Ashley Courchene Protecting Indigenouslanguagerights Mary Anncorbiere
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Academic Matters Spring 2019 OCUFA’S JOURNAL OF HIGHER EDUCATION LA REVUE DE L’ENSEIGNEMENT SUPÉRIEUR DE L’OCUFA Decolonizing the university in an era of Truth and Reconciliation Tanya Talaga Mary Ann Corbiere Bringing Indigenous viewpoints to higher education Protecting Indigenous language rights Lori Campbell, Shannon Dea, Ashley Courchene and Laura McDonald A move towards conciliation in academia The role of faculty associations following the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Hannah Tait Neufeld, Brittany Luby, and Kim Anderson Indigenous researchers plant seeds of hope for health and climate Malinda S. Smith and Nancy Bray ISSN 1719-010X The Indigenous diversity gap January | Janvier 2016 2 Editorial Matters Academic Matters 3 Bringing Indigenous viewpoints to higher education OCUFA’S JOURNAL OF HIGHER EDUCATION Tanya Talaga and Victoria McMurchy LA REVUE DE L’ENSEIGNEMENT SUPÉRIEUR DE L’OCUFA For this issue, Ojibway author and journalist Tanya Talaga sat down with Victoria McMurchy from Academic Matters to discuss how Canadian postsecondary institutions have responded Academic Matters is published two times a year by to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action. What needs to change for more OCUFA, and is received by 17,000 professors, academic Indigenous students to access postsecondary education and how can institutions move librarians, and others interested in higher education towards decolonization? issues across Canada. The journal explores issues of relevance to higher education in Ontario, other provinces 7 Get uncomfortable, do the work: The role of faculty associations following the in Canada, and globally. It is intended to be a forum for Truth and Reconciliation Commission thoughtful, thought-provoking, original, and engaging discussion of current trends in postsecondary education Lori Campbell, Shannon Dea, and Laura McDonald and consideration of academia’s future direction. As universities take on the work of Indigenization, what role do faculty and faculty Readers are encouraged to contribute their views, ideas, associations have in advancing the recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation and talents. Letters to the editor (maximum 250 words) Commission’s Final Report and the rights of their Indigenous members are welcome and may be edited for length. To provide an article or artwork for Academic Matters, please 14 The Indigenous diversity gap send your query to Editor-in-Chief Ben Lewis at Malinda S. Smith and Nancy Bray [email protected]. Where are the Indigenous Peoples in Canadian universities? Reproduction of articles requires the permission of the author and publisher. Copyright in material accepted for 16 Protecting Indigenous language rights: Much more than campus publication remains with the author. The publisher may choose, however, to translate and/or reproduce material signage needed in print and electronic form. All published material Mary Ann Corbiere expresses the view of the author(s) and not the publisher. Despite the Calls to Action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, many universities Academic Matters accepte volontiers des articles écrits are only making superficial efforts to integrate Indigenous languages into their curricula. en anglais ou en français. How can universities play a leading role in revitalizing Indigenous languages? Publisher: 21 Reframing reconciliation: A move towards conciliation in academia OCUFA; Michael Conlon, Executive Director Ashley Courchene Editor-in-Chief: After four years, reconciliation is not what we hoped it would be in our classrooms. Ben Lewis How did we get here, and is there any way to fix what is broken? Associate Editors: Victoria McMurchy Indigenous researchers plant seeds of hope for health and climate 25 Art Direction: Hannah Tait Neufeld, Brittany Luby, and Kim Anderson Eva Kiss, Neglia Design Inc., www.NegliaDesign.com Indigenous land-based learning provides hands-on opportunities for knowledge development Illustrations created by: that shift away from Eurocentric forms of education. How can universities use land-based Design de Plume Inc., www.deplume.ca learning to impact students, research, and the environment? Editorial Advisory Board: Glen Jones, April Lindgren, Gilary Massa, Daniel Munro, Stephanie Ross MORE ON ACADEMICMATTERS.CA National Advertising Sales: Dovetail Communications 30 East Beaver Creek Road, Ste. 202 Richmond Hill, ON L4B 1J2 Sales Manager: Brady Seguin, [email protected] (905) 707-3526 ISSN 1719-010X For subscription information, please contact: [email protected] Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to: Ontario Confederation of University Faculty Associations 17 Isabella Street, Toronto, ON