing that our community and GRPSEO are backing us makes all the difference. To the community, other students and future students reading this, keep pushing forward and supporting one another. Our education is a powerful tool, and I am incredibly proud to represent Six Nations students on this journey.
Originally published in the Two Row Times, October 14, 2026 (Volume 14, Issue 9), page 8.
