Open Centre for Indigenous Initiatives as per recommendations of the Indigenous Initiatives Task Force (IITF).
This item supports sub-objective L1
Implement the recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission
Goals Supported
Goal 1 - Inspire student success by supporting a rigorous and innovative academic environment
Goal 2 - Demonstrate that UTM is a home for world-class research
Goal 3 - Enrich the student experience by embracing opportunities for community involvement
Goal 4 - Educate future leaders to be global citizens meeting global challenges
Goal 5 - Focus on transformation and innovation to create a sustainable and cohesive community
Sub-Objective Timeline
2017/2018
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Updates
Open Centre for Indigenous Initiatives as per recommendations of the Indigenous Initiatives Task Force (IITF).This item supports sub-objective L1Indigenous Centre new location
The UTM Indigenous Centre will be relocated to DV 3204 in the summer of 2018, in order to increase the visibility of the Indigenous community at UTM. This new location is adjacent to the Offices of the Dean and the Vice-President and Principal, and is a prominent venue as a temporary location for this Centre. To assist with raising awareness about Indigenous cultures, a display cabinet adjacent to the new office was provided in order to profile Indigenous authors, publications, art, and carvings.
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Hire staff with responsibility to educate staff, faculty, students, and librarians on Indigenous matters.This item supports sub-objective L1
Updates
Hire staff with responsibility to educate staff, faculty, students, and librarians on Indigenous matters.This item supports sub-objective L1Hire Indigenous staff
The UTM Indigenous Centre was re-structured to now report within the framework of the UTM Equity & Diversity Office unit, which is within divisions of the Offices of the UTM Vice-President & Principal, and the U of T Vice-President Human Resources & Equity. This allowed the UTM indigenous Centre to expand its mandate to work with staff, faculty, and students, and continue to provide Indigenous focused cultural events, presentations, and awareness-raising activities.
Furthermore, the current existing staff position was updated to that of Indigenous Advisor, who is responsible to work with Indigenous and non-Indigenous students, staff, and faculty.
Indigenous Centre staff (Indigenous Advisor) led Teaching Circles and provided classroom and event presentations on Indigenous cultures, topics, and world views.
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Hire Indigenous faculty as possible.This item supports sub-objective L1
Updates
Hire Indigenous faculty as possible.This item supports sub-objective L1Indigenous Faculty Hires
Faculty complement process implemented, for which there were various searches conducted across all undergraduate academic units. At the conclusion of the 2017-18 search cycle, about 10 percent of the new faculty hired at UTM self-identified as Indigenous. These new faculty were hired across 3 academic units.
2018/2019
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Conduct community outreach with local Indigenous groups.This item supports sub-objective L1
Updates
Conduct community outreach with local Indigenous groups.This item supports sub-objective L1Symposium on the Importance of Indigenous Education in Ontario Classrooms
On December 7th, 2018, the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation (MCFN) hosted the Symposium on the Importance of Indigenous Education in Ontario Classrooms at UTM.
Community outreach with Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation
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Work with academic units to determine how to better integrate content into the curriculum.This item supports sub-objective L1
Updates
Work with academic units to determine how to better integrate content into the curriculum.This item supports sub-objective L1Initiatives to integrate Indigenous content into the curriculum
An existing staff position was updated to Indigenous Advisor, which allowed the Indigenous Centre's staff to better work with and provide recommendations to faculty members on ways of incorporating Indigenous cultures, perspectives, and ways of knowing into course design and curriculum development.
Furthermore, the instructor for ANT101H5: Introduction to Biological Anthropology and Archaeology hosted an Indigenous Speaker Series in the 2018-19 academic year. Three guest lectures were delivered by Indigenous Scholars.
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Take suggestions for implementation through governance.This item supports sub-objective L1
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Build physical space for outdoor ceremonies.This item supports sub-objective L1
Updates
Build physical space for outdoor ceremonies.This item supports sub-objective L1Planning for outdoor campus spaces for Indigenous learning and ceremonies
In 2020-21, UTM advanced Indigenous place-making and place-keeping as core pillars of the new Campus Master Plan, proposing to create many outdoor campus spaces for Indigenous learning and ceremonies. UTM also continues to consult with the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation to embed a commitment to Indigeneity into the design and surroundings of the new Arts, Culture, & Technology Building. Concurrently, in conversation with the Principal’s Indigenous Table, UTM allocated the budget and resources for construction of UTM Indigenous House as a dedicated indoor/outdoor space, with several options designed to facilitate smudging. Collectively, enabled by ongoing action at UTM’s Indigenous Centre, these developments signal a larger commitment: to make UTM a more deserving home for Indigenous students, faculty, staff, librarians, and communities.
2019/2020
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Hire staff with responsibility to educate staff, faculty, students, and librarians on Indigenous mattersThis item supports sub-objective L1
Updates
Hire staff with responsibility to educate staff, faculty, students, and librarians on Indigenous mattersThis item supports sub-objective L1Indigenous Centre staff expansion
An Assistant Director, Indigenous Initiatives to be hired Fall 2019. This position will oversee the administration, coordination, development, and implementation of Indigenous initiatives at the UTM campus as well as overseeing the UTM Indigenous Centre’s programs and services. Additionally the Assistant Director, Indigenous Initiatives leads educational Indigenous programming for UTM staff, faculty, librarians, and students.
This newly created position will report directly to the UTM Director of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion with a dotted reporting line to the Director of the Office of Indigenous Initiatives in the Offices of the Vice-President & Provost, and Vice-President, Human Resources & Equity.
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Introduce Indigenous elements into curriculum across all disciplines.This item supports sub-objective L1
Updates
Introduce Indigenous elements into curriculum across all disciplines.This item supports sub-objective L1Integrating Indigenous elements across multiple disciplines
The Indigenous Action Group at UTM was awarded a Community-engaged Learning (CEL) Fellowship (2019-2020) from U of T’s Centre of Community Partnerships, for their work in ANT241H5: Anthropology and Indigenous Peoples of Turtle Island in Canada. This course, along with an additional research project, is also funded by a Connaught Community Partnerships grant for the next 3 years (2019-22). This CEL course is unique in that it meets the 3 requirements of community-engaged learning:
- Takes place in partnership with communities, or grassroots, nonprofits and public organizations
- Responds to community-determined priorities
- Incorporates reflection
Advancing decolonization and Indigenization of curriculum
The Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Office’s (EDIO) Indigenous Initiatives Unit (IIU) is advancing decolonization and Indigenization of curriculum at UTM. In partnership with the Teaching and Learning Collaboration (RGASC), the IIU is collaborating on two programs for faculty across all disciplines in 2020-21. Initiated in 2019 and early 2020, COVID caused a delay in their launch. These programs include an Indigenous Student Panel and Curriculum Workshop (October 2020), and Indigenous Lunch and Learn: Being Comfortable with Being Uncomfortable (March 2021) more details here.
Indigenous Cultural Competency Training
The U of T Office of Indigenous Initiatives (OII) created an Indigenous Cultural Competency Training module as a foundational workshop for university community members. These sessions have been delivered by a trainer with the OII across all three campuses and the training content will be expanded upon in 2019. There were two trainings offered at UTM through the EDI Office in Spring 2019.
Integrating Indigenous elements across multiple disciplines
Faculty members from the Departments of Anthropology, Visual Studies, and Sociology are planning a Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) panel discussion (title and full details pending), to be held in November 2019.
2021+
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Evaluate and revise progress of IITF recommendations in terms of research, pedagogy, and practices.This item supports sub-objective L1