M4Y 1M7 Phone (416) 979-2117 | Fax (416) 593-5607 www.ocufa.on.ca | www.academicmatters.ca union FSC logo logo Ontario Confederation of University Faculty Associations here here Image Credits: James Mathieu Chambers Credits: James Mathieu Chambers Image Union des associations des professeurs des universités de l’Ontario Cover illustration: James Mathieu Chambers Mary Ann Corbiere provides an Editorial Matters important perspective on the role higher education institutions can play Ben Lewis revitalizing Indigenous languages by meaningfully integrating them into university curricula. Reflecting on the broader debate, A time for action Ashley Courchene suggests reconcili- ation has stalled, in part because it is founded on the false premise that a ONTARIO’S UNIVERSITIES are First Nations, Inuit, and Métis harmonious relationship previously built on models of scholarship cultures that have survived. existed between Indigenous peoples developed in the United Kingdom and Many universities have taken up and European colonizers. western Europe. Founded by and for the TRC’s Calls to Action and made Hannah Tait Neufeld, Brittany European settlers, Ontario’s universi- public commitments to Luby, and Kim Anderson illustrate ties have excluded Indigenous voices Indigenization and reconciliation. how Indigenous land-based learning and played an active role encouraging Strategies have been developed, new provides hands-on opportunities the colonization of Indigenous lands, supports have been created for for knowledge development that nations, and peoples. Indigenous students, Indigenous shift away from Eurocentric forms With the release of the final studies program offerings have been of education. report of the Truth and Reconciliation bolstered, and some Ontario universi- Finally, Malinda S. Smith and Commission (TRC) in 2015, the ties now offer courses in languages, Nancy Bray spotlight the stark destructive results of colonization including Algonquian, Indigenous diversity gap at Canadian have been made crystal clear to Nishnaabemowin, and Ojibwe. universities through a series of data everyone. The TRC’s purpose was to However, there is real concern and infographics. document truth—a goal aligned with these initiatives do not reach the It is important to acknowledge a core mission of the university—and foundations of the academy. The past this journal is produced in the Dish through the testimony of thousands, year has seen several resignations of With One Spoon Territory, which the report paints a vivid picture of Indigenous academic leaders who extends from the Great Lakes to kidnapped children, destroyed argue that university governing Quebec and from Lake Simcoe into the families, devastated communities, bodies are not committed to the work United States. The territory exists as endangered languages, stolen land, required for reconciliation and the result of a treaty between the and a cultural genocide across decolonization. This prompts the Anishinaabe, Mississaugas, and the continent. core question we explore in this Haudenosaunee that bound them to The report identifies education issue: Are universities doing enough protect and share the land and as a priority and calls for Canada’s to respond meaningfully to the TRC’s creatures within it. Subsequent universities to take immediate action, final report and the continuing Indigenous nations and peoples, including eliminating education and colonization in higher education? Europeans, and all newcomers have employment gaps between This question is profound, and been invited into this treaty in the Indigenous and non-Indigenous we are lucky to have such an insight- spirit of peace, friendship, and respect. peoples, providing more funding and ful group of Indigenous scholars I would like to thank Victoria assistance to end the backlog of contributing their perspectives to McMurchy, a student in Ryerson Indigenous students seeking postsec- this issue. University’s School of Journalism, for ondary education, protecting the right In a special interview, Tanya her keen-eyed editing and James to learn and study in Indigenous Talaga discusses the changes needed Mathieu Chambers at Design de languages, developing culturally for more Indigenous students to Plume whose original artwork gives appropriate curricula, and advancing access postsecondary education this issue such warmth. As always, we reconciliation in the academy. and how institutions can move love to hear your thoughts. A Decolonizing all levels of our towards decolonization. reminder that all of these articles, education system is crucial. An Reflecting on the roles of faculty and many more, are available on our urgent and fundamental commitment associations, Lori Campbell, Shannon website: AcademicMatters.ca. from our educational institutions is Dea, and Laura McDonald argue that Thanks