How Brendan Mannik (BA/25) Found Connection and Inspiration at Carleton

For Brendan Mannik, an Inuk from Nunavut, the path to university wasn’t linear—but it was one filled with community and purpose. After completing a two-year development program at Nunavut Sivuniksavut that prepares youth for post-secondary education, Brendan decided to continue his studies at Carleton University. “It was a very easy choice for me,” he says, recounting how a tour of the scenic campus reinforced that Carleton was the right fit. 

Brendan joined Carleton through the Indigenous Enriched Support Program (IESP)—a unique pathway that alleviates barriers to post-secondary education for First Nations, Métis and Inuit learners. The program provides the opportunity for students to take first-year courses while receiving support through workshops, peer mentorship, academic coaches and advisors. For Brendan, this program became a meaningful bridge between high school and university life. 

“IESP helped me understand doing research and helped me figure out the foundations to navigate my degree program,” he explains. More than just an academic stepping stone, IESP connected him to a community of Indigenous students who shared similar backgrounds and aspirations. “It really makes you feel like you are not alone, and university no longer feels like this big place where you are by yourself and rather becomes a place where you can focus on learning.” 

Brendan went on to graduate from Carleton’s Human Rights and Social Justice program in June 2025, becoming the first university graduate in his family and the first grandchild on his mother’s side to earn a degree. His parents and extended family were his constant motivation and biggest supporters throughout his academic journey. As Brendan says, “I wanted to be someone who my family and younger generations look up to. The thought of being a source of motivation for someone else made finishing university something exciting to chase.” 

Since graduating, Brendan has returned home to Baker Lake, Nunavut—a small community of around 2,200 people located near the latitudinal centre of Canada. Finding work in a remote area can be challenging, but he attributes his time at Carleton to opening doors to opportunities he explained he may not otherwise have access to. 

Reflecting on his time at Carleton, Brendan says he misses the community most—not just the people, but also the extracurricular activities. This sense of connection became the impetus for him to consider returning to campus in the 2026–2027 academic year to pursue a second undergraduate degree in Environmental Studies.