Keywayden Brown has loved cars for as long as he can remember. From racing Hot Wheels as a kid and watching the Fast and Furious movies to working in an auto shop and photographing cars, engines and mechanics have always been part of his life.
Now, Keywayden is transforming his lifelong passion into a career through Mohawk College’s two-year Motive Power Fundamentals program. He’s doing it with the support of Indigenous Student Services (ISS). The team is dedicated to helping students in every aspect of their journey—from academics to cultural learning, wellness, and community connections that make campus feel like home.
“If you’re an Indigenous student, ISS is a really amazing place,” says Keywayden. “There’s great staff, great people, and a lot of opportunities you can get from ISS. I spend most of my time there.”
Community roots, campus connections
Keywayden’s connection to Mohawk College and ISS began long before he enrolled. Many of the ISS staff are active members of the wider Indigenous community through the Hamilton Regional Indian Centre, where Keywayden spent time growing up. By the time he arrived on campus, he already knew the faces that would help guide him.
“Kayla, for example, has had a big impact on me because she’s known me since I was a kid,” he says. “She’s helped me in the program with homework, writing essays, and just being there for me.”
Kayla’s role as the Indigenous Student Success and Retention Advisor includes supporting students with coursework, advocating on their behalf, and connecting them with campus resources. She is one of several staff members who make up ISS’s holistic approach to fostering academic excellence. The team also includes an Indigenous Outreach and Education Advisor, an Indigenous Counsellor, Indigenous Awareness Programmer, and Indigenous Student Services Coaches.
Beyond one-on-one support, the Indigenous Centre and Lounge offers a welcoming space to connect, focus, or just recharge.
“I go to the Centre to use a computer or to study,” says Keywayden. “Staff members are very helpful. You can even book a boardroom for meetings or to have space to study with friends.”
Encouragement in and out of the classroom
That same encouragement continues in the Motive Power program, where faculty have recognized Keywayden’s skills and helped him imagine new career possibilities. Recently, one of Keywayden’s instructors noticed his talent for welding, inspiring him to consider it as a professional path.
Overall, he hopes to build on the hands-on experience he’s gaining at Mohawk College and pursue work in the automotive industry. His ultimate dream? To work at the Honda Indy Toronto.
“I’ve been to the Honda Indy in Toronto and watched people work on a Porsche,” he says. “Seeing that, I thought, ‘That’s what I want to do, work with exotic cars.’ I like working on cars, because I can be in my own mind and work on the engine.”
Reflecting on his college journey, he adds: “In life, I have no clue where I would be without Mohawk College, and I don’t know who I’d be without the love of cars.”
